| has gloss | eng: A hierarchical classifier is a classifier that maps input data into defined subsumptive output categories. The classification occurs first on a low-level with highly-specific pieces of input data. The classifications of the individual pieces of data are then combined systematically and classified on a higher level iteratively until one output is produced. This final output is the overall classification of the data. Depending on application-specific details, this output can be one of a set of pre-defined outputs, one of a set of on-line learned outputs, or even a new novel classification that hasn't been seen before. Generally, such systems rely on relatively simple individual units of the hierarchy that have only one universal function to do the classification. In a sense, these machines rely on the power of the hierarchical structure itself instead of the computational abilities of the individual components. This makes them relatively simple, easily expandable, and very powerful. |