title: Automated variable weighting in k-means type clustering.
abstract: This paper proposes a k-means type clustering algorithm that can automatically calculate variable weights. A new step is introduced to the k-means clustering process to iteratively update variable weights based on the current partition of data and a formula for weight calculation is proposed. The convergency theorem of the new clustering process is given. The variable weights produced by the algorithm measure the importance of variables in clustering and can be used in variable selection in data mining applications where large and complex real data are often involved. Experimental results on both synthetic and real data have shown that the new algorithm outperformed the standard k-means type algorithms in recovering clusters in data.
authors.affiliation: E-Business Technology Institute, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong. jhuang@eti.hku.hk
authors.forename: Joshua Zhexue
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Michael K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Hongqiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rong
authors.forename: Zichen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003198:Computer Simulation; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009716:Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted