Recommendation algorithm based on improved spectral clustering and transfer learning

Collaborative filtering (CF) recommendation has made great success in solving information overload. However, CF has some disadvantages such as cold start, data sparseness, low operation efficiency and knowledge cannot transfer between multiple rating matrixes. In this paper, we propose a recommendation algorithm based on improved spectral clustering and transfer learning (RAISCTL) to improve the forecasting accuracy and generalization ability of recommender system. RAISCTL firstly improves the spectral clustering by using the eigenvalue differences and orthogonal eigenvectors and realizes the automatic determination of cluster numbers. In addition, the improved spectral clustering algorithm is used to cluster the two dimensions of the users and items of the original rating matrix. Then, RAISCTL decomposes the rating matrix after clustering and gets the sharing group rating matrix. Finally, RAISCTL makes rating forecasting and recommendations based on the sharing group rating matrix and transfer learning. The simulation results show that RAISCTL can effectively improve the recommendation accuracy and generalization ability compared with other 8 conventional CF approaches.