Method and apparatus for determining a set of large sequences from an electronic data base

A computer program product stored and implemented on a computer to determine a set of large sequences from an electronic data base comprising a set D={d1, . . . , dn} of transactions di (1≦i≦n) in a computer system with an implemented query module, each of the large sequences on the set D of transactions di having a support value greater than or equal to a given support value S, each of the transactions di of the set D being a sequence of items of a record E={e1, . . . , em} of items ej (1≦j≦m) and the product comprising the following means:

• a) means recorded on an electronic storage medium for determining a set L1 of large sequences from the set D of transactions, the large sequences of set L1 each comprising exactly one item of the record E, and an assigned support value SL1 on the sequence D of transactions each being greater than or equal to the given support value S;
• b) means recorded on the electronic storage medium for determining a set L2 of large sequences from the set D of transactions, the large sequences of set L2 each comprising exactly two items of the record E in a respective order RL2, and an assigned support value SL2 on the set D of transactions each being greater than or equal to the given support value S, and nothing but sequences comprising one of the large sequences of set L1, as a partial sequence, being taken into account in determining set L2;
• c) means recorded on the electronic storage medium for determining a set Lk (k>2) of large sequences from the set D of transactions, the large sequences of set Lk each comprising exactly k items of record E in a respective order RLK, and an assigned support value SLK on the sequence D of transactions each being greater than or equal to the given support value S, and nothing but sequences comprising two of the large sequences of set Lk−1, as partly overlapping partial sequences, with the respective order RLK−1, being taken into account in determining set Lk;
• d) means recorded on the electronic storage medium for repeating step c) for k=k+1 and terminating the repetition of step c) when a given termination condition is fulfilled;
• and
• e) means recorded on the electronic storage medium for outputting an indication of whether any sequence results exsist, when the repetition of step c) is terminated.

An integrated sequential analysis system, comprising:

• an electronic data base comprising a set D={d1, . . . , dn} of transactions di (1≦i≦n), each of the large sequences on the set D of transactions di having a support value greater than or equal to a given support value S, each of the transactions di of the set D being a sequence of items of a record E={e1, . . . , em} of items ej (1≦j≦m);
• a query module comprising a query means coupled to the data base and a processing means for detecting query parameters and generating queries to the query means;
• means for determining a set L1 of large sequences from the set D of transactions, the large sequences of set L1 each comprising exactly one item of the record E, and an assigned support value SL1 on the sequence D of transactions each being greater than or equal to the given support value S;
• means for determining a set L2 of large sequences from the set D of transactions, the large sequences of set L2 each comprising exactly two items of the record E in a respective order RL2, and an assigned support value SL2 on the set D of transactions each being greater than or equal to the given support value S, and nothing but sequences comprising one of the large sequences of set L1, as a partial sequence, being taken into account in determining set L2;
• means for determining a set Lk (k>2) of large sequences from the set D of transactions, the large sequences of set Lk each comprising exactly k items of record E in a respective order RLK, and an assigned support value SLK on the sequence D of transactions each being greater than or equal to the given support value S, and nothing but sequences comprising two of the large sequences of set Lk−1, as partly overlapping partial sequences, with the respective order RLK−1, being taken into account in determining set Lk;
• means for repeating step c) for k=k+1 and terminating the repetition of step c) when a given termination condition is fulfilled;
• and
• means for outputting an indication of whether any sequence results exsist, and outputting the indication when the repetition of step c) is terminated.