Series-to-Series Diffusion Bridge Model
Hao Yang, Zhanbo Feng, Feng Zhou, Robert C Qiu, Zenan Ling

TL;DR
This paper introduces the Series-to-Series Diffusion Bridge Model ($ ext{S}^2 ext{DBM}$), a novel diffusion-based approach for time series forecasting that reduces stochasticity and enhances accuracy by leveraging Brownian Bridge processes and historical data.
Contribution
The paper presents a comprehensive framework for diffusion models in time series and introduces $ ext{S}^2 ext{DBM}$, which improves deterministic prediction stability and accuracy over existing methods.
Findings
$ ext{S}^2 ext{DBM}$ outperforms existing diffusion models in point-to-point forecasting.
The model effectively incorporates historical data as priors and conditions.
Experimental results show superior probabilistic forecasting performance.
Abstract
Diffusion models have risen to prominence in time series forecasting, showcasing their robust capability to model complex data distributions. However, their effectiveness in deterministic predictions is often constrained by instability arising from their inherent stochasticity. In this paper, we revisit time series diffusion models and present a comprehensive framework that encompasses most existing diffusion-based methods. Building on this theoretical foundation, we propose a novel diffusion-based time series forecasting model, the Series-to-Series Diffusion Bridge Model (), which leverages the Brownian Bridge process to reduce randomness in reverse estimations and improves accuracy by incorporating informative priors and conditions derived from historical time series data. Experimental results demonstrate that delivers superior performance in…
Peer Reviews
Decision·Submitted to ICLR 2025
This paper utilizes the Diffusion Bridge Model to help the reverse process start from a more deterministic state, reducing the instability caused by noise and thereby facilitating better predictions.
weakness: 1. There is a notation issue with \(\hat{\gamma}_t\) in line 203; the writing needs to be standardized. Additionally, it needs to be clarified whether the values of \(\hat{\alpha}_t\), \(\hat{\beta}_t\), and \(\gamma_t\) should have a specific relationship to conform to the diffusion model. 2. In line 411, it is mentioned that a comparison with timediff was made, but Table 2 does not include TimeDiff data while other baselines are present. 3. The content of the paper appears to primari
The authors provide a comprehensive summary of existing models, highlighting that their primary differences lie in the formulation of $\hat{\gamma_t}$. By introducing the Brownian bridge process into diffusion-based time series forecasting models, they establish a range of relevant properties.
1. In Line 259, the title of Proposition 1 is "Brownian Bridge between Historical and Predicted Time Series." However, the Brownian bridge’s endpoint is set to $h$, the Prior Predictor’s forecasted value of $x$. The paper provides no explanation as to why $h$ is chosen as the endpoint for the Brownian bridge. 2. It would be beneficial for the authors to clarify, from a theoretical perspective, why the Brownian bridge is integrated into the diffusion model for time series forecasting. Specifical
S1. $S^2DBM$ integrates the Brownian Bridge process into time series forecasting using diffusion models. By redefining the diffusion framework, the authors introduce a new model and consolidate various non-autoregressive diffusion techniques into a comprehensive framework, elucidating their interrelationships and underlying principles. S2. The authors conduct thorough theoretical groundwork. The empirical evaluations are robust, utilizing diverse real-world datasets to benchmark the model's p
W1. Some assumptions and derivations in this work could be better justified. For example, the choice of using a Brownian Bridge process warrants a more detailed discussion on why it is preferred over other stochastic processes. Providing empirical evidence or theoretical reasoning for the choice of this process could strengthen the argument for its effectiveness in reducing randomness in forecasting. W2. While the paper presents strong performance metrics, it lacks robustness testing under a
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Taxonomy
TopicsNeural Networks and Applications
MethodsDiffusion
