Patent ID: 9009096
Filing Date: 2015-04-14
Classification: G06F,G06N

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: generating a ratings matrix including matrix values, each row of the ratings matrix identifying one of a plurality of users, each column of the ratings matrix identifying one of a plurality of items, and each of the matrix values corresponding to a known affinity rating describing a degree of affinity associated with one of the users and one of the items, wherein the ratings matrix includes a missing entry representing an unknown affinity rating; generating, using one or more processors, a revised ratings matrix by factoring the ratings matrix into a user matrix and an item matrix, the revised ratings matrix being the product of the user matrix and the item matrix and including at least one entry representing a predicted affinity rating in place of the missing entry; estimating a confidence value associated with at least a portion of the known affinity ratings in the ratings matrix; generating a confidence matrix that includes the confidence values; estimating a probability that a specific user had an opportunity to rate a specific item, the specific user and the specific item being associated with a missing affinity rating in the ratings matrix; replacing the missing affinity rating in the ratings matrix with a low affinity rating; and inserting a confidence value associated with the specific user and the specific item in the confidence matrix, the confidence value having a value equal to the probability.