Method for analyzing sets of temporal data

I. Field of the Invention A method for analyzing sets of temporal data using a computer is described. Each set of temporal data includes a plurality of records collected at a time unique to each such set and in which each record has a plurality of data items. The method includes the first step of creating data association rules for at least a plurality of sequential data sets wherein each association rule describes data items that are found together in some data records. An incidence proportion is then determined for each such association rule for each temporal data set and these incidence proportions are stored. The incidence proportions for each association rule are grouped into two aggregate proportions by a user defined window schedule that describes one or more pairs of a current window wand a past window w. The cumulative incidence proportions for each association rule for each past window ware compared with the cumulative incidence proportion for the corresponding current window wby a statistical test of two proportions. When the cumulative incidence proportion of the current window wdiffers significantly from the corresponding cumulative incidence proportion of the past window w, an event is generated. From the set of events generated, alerts are generated using a method called event capture. These alerts are presented to the user.