Determining Attribute Associations Using Expanded Attribute Profiles

1 . A computer based method for determining attribute associations using an expanded attribute profile, comprising:

a) receiving a query attribute;

b) accessing one or more primary attributes in an attribute profile associated with a query-attribute-positive individual;

c) generating one or more secondary attributes, wherein the secondary attributes are lower resolution attributes derived from the primary attributes;

d) storing the secondary attributes in association with the attribute profile to create an expanded attribute profile; and

e) determining attribute combinations that are associated with the query attribute by identifying attribute combinations from the expanded attribute profile that have higher frequencies of occurrence in a set of attribute profiles associated with query-attribute-positive individuals than in a set of attribute profiles associated with query-attribute-negative individuals.

2 . The computer based method of claim 1 , wherein the secondary attributes encompass the primary attributes.

3 . The computer based method of claim 1 , wherein at least one secondary attribute is a categorical attribute that encompasses at least one primary attribute that is a numerical attribute.

4 . The computer based method of claim 1 , wherein at least one secondary attribute is derived by compounding the values of two or more primary attributes.

5 . The computer based method of claim 1 , wherein at least one primary attribute has a continuous value and at least one secondary attribute derived from that primary attribute has a discrete value.

6 . The computer based method of claim 1 , wherein at least one secondary attribute is derived through a heuristic rule applied to one or more primary attributes.

7 . The computer based method of claim 1 , wherein at least one secondary attribute comprises an inequality statement containing a quantitative value, wherein the quantitative value is either larger or smaller than that of the primary attribute from which it was derived.

8 . The computer based method of claim 1 , wherein two or more of the secondary attributes comprise a sequence of inequality statements containing progressively larger quantitative values.

9 . The computer based method of claim 1 , wherein two or more of the secondary attributes comprise a sequence of inequality statements containing progressively smaller quantitative values.

10 . A computer based method for determining attribute associations using an expanded attribute profile, comprising:

a) accessing one or more primary attributes in an attribute profile;

b) generating one or more secondary attributes, wherein the secondary attributes are lower resolution attributes derived from the primary attributes;

c) storing the secondary attributes in association with the attribute profile to create an expanded attribute profile; and

d) determining the strength of association between the expanded attribute profile and a query attribute by comparing the expanded attribute profile to a set of attribute combinations that are statistically associated with the query attribute.

11 . The computer based method of claim 10 , wherein the secondary attributes encompass the primary attributes.

12 . The computer based method of claim 10 , wherein at least one secondary attribute is a categorical attribute that encompasses at least one primary attribute that is a numerical attribute.

13 . The computer based method of claim 10 , wherein at least one secondary attribute is derived by compounding the values of two or more primary attributes.

14 . The computer based method of claim 10 , wherein at least one primary attribute has a continuous value and at least one secondary attribute derived from that primary attribute has a discrete value.

15 . The computer based method of claim 10 , wherein at least one secondary attribute is derived through a heuristic rule applied to one or more primary attributes.

16 . The computer based method of claim 10 , wherein at least one secondary attribute comprises an inequality statement containing a quantitative value, wherein the quantitative value is either larger or smaller than that of the primary attribute from which it was derived.

17 . The computer based method of claim 10 , wherein two or more of the secondary attributes comprise a sequence of inequality statements containing progressively larger quantitative values.

18 . The computer based method of claim 10 , wherein two or more of the secondary attributes comprise a sequence of inequality statements containing progressively smaller quantitative values.

19 . A computer based system for determining attribute associations using an expanded attribute profile, comprising:

a) a data receiving subsystem for receiving a query attribute;

b) a data accessing subsystem for accessing one or more primary attributes in an attribute profile associated with a query-attribute-positive individual;

c) a data processing subsystem comprising:

i) a data conversion subsystem for generating one or more secondary attributes, wherein the secondary attributes are lower resolution attributes derived from the primary attributes; and

d) a data storage subsystem for storing the secondary attributes in association with the attribute profile to create an expanded attribute profile.

20 . The computer based system of claim 19 , wherein the data processing subsystem further comprises:

ii) a first data comparison subsystem for determining attribute combinations that are associated with the query attribute by identifying attribute combinations from the expanded attribute profile that have higher frequencies of occurrence in a set of attribute profiles associated with query-attribute-positive individuals than in a set of attribute profiles associated with query-attribute-negative individuals; and

iii) a second data comparison subsystem for determining the strength of association between the expanded attribute profile and a query attribute by comparing the expanded attribute profile to a set of attribute combinations that are statistically associated with the query attribute.