Classification of binary vectors by stochastic complexity

Abstract

Stochastic complexity is treated as a tool of classification, i.e., of inferring the number of classes, the class descriptions, and the class memberships for a given data set of binary vectors. The stochastic complexity is evaluated with respect to the family of statistical models defined by finite mixtures of multivariate Bernoulli distributions obtained by the principle of maximum entropy. It is shown that stochastic complexity is asymptotically related to the classification maximum likelihood estimate. The formulae for stochastic complexity have an interpretation as minimum code lengths for certain universal source codes for storing the binary data vectors and their assignments into the classes in a classification. There is also a decomposition of the classification uncertainty in a sum of an intraclass uncertainty, an interclass uncertainty, and a special parsimony term. It is shown that minimizing the stochastic complexity amounts to maximizing the information content of the classification. An algorithm of alternating minimization of stochastic complexity is given. We discuss the relation of the method to the AUTOCLASS system of Bayesian classification. The application of classification by stochastic complexity to an extensive data base of strains of Enterobacteriaceae is described. © 1997 Academic Press.