Patent ID: 7024426

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for operating data processing apparatus to rationalize stored training data, said training data being suitable for generating a model of a time-valiant behavior wherein said training data includes an extant set of training examples, each member of said extant set providing values for a newness parameter and one or more other parameters, the value of said newness parameter indicating that the event to which that training example relates occurred before a predetermined time; said method comprising: (a) gathering an update set of training examples, each member of said update set providing values for said newness parameter and said one or more other parameters, the value of said newness parameter indicating that the event to which that training example relates occurred after said predetermined time; (b) analyzing said extant set and said update set to generate a classifier which classifies training examples from both said extant set and said update set, the classification of the training examples being a function of a plurality of parameters which include said newness parameter; and (c) forming a surviving set of training examples by selecting, on the basis of the generated classifier, a surviving set of training examples from said extant set.