Features required in Mining algorithm to Cluster Data Stream are as follows:

1. Partitioning Method

Suppose we are given a database of ‘n’ objects and the partitioning method constructs ‘k’ partition of data. Each partition will represent a cluster and k ≤ n. It means that it will classify the data into k groups, which satisfy the following requirements –

• Each group contains at least one object.
• Each object must belong to exactly one group.

2. Hierarchical Methods

This method creates a hierarchical decomposition of the given set of data objects. We can classify hierarchical methods on the basis of how the hierarchical decomposition is formed. There are two approaches here –

• Agglomerative Approach
• Divisive Approach

3. Density-based Method

This method is based on the notion of density. The basic idea is to continue growing the given cluster as long as the density in the neighborhood exceeds some threshold, i.e., for each data point within a given cluster, the radius of a given cluster has to contain at least a minimum number of points.

4. Grid-based Method

In this, the objects together form a grid. The object space is quantized into finite number of cells that form a grid structure.

5. Model-based methods

In this method, a model is hypothesized for each cluster to find the best fit of data for a given model. This method locates the clusters by clustering the density function. It reflects spatial distribution of the data points. This method also provides a way to automatically determine the number of clusters based on standard statistics, taking outlier or noise into account. It therefore yields robust clustering methods.

6. Constraint-based Method

In this method, the clustering is performed by the incorporation of user or application-oriented constraints. A constraint refers to the user expectation or the properties of desired clustering results. Constraints provide us with an interactive way of communication with the clustering process. Constraints can be specified by the user or the application requirement. Methodology used for Stream Data Mining

• Mining different kinds of knowledge in databases − Different users may be interested in different kinds of knowledge. Therefore it is necessary for data mining to cover a broad range of knowledge discovery task.
• Interactive mining of knowledge at multiple levels of abstraction − The data mining process needs to be interactive because it allows users to focus the search for patterns, providing and refining data mining requests based on the returned results.
• Incorporation of background knowledge –To guide discovery process and to express the discovered patterns, the background knowledge can be used. Background knowledge may be used to express the discovered patterns not only in concise terms but at multiple levels of abstraction.
• Data mining query languages and ad hoc data mining − Data Mining Query language that allows the user to describe ad hoc mining tasks, should be integrated with a data warehouse query language and optimized for efficient and flexible data mining.
• Presentation and visualization of data mining results − Once the patterns are discovered it needs to be expressed in high level languages, and visual representations. These representations should be easily understandable.
• Handling noisy or incomplete data −The data cleaning methods are required to handle the noise and incomplete objects while mining the data regularities. If the data cleaning methods are not there then the accuracy of the discovered patterns will be poor.
• Pattern evaluation −The patterns discovered should be interesting because either they represent common knowledge or lack novelty.