Alternating tree-based classifiers and methods for learning them

Abstract

This invention provides methods and systems for classification of data instances using tree-based classifiers. Tree-based classifiers are first built according to a particular structure using a technique known as “boosting” wherein simple rules are successively added to the tree-based classifier until the unit tree-based classifier exhibits satisfactory error performance. The resulting classifier can then accurately classify an instance of data submitted to it and the classifier can optionally provide a measure of confidence for the classification result produced by the tree-based classifier.