METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMPARATIVE DATA ANALYSIS

摘要

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for comparative analysis of data records. In particular embodiments of the present invention enable a computer system to provide a template lattice as an input to computer implemented abstraction of data from records for comparative analysis, abstract record data, map one or more record data elements to a mapped position, determine a plurality of lattice elements and a set of lattice element identifiers associated with the plurality of lattice elements to provide a characterising set for the mapped position and compare first and second data records in order to determine the degree of similarity between a first characterising set and a second characterising set for the respective first and second records. The method and system can be utilised to allow comparative analysis of recorded data that may be sensitive for the individual subjects while preserving privacy of the individual subjects.

主权项

1. A computer implemented method of comparative analysis, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a template lattice as in input to computer implemented abstraction of data from records for comparative analysis, the template lattice comprising a pattern of lattice elements defined using an n-dimensional coordinate system, wherein each lattice element is assigned an identifier independent of the coordinate system; abstracting data from each record for comparative analysis by a data abstraction module preforming for each record the steps of: mapping one or more record data elements to a mapped position using the coordinate system; and determining a plurality of lattice elements within a geometrically defined area of the lattice surrounding the mapped position and a set of lattice element identifiers associated with the plurality of lattice elements to provide a characterising set of for the mapped position; comparing a first data record and a second data record by a record comparison module performing the steps of: determining the degree of similarity between a first characterising set for the first record and a second characterising set for the second record; and translating the degree of similarity to a comparison measure between the first record and second record based on the geometrically defined area used for abstracting data.