Sequential change-point detection: Computation versus statistical performance

Abstract

Change-point detection studies the problem of detecting the changes in the underlying distribution of the data stream as soon as possible after the change happens. Modern large-scale, high-dimensional, and complex streaming data call for computationally (memory) efficient sequential change-point detection algorithms that are also statistically powerful. This gives rise to a computation versus statistical power trade-off, an aspect less emphasized in the past in classic literature. This tutorial takes this new perspective and reviews several sequential change-point detection procedures, ranging from classic sequential change-point detection algorithms to more recent non-parametric procedures that consider computation, memory efficiency, and model robustness in the algorithm design. Our survey also contains classic performance analysis, which still provides useful techniques for analyzing new procedures.