Patent ID: 7512582

Claim:
A computer readable storage medium including instructions readable by a computer, which when implemented, cause the computer to classify data comprising the steps of: receiving labeled data; receiving unlabeled data; constructing a first classifier and a second classifier using the labeled data; performing uncertainty reduction comprising: selecting instances from the unlabeled data that are uncertain with respect to the first classifier; and selecting instances from the unlabeled data that are uncertain with respect to the second classifier; labeling the instances uncertain to the first classifier using the second classifier to form a first labeled set; labeling the instances uncertain to the second classifier using the first classifier to form a second labeled set; re-constructing the first classifier and the second classifier using the first labeled set and the second labeled set; providing the re-constructed first classifier and the re-constructed second classifier for use in labeling data; wherein selecting instances uncertain to the first classifier includes selecting instances of the unlabeled data as a function of uncertainty; wherein selecting instances of the unlabeled data as a function of uncertainty comprises calculating at least one value of uncertainty used to select the instances uncertain to the first classifier; wherein selecting instances uncertain to the first classifier includes selecting instances having a value of uncertainty that is compared to a predetermined threshold; and wherein selecting instances having a value of uncertainly includes selecting instances having a value of uncertainty below the predetermined threshold.