Methods and apparatus for determining focal points of clusters in a tree structure

A method for determining at least one focal node on a hierarchically arranged tree structure of nodes for attributes of a data set, said method comprising the steps of:

• storing a tree structure comprising a plurality of nodes of tree structure attributes, arranged in a hierarchy, to depict relationships among said tree structure attributes;
• receiving a data set comprising a plurality of data set attributes with associated weight values;
• selecting a set of nodes from said tree structure with tree structure attributes that correspond with said data set attributes;
• assigning quantitative values to nodes in said set of nodes from said weight values in said data set;
• selecting at least one cluster of nodes, based on close proximity of said nodes in said tree structure;
• and
• selecting a focal node on said tree structure for said cluster of nodes based on said data set attributes, said focal node comprising tree structure attributes most representative of said data set attributes, wherein selection of said focal node includes evaluating attributes of said nodes of said cluster starting from a node at the top of said hierarchy of said tree structure and analyzing downward to select said focal node based on said quantitative values and said relationships of said attributes in said tree structure.

A computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions, which when executed, cases the computer to determine at least one focal node on a hierarchically arranged tree structure of nodes for attributes of a data set, said instructions causing the computer to perform the steps of:

• storing a tree structure comprising a plurality of nodes of tree structure attributes, arranged in a hierarchy, to depict relationships among said tree structure attributes;
• receiving a data set comprising a plurality of data set attributes with associated weight values;
• selecting a set of nodes from said tree structure with tree structure attributes that correspond with said data set attributes;
• assigning quantitative values to nodes in said set of nodes from said weight values in said data set;
• selecting at least one cluster of nodes, based on close proximity of said nodes in said tree structure;
• and
• selecting a focal node on said tree structure for said cluster of nodes based on said data set attributes, said focal node comprising tree structure attributes most representative of said data set attributes, wherein selection of said focal node includes evaluating attributes of said nodes of said cluster starting from a node at the top of said hierarchy of said tree structure and analyzing downward to select said focal node based on said quantitative values and said relationships of said attributes in said tree structure.