|
|
Generic data type to specify an uncertain value of an ordered data type using a parametric method. That is, a distribution function and its parameters are specified. Aside from the specific parameters of the distribution a mean and standard deviation is always specified to help maintain interoperability is receiving applications can not deal with a certain the probability distribution.
Parameter T: The base data type may be discrete or continuous. Discrete ordered types are mapped to natural numbers by setting their "smallest" possible value to 1, the second to 2, and so on. The order of non-numeric types must be unambiguously defined.
The mean (expected value or first moment) of the probability distribution. The mean is used to standardize the data for computing the distribution. The mean is also what a receiver is most interested in. Applications that can not deal with distributions can still get the idea about the described quantity by looking at its mean.
Each type of PPD has a different set of parameters.
OpenIssue: This set of data types should be modeled as a set of subtypes of PPD, with the type component (above) indicating which subtype it is and with the appropriate set of parameter components for each subtype.
The standard deviation (square-root of variance or square-root of second moment) of the probability distribution. The standard deviation is used to standardize the data for computing the distribution. Applications that can not deal with distributions can still get the idea about the confidence level by looking at the standard deviation.
The type of probability distribution. Possible values are as shown in the attached table.