Flow Graphs and Data Mining

In this paper we propose a new approach to data mining and knowledge discovery based on information flow distribution in a flow graph. Flow graphs introduced in this paper are different from those proposed by Ford and Fulkerson for optimal flow analysis and they model flow distribution in a network rather than the optimal flow which is used for information flow examination in decision algorithms. It is revealed that flow in a flow graph is governed by Bayes’ rule, but the rule has an entirely deterministic interpretation without referring to its probabilistic roots. Besides, a decision algorithm induced by a flow graph and dependency between conditions and decisions of decision rules is introduced and studied, which is used next to simplify decision algorithms.