| Operators |
train_class_mlp — Train a multilayer perceptron.
train_class_mlp( : : MLPHandle, MaxIterations, WeightTolerance, ErrorTolerance : Error, ErrorLog)
train_class_mlp trains the multilayer perceptron (MLP) given in MLPHandle. Before the MLP can be trained, all training samples to be used for the training must be stored in the MLP using add_sample_class_mlp or read_samples_class_mlp. If after the training new additional training samples should be used a new MLP must be created with create_class_mlp, in which again all training samples to be used (i.e., the original ones and the additional ones) must be stored. In these cases, it is useful to save and read the training data with write_samples_class_mlp and read_samples_class_mlp, respectively. A second training with additional training samples is not explicitly forbidden by train_class_mlp. However, this typically does not lead to good results because the training of an MLP is a complex nonlinear optimization problem, and consequently the second training with new data will very likely lead to the fact that the optimization gets stuck in a local minimum.
During the training, the error the MLP achieves on the stored training samples is minimized by using a nonlinear optimization algorithm. With this, the MLP weights described in create_class_mlp are determined. create_class_mlp initializes the weights with random values to make it very likely that the optimization converges to the global minimum of the error function. Nevertheless, in rare cases it may happen that the random values determined with RandSeed in create_class_mlp result in a relatively large optimum error, i.e., that the optimization gets stuck in a local minimum. If it can be conjectured that this has happened the MLP should be created anew with a different value for RandSeed in order to check whether a significantly smaller error can be achieved.
The parameters MaxIterations, WeightTolerance, and ErrorTolerance control the nonlinear optimization algorithm. MaxIterations specifies the maximum number of iterations of the optimization algorithm. In practice, values between 100 and 200 should be sufficient for most problems. WeightTolerance specifies a threshold for the change of the weights per iteration. Here, the absolute value of the change of the weights between two iterations is summed. Hence, this value depends on the number of weights as well as the size of the weights, which in turn depend on the scaling of the training data. Typically, values between 0.00001 and 1 should be used. ErrorTolerance specifies a threshold for the change of the error value per iteration. This value depends on the number of training samples as well as the number of output variables of the MLP. Also here, values between 0.00001 and 1 should typically be used. The optimization is terminated if the weight change is smaller than WeightTolerance and the change of the error value is smaller than ErrorTolerance. In any case, the optimization is terminated after at most MaxIterations iterations. It should be noted that, depending on the size of the MLP and the number of training samples, the training can take from a few seconds to several hours.
On output, train_class_mlp returns the error of the MLP with the optimal weights on the training samples in Error. Furthermore, ErrorLog contains the error value as a function of the number of iterations. With this, it is possible to decide whether a second training of the MLP with the same training data without creating the MLP anew makes sense. If ErrorLog is regarded as a function, it should drop off steeply initially, while leveling out very flatly at the end. If ErrorLog is still relatively steep at the end, it usually makes sense to call train_class_mlp again. It should be noted, however, that this mechanism should not be used to train the MLP successively with MaxIterations = 1 (or other small values for MaxIterations) because this will substantially increase the number of iterations required to train the MLP.
MLP handle.
Maximum number of iterations of the optimization algorithm.
Default value: 200
Suggested values: 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, 200, 220, 240, 260, 280, 300
Threshold for the difference of the weights of the MLP between two iterations of the optimization algorithm.
Default value: 1.0
Suggested values: 1.0, 0.1, 0.01, 0.001, 0.0001, 0.00001
Restriction: WeightTolerance >= 1.0e-8
Threshold for the difference of the mean error of the MLP on the training data between two iterations of the optimization algorithm.
Default value: 0.01
Suggested values: 1.0, 0.1, 0.01, 0.001, 0.0001, 0.00001
Restriction: ErrorTolerance >= 1.0e-8
Mean error of the MLP on the training data.
Mean error of the MLP on the training data as a function of the number of iterations of the optimization algorithm.
* Train an MLP
create_class_mlp (NIn, NHidden, NOut, 'softmax', 'normalization', 1,\
42, MLPHandle)
read_samples_class_mlp (MLPHandle, 'samples.mtf')
train_class_mlp (MLPHandle, 100, 1, 0.01, Error, ErrorLog)
write_class_mlp (MLPHandle, 'classifier.mlp')
clear_class_mlp (MLPHandle)
If the parameters are valid, the operator train_class_mlp returns the value 2 (H_MSG_TRUE). If necessary, an exception is raised.
train_class_mlp may return the error 9211 (Matrix is not positive definite) if Preprocessing = 'canonical_variates' is used. This typically indicates that not enough training samples have been stored for each class.
add_sample_class_mlp, read_samples_class_mlp
evaluate_class_mlp, classify_class_mlp, write_class_mlp, create_class_lut_mlp
Christopher M. Bishop: “Neural Networks for Pattern Recognition”;
Oxford University Press, Oxford; 1995.
Andrew Webb: “Statistical Pattern Recognition”; Arnold, London;
1999.
Foundation
| Operators |