Patent ID: 6725210
Filing Date: 2004-04-20
Classification: G06F,G06Q

Abstract:
A method of operating a data processing apparatus to process variables stored in an electronic database so as to provide prediction of future values of the variables, the method comprising the steps of:accessing a prior distribution over the parameters of a first of the variables; accessing data values of the first variable to derive a posterior distribution of the parameters of the first variable; accessing a prior distribution over the parameters of the second of the variables, the second of the variables being correlated with the first; accessing data values of the second variable to derive a posterior distribution of the parameters of the second variable; taking statistical samples of the parameters of each posterior distribution to provide estimates of the parameters of the posterior distributions of each of the first and the second variables; computing a predictive distribution of the first variable from said estimates, both the estimate of the parameters of the posterior distribution of the first variable and the estimate of the parameters of the posterior distribution of the second variable being used in computing the predictive distribution of the first variable; computing a predictive distribution of the second variable from the said estimates, both the estimate of the parameters of the posterior distribution of the first variable and the estimate of the parameters of the posterior distribution of the second variable being used in computing the predictive distribution of the second variable; and formulating predicted data values for the first and second correlated variables from said predictive distributions and known values for the variables.