title: Efficient global maximum likelihood estimation through kernel methods.
abstract: A new efficient technique for estimating probability densities from data through the application of the approximate global maximum likelihood (AGML) approach is proposed. It employs a composition of kernel functions to estimate the correct behavior of parameters involved in the expression of the unknown probability density. Convergence to the optimal solution is guaranteed by a deterministic learning framework when low discrepancy sequences are used to generate the centers of the kernels. Trials on mixture of Gaussians show that the proposed semi-local technique is able to efficiently approximate the maximum likelihood solution even in complex situations where implementations based on standard neural networks require an excessive computational cost.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Studi sui Sistemi Intelligenti per l'Automazione, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via de Marini 6, 16149 Genova, Italy. cervellera@ge.issia.cnr.it
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cervellera
authors.forename: Danilo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Macciò
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muselli
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D003198:Computer Simulation; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D011336:Probability