Patent ID: 7962318

Claim:
A method for fitting a model to a set of data, implemented by a computer system comprising a processor and memory storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the method, the method comprising: providing a model characterized by a n×1 parameter vector x =[x 1 , x 2 , . . . x n ] T having n individual parameters x 1 , x 2 , . . . x n ; obtaining m sets of data from a system under consideration where m>n; constructing a measurement equation of a form z = Hx + v based on the m sets of data and the parameter vector x , wherein each one of the m sets of data is used to construct z i and H i of a corresponding row z i = H i x +v i of the measurement equation and v represents a m×1 disturbance vector v =[v 1 , v 2 , . . . v m ] T ; for each column of the matrix H , determining a set of α values wherein each α value is based on a corresponding subset of elements of the column of the matrix H , the subset of elements determined on the basis of a distinct, non-ordered combination of rows of the matrix H ; for each distinct, non-ordered row combination of the matrix H , determining a corresponding α sum by adding the α values associated with the row combination for each column of the matrix H ; and selecting a row combination with a lowest α sum and forming a reduced set of equations based, at least in part, on the rows z i = H i x +v i of the measurement equation corresponding to the row combination with the lowest α sum and wherein corresponding values of the disturbance vector v for the reduced set of equations are set to zero; solving the reduced set of equations for the individual parameters x 1 , x 2 , . . . x n of the parameter vector x =[x 1 , x 2 , . . . x n ] T to thereby characterize the model; and, outputting a characterization of the model.