System and method for determining a grouping of segments within a market

Abstract

A method for determining a grouping of segments within a market. The method includes forming a bias mitigated square matrix from a square matrix populated with second choice data, and forming a compressed matrix from the bias mitigated square matrix. Each different segment is initially associated with a row of the square matrix and a column of the square matrix. The method also includes determining a matrix consistency score for the compressed matrix, forming at least one additional compressed matrix from the bias mitigated square matrix, and determining matrix consistency scores for each additional compressed matrix. The method further includes determining which matrix consistency score is best.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for determining a grouping of segments within a market, the method comprising:
 (a) forming a bias mitigated square matrix from a square matrix populated with second choice data, wherein each different segment is initially associated with a row of the square matrix and a column of the square matrix;   (b) forming a compressed matrix from the bias mitigated square matrix;   (c) determining a matrix consistency score for the compressed matrix;   (d) forming at least one additional compressed matrix from the bias mitigated square matrix;   (e) determining matrix consistency scores for each additional compressed matrix; and   (f) determining which matrix consistency score is best.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein forming the bias mitigated square matrix comprises reducing a value of a matrix element of the square matrix when the matrix element is associated with a first choice. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein forming the bias mitigated square matrix comprises reducing a value of a matrix element of the square matrix when the matrix element is associated with a second choice which is substantially different from a first choice. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein forming the compressed matrix comprise:
 forming a reduced matrix from the bias mitigated square matrix; and   forming the compressed matrix from the reduced matrix.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein forming the reduced matrix comprises aggregating matrix elements of a two-row combination of the bias mitigated square matrix on a column-by-column basis. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein forming the compressed matrix comprises aggregating two columns corresponding to the two rows on a row-by-row basis. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the matrix consistency score of the compressed matrix comprises:
 determining an internal consistency score;   determining a cross-segment inconsistency score; and   determining a difference between the cross-segment inconsistency score and the internal consistency score.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein determining the internal consistency score comprises aggregating diagonal matrix elements of the compressed matrix. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein determining the cross-segment inconsistency score comprises aggregating non-diagonal matrix elements of the compressed matrix. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining which matrix consistency score is best comprises:
 determining a difference between an internal consistency score and an cross-segment inconsistency score for each compressed matrix; and   determining which difference is largest.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising designating one matrix consistency score best when the largest difference is associated with two or more matrix consistency scores. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein designating comprises arbitrarily designating one matrix consistency score best when the largest difference is associated with two or more matrix consistency scores. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein designating comprises deterministically designating one matrix consistency score best when the largest difference is associated with two or more matrix consistency scores. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a hierarchy of segments within the market. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising populating the square matrix with the second choice data. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing at least one of the following:
 the bias mitigated square matrix;   the matrix consistency scores; and   the compressed matrix having the best consistency score.   
     
     
         17 . A method for determining a grouping of segments within a market, the method comprising:
 (a) forming a bias mitigated square matrix from a square matrix populated with second choice data;   (b) forming an expanded matrix from the bias mitigated square matrix;   (c) determining a matrix consistency score for the expanded matrix;   (d) forming at least one additional expanded matrix from the bias mitigated square matrix;   (e) determining matrix consistency scores for each additional expanded matrix; and   (f) determining which matrix consistency score is best.   
     
     
         18 . A system for determining a grouping of segments within a market, the system comprising a computing device and at least one of the following:
 a bias mitigation module for mitigating bias from second choice data of a square matrix;   a matrix compression module for compressing the square matrix; and   a matrix consistency score module for determining a matrix consistency score associated with the compressed matrix.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the following comprises a portion of the computing device:
 the bias mitigation module;   the matrix compression module; and   the matrix consistency score module.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising a storage device in communication with the computing device.