Abstract: A concrete algorithm of selecting delay time in the state space reconstruction in the mutual information method is introduced. A simple and practical program algorithm based on a reticulate layer is established. An analysis on calculated result shows that the mutual information needs to be computed to a certain reticulate layer in selecting delay time. Therefore, the algorithm is simplified significantly. The Lyapunov exponents calculation of attractors(Rossler and Lorenz) verifies the validity of this algorithm.

Key words: state space reconstruction, mutual information method, reticulate layer