Simplifying lexicon creation in hybrid duplicate detection and inductive classifier systems

A computer-usable storage medium storing a computer program for classifying a document, the computer program comprising instructions for causing a computer to perform the following operations:

• generate a lexicon of attributes based on attribute information, wherein the duplicate detector is configured to determine whether two or more data items are near duplicates of each other;
• receive a set of documents of known classification;
• calculate class signatures based on the set of documents of known classification and the lexicon of attributes;
• receive an unknown document;
• generate a query signature based on the unknown document and the lexicon of attributes, the query signature being based at least in part on a correspondence between a unique attribute of the unknown document and the lexicon of attributes;
• compare the query signature to the class signatures to determine whether the query signature matches a class signature;
• and
• determine, based on the query signature not matching a class signature, and using the inductive classifier, a classification from among a plurality of possible classifications for the unknown document, wherein the determination is performed using instructions for causing the computer to perform the following operations:
• determine a plurality of attributes that discriminate between the plurality of possible classifications;
• compare the determined plurality of attributes to the unknown document to generate a probabilistic classification for the unknown document;
• determine that the probabilistic classification has probability exceeding a threshold;
• and
• select the probabilistic classification.

An apparatus for classifying a document, the apparatus comprising:

• one or more processing devices and a computer-readable medium coupled to the one or more processing devices, the medium storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processing devices, cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:
• generating, at the duplicate detector, a lexicon of attributes based on attribute information received from the inductive classifier, wherein the duplicate detector is configured to determine whether two or more data items are near duplicates of each other;
• receiving, at the duplicate detector, a set of documents of known classification;
• calculating, at the duplicate detector, class signatures based on the set of documents of known classification and the lexicon of attributes;
• receiving, at the duplicate detector, an unknown document;
• generating, at the duplicate detector, a query signature based on the unknown document and the lexicon of attributes, the query signature being based at least in part on a correspondence between a unique attribute of the unknown document and the lexicon of attributes;
• comparing, at the duplicate detector, the query signature to the class signatures to determine whether the query signature matches a class signature;
• and
• determining, based on the query signature not matching a class signature, and using the inductive classifier, a classification from among a plurality of possible classifications for the unknown document, comprising:
• determining a plurality of attributes that discriminate between the plurality of possible classifications;
• comparing the determined plurality of attributes to the unknown document to generate a probabilistic classification for the unknown document;
• determining that the probabilistic classification has probability exceeding a threshold;
• and
• selecting the probabilistic classification.