Hybrid neural-global minimization method of logical rule extraction


Wlodzislaw Duch, Rafal Adamczak, Krzysztof Grabczewski and Grzegorz Zal
Department of Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University,
Grudziadzka 5, 87-100 Torun, Poland.
E-mail: wduch@fizyka.umk.pl

Journal of Advanced Computational Intelligence (in print, 1999 issue, publisher's delay )

Methodology of extraction of optimal sets of logical rules using neural networks and global minimization procedures has been developed. Initial rules are extracted using density estimation neural networks with rectangular functions or multi-layered perceptron (MLP) networks trained with constrained backpropagation algorithm, transforming MLPs into simpler networks performing logical functions. A constructive algorithm called C-MLP2LN is proposed, in which rules of increasing specificity are generated consecutively by adding more nodes to the network. Neural rule extraction is followed by optimization of rules using global minimization techniques. Estimation of confidence of various sets of rules is discussed. The hybrid approach to rule extraction has been applied to a number of benchmark and real life problems with very good results.

Paper in PDF, 105 KB

Projects on similar subject and BACK to the on-line publications of W. Duch.