Pattern graphs: A knowledge-based tool for multivariate temporal pattern retrieval

We introduce a new, powerful query formulation formalism for complex, multivariate sequence data. The new query language, termed pattern graphs, is capable of reflecting more aspects of temporal patterns than earlier proposals. The underlying graph structure of the pattern graph makes the query intuitive to use and therefore understandable not only for the data analyst. We present algorithms to match patterns against data and demonstrate its usefulness on real data from the automobile industry.