Using a graph database to match entities by evaluating boolean expressions

• US 10,013,481 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2016
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Research Now Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Research Now Group, Inc (Dynata)
• Inventors: Harter, James Sterling Shapiro, Herfield, Eric Steven, Stuart, Nicholas Alexander, Lee, Nien-Chung, Myers, Stephen Allen, Antoniuk, Jeremy Scott, Courtright, Melanie Denise, Moneta, Daren, Flower, Peter David
• Primary Examiner(s): Ruiz, Angelica
• Application Number:
  US15/202,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20160314196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2458 Special types of queries, e.g. statistical queries, fuzzy queries or distributed queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/28 Databases characterised by their database models, e.g. relational or object models
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3341 using boolean model
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9024 Graphs; Linked lists G06F16/9027 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data

Abstract

A method of matching a first entity to a second entity by evaluating Boolean expressions includes identifying a set of criteria vertices for a second entity vertex by traversing a graph database in a manner constrained to fact vertices identified for the second entity. The graph database relates fact vertices to the criteria vertices by edges corresponding to Boolean expressions for satisfying criteria for matching first entities to second entities. The method additionally includes selecting one of the first entities based on the criteria vertices of the set. The method further includes matching the first entity to the second entity based on the selection.

Claims

1. A method for matching entities to quota cells by evaluating Boolean expressions, the method comprising:

accessing, using one more computing device processors, a graph database relating parameter values to quota cells;

identifying, using the one more computing device processors, a set of parameter values for a first entity;

traversing, using the one more computing device processors, the graph database based on the set of parameter values for the first entity;

determining, using the one more computing device processors, a first Boolean expression for satisfying a criterion for a first quota cell;

determining, using the one more computing device processors, whether a first parameter value from the set of parameter values for the first entity matches the criterion for the first quota cell;

in response to determining the first parameter value from the set of parameter values for the first entity matches the criterion for the first quota cell, determining, using the one more computing device processors, whether the first Boolean expression is completed, wherein in response to determining the first Boolean expression is not completed, determining, using the one more computing device processors, whether a second parameter value from the set of parameter values for the first entity matches the criterion for the first quota cell, or in response to determining the first Boolean expression is completed, determining, using the one more computing device processors, the first entity matches the first quota cell; and

in response to determining the first parameter value from the set of parameter values for the first entity does not match the criterion for the first quota cell, not recording the first quota cell for the first entity.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a project for the first entity based on the first quota cell, or assigning the first entity to the project based on the first quota cell.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining the project by weighted random selecting of projects according to priorities assigned to their respective quota cells identified for the first entity, wherein the first entity comprises a panelist.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the weighted random selecting of projects according to the priorities assigned to their respective quota cells identified for the panelist includes associating the projects with segments of a segmented bell curve based on the priorities assigned to their respective quota cells identified for the panelist;

and randomly selecting a segment of the bell curve.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a segment associated with projects of higher priority than those of another segment has a greater chance of being selected than the other segment.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the weighted random selecting of projects according to the priorities assigned to their respective quota cells identified for the panelist includes randomly selecting one of the projects of the selected segment of the bell curve.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first entity or the first quota cell comprises or is a panelist or a project.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the criterion comprises include criterion and exclude criterion.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first parameter value from the set of parameter values for the first entity matches include criterion for the first quota cell is executed separately from determining the first parameter value from the set of parameter values for the first entity matches exclude criterion for the first quota cell.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first quota cell is associated with a priority.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning priorities to the quota cells based on at least one of:

scarcity of quota cell criteria, percentage of progress of projects, or elapsed effective field time for completion of the projects.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein assigning the priorities based on the elapsed effective field time includes employing an effective field time factor that reflects the elapsed effective field time based on percentage of expiration of a predetermined amount of time for completing a particular project having a particular quota cell, or wherein assigning the priorities based on the percentage of progress includes employing the percentage of progress defined in terms of number of registered versus scheduled starts and/or completes for the quota cells.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning priorities to the quota cells, wherein assigning the priorities includes imposing limits on at least one of:

a percentage of progress defined in terms of number of registered versus scheduled starts and/or completes for the quota cells, or

a product of the percentage of progress and an effective field time factor that reflects an elapsed effective field time based on percentage of expiration of a predetermined amount of time for completing a particular project having a particular quota cell.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein assigning the priorities further includes summing a result of the imposing limits with a scarcity value reflecting a scarcity of criteria for the first quota cell.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein assigning the priorities further comprises scaling the result of the summing by a configurable tracker factor.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein assigning the priorities comprises computing a priority according to:

Priority=(if(450*(1.3-Progress %)²>

700 then 700 else if 450*(1.3-Progress %)²*(EFT Factor)<

0 then 0 else 450*(1.3-Progress %)²*(EFT Factor))+(scarcity value proxy))*(Tracker factor).

