Patent ID: 7016887

Claim:
A computerized method of forming a decision tree to simultaneously classify multiple properties of a training item set, said training item set containing training items each having a plurality of X descriptors and a plurality of original properties, each of said plurality of X descriptors and said plurality of original properties corresponds to a physical aspect of a training item, said method comprising: defining X descriptor and property data for a plurality of training items, wherein at least some of said training items have a known value for a first property, and at least some of said items have a known value for a second property, wherein said second property is different from said first property; converting each of said training items into one or more converted training items, said converted training items each having said plurality of X descriptors, a K descriptor and a property, wherein said converting comprises converting a training item having a first original property of value Y 1 and a second original property of value Y 2 into a first converted training item and a second converted training item, said first converted training item having a K descriptor of value one and a property of value Y 1 , said second converted training item having a K descriptor of value two and a property of value Y 2 ; splitting said converted training items at a root node of an original tree by a logic test on said K descriptor; growing said original tree by repeatedly splitting said converted training items at sub-root nodes of said original tree by logic tests on X descriptors; pruning said original tree to produce a pure-specific tree; growing a maximally generic tree, said maximally generic tree having a root node that splits said converted training items by a logic test on a X descriptor; and permuting said maximally generic tree to produce said decision tree, said decision tree operative to classify multiple unknown properties of a physical item.