This volume gives a systematic account of different problems of statistical diagnostics, i.e. the detection of changes in probabilistic characteristics of random processes and fields. Methods of solving such problems are proposed, based upon a unified nonparametric approach. Two general formalisations of the problems of statistical diagnostics are considered. Firstly, the detection of changes in arbitrary probabilistic distributions of random processes and fields, glued' from different stationary pieces: in other words, the detection of moments or areas of such glueing'; and secondly, the detection of statistical contaminations' in data (realisations of random fields or processes), or abnormal' observations with deviating statistical characteristics. A general approach to solving such problems is proposed, which is based upon the principle of reduction to certain standard situations and which does not use a priori data about probabilistic distributions. Much attention is paid to applications in such diverse areas as biology (EECs) and economics. Audience: This book will be of interest to researchers in statistics and random processes, as well as advanced and postgraduate students in the same disciplines, and to specialists in control theory, systems analysis, biomedical engineering, and econometrics.

The explosive development of information science and technology puts in new problems involving statistical data analysis. These problems result from higher re quirements concerning the reliability of statistical decisions, the accuracy of math ematical models and the quality of control in complex systems. A new aspect of statistical analysis has emerged, closely connected with one of the basic questions of cynergetics: how to "compress" large volumes of experimental data in order to extract the most valuable information from data observed. De tection of large "homogeneous" segments of data enables one to identify "hidden" regularities in an object's behavior, to create mathematical models for each seg ment of homogeneity, to choose an appropriate control, etc. Statistical methods dealing with the detection of changes in the characteristics of random processes can be of great use in all these problems. These methods have accompanied the rapid growth in data beginning from the middle of our century. According to a tradition of more than thirty years, we call this sphere of statistical analysis the "theory of change-point detection. " During the last fifteen years, we have witnessed many exciting developments in the theory of change-point detection. New promising directions of research have emerged, and traditional trends have flourished anew. Despite this, most of the results are widely scattered in the literature and few monographs exist. A real need has arisen for up-to-date books which present an account of important current research trends, one of which is the theory of non parametric change--point detection."

The explosive development of information science and technology puts in new problems involving statistical data analysis. These problems result from higher re quirements concerning the reliability of statistical decisions, the accuracy of math ematical models and the quality of control in complex systems. A new aspect of statistical analysis has emerged, closely connected with one of the basic questions of cynergetics: how to "compress" large volumes of experimental data in order to extract the most valuable information from data observed. De tection of large "homogeneous" segments of data enables one to identify "hidden" regularities in an object's behavior, to create mathematical models for each seg ment of homogeneity, to choose an appropriate control, etc. Statistical methods dealing with the detection of changes in the characteristics of random processes can be of great use in all these problems. These methods have accompanied the rapid growth in data beginning from the middle of our century. According to a tradition of more than thirty years, we call this sphere of statistical analysis the "theory of change-point detection. " During the last fifteen years, we have witnessed many exciting developments in the theory of change-point detection. New promising directions of research have emerged, and traditional trends have flourished anew. Despite this, most of the results are widely scattered in the literature and few monographs exist. A real need has arisen for up-to-date books which present an account of important current research trends, one of which is the theory of non parametric change--point detection."

Non-Parametric Statistical Diagnosis