Patent ID: 9390117
Filing Date: 2016-07-12
CPC Classification: G06F

Claim Text:
1. A method for extracting a transformation pattern as an approximate pattern expression in the process of transforming sets of input strings to at least one pattern expression that is a string expressing the sets of input strings, the transformation pattern being for transforming the sets of input strings to the pattern expression, the method comprising the steps, executed by a computer, of: preparing one structure including a plurality of nodes each representing a state and a plurality of edges each representing a transition, the edges each having as a label a set of sub-strings (hereinafter, referred to as an “edge-owned string set”) in the sets of input strings; generating a first reduced structure by removing at least one state in the one structure from the one structure and by merging at least two edges including an edge associated with the removed state in the one structure, (A) based on a state removal score indicating an evaluated value of a change level of a sub-structure in the one structure, the sub-structure associated with at least two edges which are to be merged with a removal of at least one state in the one structure; (B) based on an inclusion relations between the sub-structure and another sub-structure or the one structure; or (C) based on a combination of the state removal score and the inclusion relationship; generating a first approximate pattern expression based on the first reduced structure; and presenting the first approximate pattern expression.