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a quota cell, wherein selecting the quota cell further comprises weighted random selecting of the quota cells according to priorities assigned to the quota cells.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the criterion comprises at least one:

balancing criterion, wherein the balancing criterion is associated with balancing categories of first entities for a project, wherein in response to determining that parameter values associated with the first entity do not meet the balancing criterion, the first entity is not assigned to the project based on the first quota cell;

or pacing criterion, wherein the pacing criterion comprises a threshold rate of filling the project, wherein in response to determining a current rate of filling the project is equal to or greater than the threshold rate, the first entity is not assigned to the project based on the first quota cell.

19. A method for matching entities to quota cells by evaluating Boolean expressions, the method comprising:

accessing, using one more computing device processors, a graph database relating parameter values to quota cells;

identifying, using the one more computing device processors, a set of parameter values for a first entity;

traversing, using the one more computing device processors, the graph database based on the set of parameter values for the first entity;

determining, using the one more computing device processors, a first Boolean expression for satisfying a criterion for a first quota cell;

determining, using the one more computing device processors, whether a first parameter value from the set of parameter values for the first entity matches the criterion for the first quota cell;

in response to determining the first parameter value from the set of parameter values for the first entity matches the criterion for the first quota cell, and in response determining the first Boolean expression is not completed, determining, using the one more computing device processors, whether a second parameter value from the set of parameter values for the first entity matches the criterion for the first quota cell;

in response to determining the first parameter value from the set of parameter values for the first entity matches the criterion for the first quota cell, and in response determining the first Boolean expression is completed, recording, using the one more computing device processors, the first quota cell for the first entity;

in response to determining the first parameter value from the set of parameter values for the first entity does not match the criterion for the first quota cell, and in response determining the first Boolean expression is completed, not recording the first quota cell for the first entity; and

in response to determining the first parameter value from the set of parameter values for the first entity does not match the criterion for the first quota cell, and in response determining the first Boolean expression is not completed, not recording the first quota cell for the first entity.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising determining a project for the first entity based on the first quota cell, or assigning the first entity to the project based on the first quota cell.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising determining the project by weighted random selecting of projects according to priorities assigned to their respective quota cells identified for the first entity, wherein the first entity comprises a panelist.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the weighted random selecting of projects according to the priorities assigned to their respective quota cells identified for the panelist includes associating the projects with segments of a segmented bell curve based on the priorities assigned to their respective quota cells identified for the panelist;

and randomly selecting a segment of the bell curve.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein a segment associated with projects of higher priority than those of another segment has a greater chance of being selected than the other segment.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the weighted random selecting of projects according to the priorities assigned to their respective quota cells identified for the panelist includes randomly selecting one of the projects of the selected segment of the bell curve.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the first entity or the first quota cell comprises or is a panelist or a project.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the criterion comprises include criterion and exclude criterion.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein determining the first parameter value from the set of parameter values for the first entity matches include criterion for the first quota cell is executed separately from determining the first parameter value from the set of parameter values for the first entity matches exclude criterion for the first quota cell.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein the first quota cell is associated with a priority.

29. The method of claim 19, further comprising assigning priorities to the quota cells based on at least one of:

scarcity of quota cell criteria, percentage of progress of projects, or elapsed effective field time for completion of the projects.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein assigning the priorities based on the elapsed effective field time includes employing an effective field time factor that reflects the elapsed effective field time based on percentage of expiration of a predetermined amount of time for completing a particular project having a particular quota cell, or wherein assigning the priorities based on the percentage of progress includes employing the percentage of progress defined in terms of number of registered versus scheduled starts and/or completes for the quota cells.

31. The method of claim 19, further comprising assigning priorities to the quota cells, wherein assigning the priorities includes imposing limits on at least one of:

a percentage of progress defined in terms of number of registered versus scheduled starts and/or completes for the quota cells, or

a product of the percentage of progress and an effective field time factor that reflects an elapsed effective field time based on percentage of expiration of a predetermined amount of time for completing a particular project having a particular quota cell.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein assigning the priorities further includes summing a result of the imposing limits with a scarcity value reflecting a scarcity of criteria for the first quota cell.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein assigning the priorities further comprises scaling the result of the summing by a configurable tracker factor.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein assigning the priorities comprises computing a priority according to:

Priority=(if(450*(1.3-Progress %)²>

700 then 700 else if 450*(1.3-Progress %)²*(EFT Factor)<

0 then 0 else 450*(1.3-Progress %)²*(EFT Factor))+(scarcity value proxy))*(Tracker factor).

35. The method of claim 19, further comprising selecting a quota cell, wherein selecting the quota cell further comprises weighted random selecting of the quota cells according to priorities assigned to the quota cells.

