This invention describes a way to train a neural network, which is a computer system designed to learn like a brain. The method involves randomly switching off some of the network's processing units, called neurons or feature detectors, in each layer during training. This helps the network learn more effectively and avoid over-specializing. The specific claims narrow this down to networks where these units can be gradients or channels.
Why it matters: Filed when deep learning was emerging, the method's application to 'distributed learning' and 'combinations of networks' (as classified) has become far more relevant with the widespread adoption of large-scale, complex, and federated AI systems since 2015.
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