Method for measuring a degree of association for dimensionally referenced data

Abstract

A method for measuring a degree of association ( 58 ) between, and for selectively creating a grouping ( 40 ) of, n plurality of spatially referenced physical events ( 22 ) of a predetermined physical characteristic. The method includes the steps of assembling n plurality of physical events ( 26 ), assembling a universe of possible sample locations ( 36 ), determining a reference distribution ( 54 ), determining a restricted distribution ( 56 ), and determining the degree of association ( 58 ) between the n plurality of physical events. Specifically, the physical events each have an indicia of location and a physical characteristic above a threshold. The step ( 54 ) of determining a reference distribution is conducted by calculating a test statistic ( 78 ) for each of n′ plurality of random allocations ( 74 ) of the n plurality of physical events over the selected n plurality of sample locations. Further, the step ( 58 ) of determining a restricted distribution includes calculating the test statistic ( 82 ) for each of n″ plurality of restricted random allocations ( 80 ) of the n plurality of physical events over the n plurality of sample locations ( 62 ).

1 - 19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . A method, comprising: 
 establishing a set of occurrences of an event;    identifying a pair of the occurrences having a proximity less than a predetermined value.    
   
   
       21 . A method, as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein each occurrence includes an associated location.  
   
   
       22 . A method, as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the proximity of the pair of occurances is a function of associated locations between each occurrence and another occurrence.  
   
   
       23 . A method, as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the proximity is based on at least one reference location.  
   
   
       24 . A method, as set forth in  claim 23 , the reference location being defined by a model of an at-risk population.  
   
   
       25 . A method, as set forth in  claim 24 , the model representing the spatial-density of the at-risk population.  
   
   
       26 . A method, as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein each associated location is an estimate of the location of the occurrence.  
   
   
       27 . A method, as set forth in  claim 20 , the event having a parameter, each occurrence having a value of the parameter, the method further comprising the steps of: 
 comparing the value of the parameter of each occurrence with a second predetermined value; and,    including, in the subset, occurrences whose value of the parameter exceeds the second predetermined value.