Patent ID: 8588534

Claim:
A data-holding subsystem comprising instructions executable by a logic subsystem of a classification computing device to: receive, at the classification computing device, elements for classification; iteratively form, at the classification computing device, a plurality of first-level sets, each first-level set including up to a base number of elements; for each of the plurality of first-level sets, generate, at the classification computing device, one or more primary groups for that first-level set, each primary group including elements from that first-level set judged to be within a first grouping tolerance of one another; iteratively form, at the classification computing device, a plurality of second-level sets by, for each second-level set, sequentially selecting a next available element from a next available primary group until that second-level set includes the base number of elements or until no next available element remains; for each of the plurality of second-level sets, generate, at the classification computing device, one or more secondary groups for that second-level set, each secondary group including elements from that second-level set judged to be within a second grouping tolerance of one another; and generate, at the classification computing device, one or more merged groups, each merged group including all elements from one of the primary groups or secondary groups and all elements from another one of the primary groups or secondary groups.