This application describes systems and methods of forming a decision tree that
simultaneously classifies multiple properties of items, and systems and methods
of using the decision tree to simultaneously predicting multiple unknown properties
of an item. In one embodiment, the decision tree has a top generic layer of nodes
that are generic to all properties, a middle K layer of nodes that split on a property
type descriptor K, and a bottom specific layer of nodes that are specific to some
properties. In addition to simultaneously predicting multiple properties of new
items, the decision tree may also aid users in uncovering relationships between
properties and in determining what descriptors may represent a generic quality,
and what descriptors may represent property-specific activity.