Compound classifier for pattern recognition applications

A computer program product embodied in a computer-readable medium operative in a data processing system for use in classifying an input pattern into an associated class, the computer program product comprising:

• a feature extraction portion for extracting data pertaining to preselected features present within the input pattern;
• a recognition portion for determining, via a first classification technique, a discriminant value for each of a plurality of classes reflecting the relative likelihood that a class is the associated class and for selecting a class with the highest relative probability;
• and
• a rejection portion for generating, via a second classification technique that is partitioned to calculate a confidence value only for a single class, a confidence value reflective of the a posteriori probability that the selected class is the associated class and for rejecting the selected class if the determined confidence value is below a predetermined threshold value.

A method of classifying an input pattern into an associated class, comprising:

• extracting data pertaining to preselected features present within the input pattern;
• determining, via a first classification technique, a discriminant value for each of a plurality of classes reflecting the relative likelihood that a class is the associated class;
• selecting a class with the highest relative likelihood;
• generating, via a second classification technique, a confidence value reflective of the a posteriori probability that the selected class is the associated class, the second classification technique being partitioned to calculate a confidence value only for a single class;
• and
• rejecting the selected class if the determined confidence value is below a predetermined threshold value.