Patent ID: 7209910

Claim:
A computer implemented method of determining a set of large sequences from an electronic data base comprising a set D={d 1 , . . . , dn} of transactions di (1≦i≦n) in a computer system with an implemented query module, each of the large sequences on the set D of transactions di having a support value greater than or equal to a given support value S, each of the transactions di of the set D being a sequence of items of a record E={e 1 , . . . , em} of items ej (1≦j≦m) and the method comprising the following steps: a) determining, via a computer a set L 1 of large sequences from the set D of transactions, the large sequences of set L 1 each comprising exactly one item of the record E, and an assigned support value S L1 on the sequence D of transactions each being greater than or equal to the given support value S; b) determining, via a computer a set L 2 of large sequences from the set D of transactions, the large sequences of set L 2 each comprising exactly two items of the record E in a respective order R L2 , and an assigned support value S L2 on the set D of transactions each being greater than or equal to the given support value S, and nothing but sequences comprising one of the large sequences of set L 1 , as a partial sequence, being taken into account in determining set L 2 ; c) determining, via a computer a set Lk (k>2) of large sequences from the set D of transactions, the large sequences of set Lk each comprising exactly k items of record E in a respective order R LK , and an assigned support value S LK on the sequence D of transactions each being greater than or equal to the given support value S, and nothing but sequences comprising two of the large sequences of set Lk−1, as partly overlapping partial sequences, with the respective order R LK−1 , being taken into account in determining set Lk; d) repeating step c) for k=k+1 and terminating the repetition of step c) when a predefined termination condition is fulfilled; and e) when the repetition of step c) is terminated, outputting via a computer an indication of whether any sequence results exsist.