J-model : an open and social ensemble learning architecture for classification

Ensemble learning is a promising direction of research in machine learning, in which an ensemble classifier gives better predictive and more robust performance for classification problems by combining other learners. Meanwhile agent-based systems provide frameworks to share knowledge from multiple agents in an open context. This thesis combines multi-agent knowledge sharing with ensemble methods to produce a new style of learning system for open environments. We now are surrounded by many smart objects such as wireless sensors, ambient communication devices, mobile medical devices and even information supplied via other humans. When we coordinate smart objects properly, we can produce a form of collective intelligence from their collaboration. Traditional ensemble methods and agent-based systems have complementary advantages and disadvantages in this context. Traditional ensemble methods show better classification performance, while agent-based systems might not guarantee their performance for classification. Traditional ensemble methods work as closed and centralised systems (so they cannot handle classifiers in an open context), while agent-based systems are natural vehicles for classifiers in an open context. We designed an open and social ensemble learning architecture, named J-model, to merge the conflicting benefits of the two research domains. The J-model architecture is based on a service choreography approach for coordinating classifiers. Coordination protocols are defined by interaction models that describe how classifiers will interact with one another in a peer-to-peer manner. The peer ranking algorithm recommends more appropriate classifiers to participate in an interaction model to boost the success rate of results of their interactions. Coordinated participant classifiers who are recommended by the peer ranking algorithm become an ensemble classifier within J-model. We evaluated J-model’s classification performance with 13 UCI machine learning benchmark data sets and a virtual screening problem as a realistic classification problem. J-model showed better performance of accuracy, for 9 benchmark sets out of 13 data sets, than 8 other representative traditional ensemble methods. J-model gave better results of specificity for 7 benchmark sets. In the virtual screening problem, J-model gave better results for 12 out of 16 bioassays than already published results. We defined different interaction models for each specific classification task and the peer ranking algorithm was used across all the interaction models. Our research contributions to knowledge are as follows. First, we showed that service choreography can be an effective ensemble coordination method for classifiers in an open context. i Second, we used interaction models that implement task specific coordinations of classifiers to solve a variety of representative classification problems. Third, we designed the peer ranking algorithm which is generally and independently applicable to the task of recommending appropriate member classifiers from a classifier pool based on an open pool of interaction models and classifiers.