System and method for operating a non-linear model with missing data for use in electronic commerce

摘要

A system and method for preprocessing input electronic commerce data to a non-linear model for use in an electronic commerce (e-commerce) system. The non-linear model includes parameters that define the representation of the e-commerce system, and operates in two modes: run-time and training. A data preprocessor preprocesses received data in accordance with predetermined preprocessing parameters, and outputs preprocessed data. The data preprocessor includes an input buffer for receiving and storing the input data. The input data may include one or more outlier values. A data filter detects and removes, and may optionally replace, any outlier values in the input data, generating corrected input data. An output device outputs the corrected data from the data filter as preprocessed data, which may be input to the non-linear model in training mode to train the non-linear model, and/or in run-time mode to generate control parameters and/or predictive output information for the e-commerce system.