36. The method of claim 19, wherein the criterion comprises at least one:

balancing criterion, wherein the balancing criterion is associated with balancing categories of first entities for a project, wherein in response to determining that parameter values associated with the first entity do not meet the balancing criterion, the first entity is not assigned to the project based on the first quota cell;

or pacing criterion, wherein the pacing criterion comprises a threshold rate of filling the project, wherein in response to determining a current rate of filling the project is equal to or greater than the threshold rate, the first entity is not assigned to the project based on the first quota cell.

37. An apparatus for matching entities to quota cells by evaluating Boolean expressions, the apparatus comprising one or more computing device processors configured for:

accessing a graph database relating parameter values to quota cells;

identifying a set of parameter values for a first entity;

traversing the graph database based on the set of parameter values for the first entity;

determining a first Boolean expression for satisfying a criterion for a first quota cell;

determining whether a first parameter value from the set of parameter values for the first entity matches the criterion for the first quota cell;

in response to determining the first parameter value from the set of parameter values for the first entity matches the criterion for the first quota cell, determining whether the first Boolean expression is completed, wherein in response to determining the first Boolean expression is not completed, determining whether a second parameter value from the set of parameter values for the first entity matches the criterion for the first quota cell, or in response to determining the first Boolean expression is completed, determining the first entity matches the first quota cell;

or in response to determining the first parameter value from the set of parameter values for the first entity does not match the criterion for the first quota cell, not recording the first quota cell for the first entity.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the one or more computing device processors are further configured for determining a project for the first entity based on the first quota cell, or assigning the first entity to the project based on the first quota cell.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the one or more computing device processors are further configured for determining the project by weighted random selecting of projects according to priorities assigned to their respective quota cells identified for the first entity, wherein the first entity comprises a panelist.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the weighted random selecting of projects according to the priorities assigned to their respective quota cells identified for the panelist includes associating the projects with segments of a segmented bell curve based on the priorities assigned to their respective quota cells identified for the panelist;

and randomly selecting a segment of the bell curve.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein a segment associated with projects of higher priority than those of another segment has a greater chance of being selected than the other segment.

42. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the weighted random selecting of projects according to the priorities assigned to their respective quota cells identified for the panelist includes randomly selecting one of the projects of the selected segment of the bell curve.

43. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the first entity or the first quota cell comprises or is a panelist or a project.

44. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the criterion comprises include criterion and exclude criterion.

45. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein determining the first parameter value from the set of parameter values for the first entity matches include criterion for the first quota cell is executed separately from determining the first parameter value from the set of parameter values for the first entity matches exclude criterion for the first quota cell.

46. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the first quota cell is associated with a priority.

47. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the one or more computing device processors are further configured for assigning priorities to the quota cells based on at least one of:

scarcity of quota cell criteria, percentage of progress of projects, or elapsed effective field time for completion of the projects.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein assigning the priorities based on the elapsed effective field time includes employing an effective field time factor that reflects the elapsed effective field time based on percentage of expiration of a predetermined amount of time for completing a particular project having a particular quota cell, or wherein assigning the priorities based on the percentage of progress includes employing the percentage of progress defined in terms of number of registered versus scheduled starts and/or completes for the quota cells.

49. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the one or more computing device processors are further configured for assigning priorities to the quota cells, wherein assigning the priorities includes imposing limits on at least one of:

a percentage of progress defined in terms of number of registered versus scheduled starts and/or completes for the quota cells, or

a product of the percentage of progress and an effective field time factor that reflects an elapsed effective field time based on percentage of expiration of a predetermined amount of time for completing a particular project having a particular quota cell.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein assigning the priorities further includes summing a result of the imposing limits with a scarcity value reflecting a scarcity of criteria for the first quota cell.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein assigning the priorities further comprises scaling the result of the summing by a configurable tracker factor.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein assigning the priorities comprises computing a priority according to:

Priority=(if(450*(1.3-Progress %)²>

700 then 700 else if 450*(1.3-Progress %)²*(EFT Factor)<

0 then 0 else 450*(1.3-Progress %)²*(EFT Factor))+(scarcity value proxy))*(Tracker factor).

53. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the one or more computing device processors are further configured for selecting a quota cell, wherein selecting the quota cell further comprises weighted random selecting of the quota cells according to priorities assigned to the quota cells.

54. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the criterion comprises at least one:

balancing criterion, wherein the balancing criterion is associated with balancing categories of first entities for a project, wherein in response to determining that parameter values associated with the first entity do not meet the balancing criterion, the first entity is not assigned to the project based on the first quota cell;

or pacing criterion, wherein the pacing criterion comprises a threshold rate of filling the project, wherein in response to determining a current rate of filling the project is equal to or greater than the threshold rate, the first entity is not assigned to the project based on the first quota cell.