Generating improved belief networks
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsDavid E. Heckerman, Dan Geiger, David M. Chickering
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved belief network generator is provided. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a belief network is generated utilizing expert knowledge retrieved from an expert in a given field of expertise and empirical data reflecting observations made in the given field of the expert. In addition to utilizing expert knowledge and empirical data, the belief network generator of the preferred embodiment provides for the use of continuous variables in the generated belief network and missing data in the empirical data.
Claims14
In a computer system, a method for generating a belief network for assisting in making a decision, comprising the steps of:
- receiving expert knowledge specifying factors that causally influence the decision, an indication of relationships between the factors, and an indication of a strength of the relationships between the factors;
- receiving empirical data, the empirical data comprising cases of observations of the factors;
- creating a belief network using the received expert knowledge;
- and
- modifying the created belief network utilizing the received empirical data.
A computer system for assisting in making a decision comprising:
- means for providing expert knowledge containing factors that causally influence the decision, an indication of relationships between the factors, and an indication of a strength of the relationships between the factors;
- means for providing empirical data, wherein empirical data contains cases of observations of the factors;
- and
- a belief network generator for generating a belief network utilizing the expert knowledge and for modifying the generated belief network utilizing the empirical data.
A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computer system to generate a belief network for assisting in making a decision, by performing the steps of:
- receiving expert knowledge comprising factors that causally influence the decision, an identification of relationships between the factors, and an indication of a strength of the relationships between the factors;
- receiving empirical data, the empirical data comprising cases of observations of the factors;
- creating a belief network using the received expert knowledge;
- and
- modifying the created belief network utilizing the received empirical data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.