Clustering technique for cyclic phenomena

A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising program code for controlling a processor to execute a method, the method comprising:

• receiving multiple data arrays, each data array containing multiple data items such that each data item describes a variable of an entity in one time slot;
• determining a specific magnitude parameter for each of the several entities;
• scaling the data arrays between entities such that the specific magnitude parameters are suppressed;
• training a clustering system with a first plurality of the scaled data arrays, to determine a set of cluster centers;
• and
• clustering a second plurality of the scaled data arrays with the trained clustering systems,
• wherein the method further comprises processing data arrays that collectively describe cyclic behavior of at least one variable in several entities in a telecommunication network to obtain the second plurality of the scaled data arrays, and using the second plurality of the scaled data arrays to determine at least one condition, wherein the cyclic behavior exhibits at least a repeating first cycle and each first cycle comprises multiple time slots.

An apparatus comprising:

• a determining unit configured to determine a first cycle in the cyclic behavior and dividing the first cycle into multiple time slots;
• a unit configured to determine multiple data arrays, each data array containing multiple data items such that each data item describes a variable of an entity in one time slot;
• for each of the several entities, a unit configured to determine a specific magnitude parameter;
• a scaling unit configured to scale the data arrays between entities such that the specific magnitude parameters are suppressed;
• a training unit configured to train a clustering system with a first plurality of the scaled data arrays to determine a set of cluster centers;
• and
• a unit configured to use the trained clustering system to cluster a second plurality of the scaled data arrays,
• wherein the apparatus is used for processing data arrays that collectively describe cyclic behavior of at least one variable in several entities in a telecommunication network to obtain the second plurality of the scaled data arrays, and using the second plurality of the scaled data arrays to determine at least one condition.

An apparatus comprising:

• determining means for determining a first cycle in the cyclic behavior and dividing the first cycle into multiple time slots;
• determining means for determining multiple data arrays, each data array containing multiple data items such that each data item describes a variable of an entity in one time slot;
• for each of the several entities, determining means for determining a specific magnitude parameter;
• scaling means for scaling the data arrays between entities such that the specific magnitude parameters are suppressed;
• training means for training a clustering system with a first plurality of the scaled data arrays to determine a set of cluster centers;
• and
• means for using the trained clustering system to cluster a second plurality of the scaled data arrays,
• wherein the apparatus is used for processing data arrays that collectively describe cyclic behavior of at least one variable in several entities in a telecommunication network to obtain the second plurality of the scaled data arrays, and using the second plurality of the scaled data arrays to determine at least one condition.