Patent ID: 8655049

Claim:
An identification method performed by a computer to identify a data point distribution area on a coordinate plane, the identification method comprising: a distribution representative point selection step of: dividing an area on the coordinate plane into two or more divided areas by providing and using one dividing straight line or plural dividing straight lines parallel to each other, where plural data are expressed as data points on the coordinate plane, the plural data constituting a data group to be determined, each of the plural data including two variables as a pair, the dividing straight line or the plural dividing straight lines crossing the data point distribution area, the data point distribution area being a distribution area of the data points, and selecting, in each of the divided areas, from among the data points in the divided area, an outermost data point in each of two directions as representative points of the data point distribution area, the two directions being parallel to an extending direction of the dividing straight line or the plural dividing straight lines; and a determination step of: determining whether there is an overlapping area where a distribution representative point area overlaps a determination area, the distribution representative point area being defined by connecting the representative points with lines, the determination area being a specific area set on the coordinate plane, and determining, when determining that there is the overlapping area, that the data group to be determined is a relevant data group.