Situation-aware recommendation using limited cluster sizes

An apparatus comprising:

• an interface;
• and
• one or more processors configured to:
• store data relating to usage patterns of the user, wherein the data includes information as to items which were used and the context in which they were used;
• cluster the data into clusters of data points, wherein the number of data points per cluster is artificially limited to a preset maximum number of data points per cluster;
• determine a centroid for each of the clusters;
• select clusters similar to a current context of the user by comparing a data point representing the current context of the user to one or more of the centroids;
• and
• compute, for each of one or more items, a probability that the user wishes to use the corresponding item, based on the selected similar clusters, wherein the probabilities are used to recommend one or more of the items.

A system for making recommendations to a user, the system comprising:

• means for storing data relating to usage patterns of the user, wherein the data includes information as to items which were used and the context in which they were used;
• means for clustering the data into clusters of data points, wherein the number of data points per cluster is artificially limited to a preset maximum number of data points per cluster;
• means for determining a centroid for each of the clusters;
• means for selecting clusters similar to a current context of the user by comparing a data point representing the current context of the user to one or more of the centroids;
• means for computing, for each of one or more items, a probability that the user wishes to use the corresponding item, based on the selected similar clusters, wherein the probabilities are used to recommend one or more of the items;
• and
• a processor coupled to the means for storing, means for clustering, means for determining, means for selecting, and means for computing.

A non-transitory program storage device readable by a machine tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for making recommendations to a user, the method comprising:

• storing data relating to usage patterns of the user, wherein the data includes information as to items which were used and the context in which they were used;
• clustering the data into clusters of data points, wherein the number of data points per cluster is artificially limited to a preset maximum number of data points per cluster;
• determining a centroid for each of the clusters;
• selecting clusters similar to a current context of the user by comparing a data point representing the current context of the user to one or more of the centroids;
• and
• computing, for each of one or more items, a probability that the user wishes to use the corresponding item, based on the selected similar clusters.