Matching entities across multiple data sources

• US 10,372,720 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2016
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Degiere, Chris, Kumar, Aarti, Li, Xian, Power, Alexander, Ribbons, Derek
• Primary Examiner(s): Corrielus, Jean M
• Application Number:
  US15/339,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20180121520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 707723
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2468 Fuzzy queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services

Abstract

Techniques for performing a fuzzy match of data from multiple sources are provided. In one technique, an email address of a sender of an email message is extracted from the email message. The email address is used to retrieve, from a first data source, first entity data about one or more entities, such as users. The first entity data is used to retrieve, from a second data source, second entity data about one or more entities. First data that pertains to the sender and that originates from the first data source is combined with second data that pertains to the sender and that originates from the second data source to generate sender data. The sender data is then presented via an email client that displays the email message.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause;

identifying one or more data items that have been extracted from an electronic message that is directed to a particular entity, wherein the one or more data items includes an email address of a sender of the electronic message;

in response to identifying the one or more data items that have been extracted from the electronic message;

performing, based on the one or more data items, a first search of a first database system that is remote from an email client executing on a client device associated with the particular entity, to identify one or more first entities that are identified in the first database system;

performing, based on the one or more first entities, a second search of a second database system that is remote from the email client and that is different than the first database system, to identify one or more second entities identified in the second database system;

retrieving, from the first database system, first data that pertains to an entity in the one or more first entities;

retrieving, from the second database system, second data that pertains to an entity in the one or more second entities;

combining the first data and the second data to generate sender data about the sender;

causing the sender data to be presented to the particular entity via the email client.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein causing the sender data to be presented comprises causing the sender data to be presented concurrently with the electronic message.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more data items are a plurality of data items that include one or more of:

a name of the sender;

geographic data that is associated with a geographic location or region;

a company name;

or

a second email address or a name of another recipient, of the electronic message, that is different than the particular entity.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first database system or the second database system is a customer relationship management system, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause:

causing the customer relationship management system to be updated based on data retrieved from the other database system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more first entities is a plurality of entities, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause, prior to combining the first data and the second data:

causing entity data about each entity in the plurality of entities to be presented concurrently to the particular entity;

determining that the particular entity selected a certain entity of the plurality of entities;

wherein identifying the one or more second entities is performed based on the certain entity and no other entity.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more second entities is a plurality of entities, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause, prior to combining the first data and the second data:

causing entity data about each entity in the plurality of entities to be presented concurrently to the particular entity;

determining that the particular entity selected a certain entity of the plurality of entities;

wherein retrieving the second data is performed based on the certain entity and no other entity.

7. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause;

identifying one or more data items that have been extracted from an electronic message that is directed to a particular entity, wherein the one or more data items includes an email address of a sender of the electronic message;

based on the one or more data items, retrieving, from a social network service, first profile data about the sender;

based on the one or more data items, retrieving first record data about the sender from an entity database that is separate from the social network service and that stores data about a plurality of entities;

combining at least a portion of the first profile data and at least a portion of the first record data to generate first sender data about the sender;

causing the sender data to be presented via an email client executing on a client device associated with the particular entity;

creating a mapping that associates (1) the email address with (2) a profile identifier that identifies the first profile data with (3) a record identifier that identifies the first record data;

receiving, from a second client device, a request that includes the email address of the sender;

using the email address to identify the mapping;

using the mapping to identify the profile identifier and the record identifier;

retrieving, from the social network service, based on the profile identifier, second profile data;

retrieving, from the entity database, based on the record identifier, second record data;

combining at least a portion of the second profile data and at least a portion of the second record data to generate second sender data;

causing the second sender data to be presented via an email client executing on a second client device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause:

generating a probability score based on the one or more data items and a fuzzy matching model;

causing data about the sender to be presented via the email client only if the probability score is above a particular threshold.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause:

causing data about a plurality of candidate entities to be presented via the email client if the probability score is below the particular threshold.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more data items are a plurality of data items and the plurality of data items includes a particular email address of another recipient of the electronic message, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause:

determining whether an entity indicated in a profile maintained by the social network service is connected, in a social graph, to another entity that is associated with the particular email address.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the second sender data is different than the first sender data;

the second profile data is different than the first profile data or the second record data is different than the first record data.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause:

causing account data about a plurality of accounts to be displayed to the particular entity;

receiving input, provided by the particular entity, that selects a particular account of the plurality of accounts;

causing association data to be created that associates the record data with the particular account.

13. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause;

extracting a plurality of data items from an electronic message that is directed to a particular entity, wherein the plurality of data items includes one or more of;

a domain or a username of an email address of a sender of the electronic message;

geographic data that is associated with a geographic location or region;

or

a second recipient indicated in the electronic message;

wherein the plurality of data items does not include the email address;

based on the plurality of data items, retrieving first data about the sender from a first database system that is remote relative to a client device associated with the particular entity;

based on the plurality of data items, retrieving second data about the sender from a second database system that is different than the first database system and that is remote relative to the client device associated with the particular entity;

combining the first data and the second data to generate sender data about the sender;

causing the sender data to be displayed in an email client executing on the client device associated with the particular entity.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause:

based on the plurality of data items, retrieving data about a plurality of entities from the first database system or the second database system;

causing the plurality of entities to be displayed;

receiving input, provided by the particular entity, that selects a certain entity from among the plurality of entities, wherein the certain entity is the sender.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause:

based on the input, creating a mapping that associates (1) the email address with (2) a first identifier that identifies, in the first database system, the first data with (3) a second identifier that identifies, in the second database system, the second data.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of data items includes a second recipient indicated in the electronic message, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause:

based on the second recipient, making a determination that the sender is connected to the second recipient in a social network;

based on the determination, the sender is identified from among a plurality of entities.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein making the determination comprises:

based on the second recipient, retrieving recipient data about the second recipient from the first database system;

retrieving data about the plurality of entities from the first database system or the second database system;

based on the determination, identifying the sender from among the plurality of entities.