Abstract: A method is disclosed for computing an association rule in a database having numerical attributes and 0-1 attributes. First, a numerical attribute is divided into a plurality of intervals (or buckets), and each data set is placed into a single bucket according to the value of the numerical attribute. The number of data sets in each bucket and the number of data sets with a 0-1 attribute being 1 are counted. Second, the starting bucket of an interval to be detected is to be detected. Third, the terminating bucket corresponding to the starting bucket is detected. That is, the largest interval with a confidence equal to or larger than a predetermined value. Fourth, one of the detected pairs of starting and terminating buckets which includes the largest number of customers is the answer to this question. Finally, the required data attributes of data included in this interval is subsequently retrieved.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining the correlation among data sets having a numerical attribute and a 0-1 attribute. First, a numerical attribute is divided into a plurality of buckets, and each data set is placed into a single bucket according to the value of the numerical attribute. The number of data sets in each bucket and the number of data sets with a 0-1 attribute of 1 are counted. Second, an axis corresponding to the total number of data sets in a first through a particular buckets (X axis) and an axis corresponding to the total number of data sets with a 0-1 attribute of 1 in a first through a particular buckets (Y axis) are virtually established, and points corresponding to the respective values of the first through the particular buckets are virtually plotted. Third, after a plane is constructed in this manner, one of the pairs of points separated at an interval of T.times.N or T or larger which has the largest slope is found.