Patent ID: 6678669
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: G16H

Abstract:
A computer-based method for selecting variables for use in a computer-based system for prognosis, diagnosis and for predicting outcomes based upon a plurality of variables, comprising:(a) obtaining a set of candidate variables based upon data obtained by observing or detecting an event or making physical or chemical observations or measurements or obtaining data resulting from tests, designating the candidate variables as a first set of candidate variables and entering them into a computer memory or computer-readable storage medium; (b) providing a set of selected important variables and designating it the current set of selected important variables, wherein the set of selected important variables is initially empty; (c) taking candidate variables from the set of candidate variables one at a time and evaluating each by training a computer-based decision-support system on that variable combined with the current set of selected important variables; (d) selecting the best of the candidate variables, wherein the best variable is any one that gives the highest performance of the decision-support system, and if the best candidate variable improves performance compared to the performance of the selected important variables, adding it to the selected important variable set, removing it from the candidate set and continuing evaluating at step (c), wherein, when the best candidate variable does not improve performance, the process is completed; (e) producing an output that comprises the resulting set of selected variables.