System and method for cost-effective classification of an object under inspection

A method for classifying an object under inspection, said method comprising:

• inputting a feature vector for an object under inspection to a classifier for said object;
• inputting a cost variable to said classifier that specifies a cost associated with incorrectly classifying said object under inspection in a first of a plurality of classes;
• said classifier using said feature vector to compute a probability that said object under inspection is properly assigned membership in said first of a plurality of classes;
• and
• said classifier using said cost variable to determine whether it is cost-effective to assign the object to said first of said plurality of classes given the computed probability.

A system for classifying an object under inspection, said system comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• computer-executable code stored to a computer-readable medium, said computer-executable code executable by said at least one processor to
• receive a feature vector for an object under inspection,
• receive a cost variable that specifies a cost associated with incorrectly classifying said object under inspection,
• use said feature vector to compute, for each of a plurality of classes, a probability that said object under inspection is properly assigned membership in the respective class, and
• use said cost variable to determine the most cost-effective one of the plurality of classes to which to assign the object given the computed probability of each of the plurality of classes.