According to an aspect, influence filtering in a graphical model includes accessing the graphical model in a data store. The graphical model includes a plurality of nodes connected by edges having edge strengths representing a degree of relation between the nodes. A target relation strength for a pair of nodes in the graphical model is received. An edge strength of an edge in a direct path between the pair of nodes is determined by traversing, in the graphical model, one or more paths other than the direct path between the pair of nodes. The determining also includes estimating a cumulative strength of the traversed paths, and calculating the edge strength for the edge in the direct path based on the cumulative strength of the traversed paths and the target relation strength. The calculated edge strength is assigned to the edge in the direct path between the two nodes.
Please help me write a proper abstract based on the patent claims. CLAIM: 1-9. (canceled) 10. A computer program product comprising: a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit to perform a method comprising: accessing a graphical model in a data store, the graphical model comprising a plurality of nodes, the nodes connected by edges having edge strengths representing a degree of relation between the nodes; receiving a target relation strength for a pair of nodes in the graphical model; determining an edge strength of an edge in a direct path between the pair of nodes, the determining comprising: traversing, in the graphical model, one or more paths other than the direct path between the pair of nodes; estimating a cumulative strength of the traversed paths; and calculating the edge strength for the edge in the direct path based on the cumulative strength of the traversed paths and the target relation strength; and assigning the calculated edge strength to the edge in the direct path between the two nodes. 11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the graphical model was generated using a knowledge based method. 12. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the receiving, determining, and assigning are performed for a plurality of pairs of nodes. 13. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the calculating comprises: subtracting the cumulative strength from the target relation strength; and setting the edge strength of the edge in the direct path to the result of the subtracting based on the result being a positive number. 14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the calculating further comprises setting the edge strength of the edge in the direct path to zero based on the result being less than or equal to zero. 15. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the traversing paths includes traversing only the paths between the two nodes having a length that is less than a specified length. 16. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the traversing is performed recursively. 17. A system comprising: a memory having computer readable instructions; and a processor for executing the computer readable instructions, the computer readable instructions including: accessing a graphical model in a data store, the graphical model comprising a plurality of nodes, the nodes connected by edges having edge strengths representing a degree of relation between the nodes; receiving a target relation strength for a pair of nodes in the graphical model; determining an edge strength of an edge in a direct path between the pair of nodes, the determining comprising: traversing, in the graphical model, one or more paths other than the direct path between the pair of nodes; estimating a cumulative strength of the traversed paths; and calculating the edge strength for the edge in the direct path based on the cumulative strength of the traversed paths and the target relation strength; and assigning the calculated edge strength to the edge in the direct path between the two nodes. 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the graphical model was generated using a knowledge based method. 19. The system of claim 17, wherein the calculating comprises: subtracting the cumulative strength from the target relation strength; setting the edge strength of the edge in the direct path to the result of the subtracting based on the result being a positive number; and setting the edge strength of the edge in the direct path to zero based on the result being less than or equal to zero. 20. The system of claim 17, wherein the traversing is performed recursively.