Smart mapping

• US 10,430,428 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2016
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Experian Health, Inc. (Experian plc)
• Original Assignee: Experian Health, Inc. (Experian plc)
• Inventors: Ott, William Reed, Wallis, Jason Harrison, Davis, Derek Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Boccio, Vincent F
• Application Number:
  US15/086,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20170286495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 707749
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/22 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2462 Approximate or statistical queries

Abstract

Smart mapping is provided. A smart mapping system (SMS) and method identify an information source (IS) as an intended recipient of an information request item by matching one or more data elements in a dataset associated with an information request (IR) item with an IS candidate stored in a mapping database. An IS candidate may be an exact match, or a partial match with a highest match agreement score. The SMS provides for notifying an information requestor in real time or near real time when a match is determined or when a plurality of matching IS candidates are identified, such that a user is enabled to select an intended IS, or provide additional input. When a trend associated with matching particular data items to a particular IS candidate is identified, the SMS may add mapping property values to the mapping database for refining and improving the system.

Claims

1. A method for improving efficiency in a smart mapping system determining an intended recipient of an information request item, comprising:

receiving an information request dataset associated with an information request item from an information requestor requesting information associated with a user;

parsing the information request dataset to identify one or more data elements comprising information source data, user data, and information requestor data;

performing a search of a mapping database for one or more mapping property values that include a name mapping property value, an abbreviation mapping property value, and a state mapping property value associated with an information source candidate matching the one or more data elements comprising the information source data, the user data, and the information requestor data;

in response to an exact match between the name mapping property value, the abbreviation mapping property value, and the state mapping property value associated with the information source candidate and the one or more data elements comprising the information source data, the user data, and the information requestor data, determining that the information source candidate is the intended recipient of the information request item;

in response to not identifying an exact match between the name mapping property value, the abbreviation mapping property value, and the state mapping property value associated with the information source candidate and the one or more data elements comprising the information source data, the user data, and the information requestor data, determining the intended recipient by;

performing a search for one or more information source candidates with at least one of the name mapping property value, the abbreviation mapping property value, and the state mapping property value partially matching at least one data element;

calculating a match agreement score for the one or more information source candidates with at least one of the name mapping property value, the abbreviation mapping property value, and the state mapping property value partially matching the at least one data element; and

determining one of the one or more information source candidates with at least one of the name mapping property value, the abbreviation mapping property value, and the state mapping property value partially matching the at least one data element is the intended recipient of the information request item based at least in part on the match agreement score; and

transmitting the information request item to the determined intended recipient.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating a match agreement score for the one or more information source candidates with at least one of the name mapping property value, the abbreviation mapping property value, and the state mapping property value partially matching the at least one data element comprises calculating a percentage of matching characters between the at least one of the name mapping property value, the abbreviation mapping property value, and the state mapping property value and the at least one data element.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein parsing the information request dataset to identify one or more data elements comprises extracting and parsing information source data elements, user data elements, and information requestor data elements.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining that an information source candidate is indeterminable based at least in part on the information source data elements in the information request dataset not distinguishing a first information source candidate from a second information source candidate;

identifying one or more location data elements associated with the information request dataset;

determining at least one probable location associated with the information source candidate based at least in part on the one or more location data elements; and

when more than one probable location associated with the information source candidate is determined;

calculating a confidence score for each of the more than one probable location based at least in part on a weight associated with the location data element used to determine the probable location and on consistency of probable location results; and

selecting a best probable location based on the confidence score; and

performing a search for one or more information source candidates with a mapping property value matching the best probable location.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining at least one probable location associated with the information source candidate based at least in part on the one or more location data elements comprises determining at least one probable location associated with the information source candidate based on at least one of:

the user'"'"'s demographic information;

the user'"'"'s employer location information;

a location of the information requestor; and

a location of another information source associated with the user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to an exact match between one or more mapping property values associated with the information source candidate and the one or more data elements, transmitting a notification to the information requestor that the exact match is the intended recipient of the information request item.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to identifying one or more information source candidates with at least one mapping property value partially matching at least one data element, transmitting a notification to the information requestor of the one or more information source candidates.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving input from the information requestor, wherein the input includes a selection of one of the one or more information source candidates.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a record of match data associated with the determined intended recipient.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving an information response item from the determined intended recipient;

determining, based on the information response item from the determined intended recipient, whether the determined intended recipient is an accurate match; and

when a positive determination is made, storing a record of match accuracy data.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

when a determination is made that the determined intended recipient is not an accurate match;

storing a record of match accuracy data;

determining a second intended recipient of the information request item based at least in part on the match agreement score;

transmitting the information request item to the second determined intended recipient;

receiving an information response item from the determined intended recipient;

determining whether the determined intended recipient is an accurate match; and

when a positive determination is made, storing a record of match accuracy data.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

analyzing the match data and match accuracy data to identify a trend; and

when a trend is identified, refining one or more mapping property values associated with an information source candidate.

13. A system having improved functionality for determining an intended recipient of an information request item, comprising:

a hardware processor coupled to a non-transitory medium storing instructions that, when executed by the hardware processor, implement a mapping engine to receive an information request dataset associated with an information request item from an information requestor requesting information associated with a user, wherein the mapping engine comprises;

a data element extractor to parse the information request dataset to identify one or more data elements, the one or more data elements comprising information source data elements, user data elements, and information requestor data elements;

a deterministic matcher to;

perform a search of a mapping database for one or more mapping property values that include a name mapping property value, an abbreviation mapping property value, and a state mapping property value associated with an information source candidate matching the one or more data elements comprising the information source data elements, the user data elements, and the information requestor data elements; and

in response to an exact match between the name mapping property value, the abbreviation mapping property value, and the state mapping property value associated with the information source candidate and the one or more data elements comprising the information source data elements, the user data elements, and the information requestor data elements, determine that the information source candidate is the intended recipient of the information request item;

a probabilistic matcher, wherein in response to not identifying an exact match between the name mapping property value, the abbreviation mapping property value, and the state mapping property value associated with the information source candidate and the one or more data elements comprising the information source data elements, the user data elements, and the information requestor data elements, to determine the intended recipient;

perform a search for one or more information source candidates with at least one of the name mapping property value, the abbreviation mapping property value, and the state mapping property value partially matching at least one data element;

calculate a match agreement score for the one or more information source candidates with at least one of the name mapping property value, the abbreviation mapping property value, and the state mapping property value partially matching the at least one data element; and

determine one of the one or more information source candidates with at least one of the name mapping property value, the abbreviation mapping property value, and the state mapping property value partially matching the at least one data element is the intended recipient of the information request item based at least in part on the match agreement score; and

an output engine to transmit the information request item to the determined intended recipient.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the probabilistic matcher is further operative to:

determine that an information source candidate is indeterminable based at least in part on the information source data elements in the information request dataset not distinguishing a first information source candidate from a second information source candidate;

identify one or more location data elements associated with the information request dataset;

determine at least one probable location associated with the information source candidate based at least in part on the one or more location data elements; and

when more than one probable location associated with the information source candidate is determined;

calculate a confidence score for each of the more than one probable locations based at least in part on a weight associated with the location data element used to determine the probable location and on consistency of probable location results; and

select a best probable location based on the confidence score; and

perform a search for one or more information source candidates with a mapping property value matching the best probable location.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the probabilistic matcher is operative to determine at least one probable location associated with the information source candidate based on at least one of:

the user'"'"'s demographic information;

the user'"'"'s employer location information;

a location of the information requestor; and

a location of another information source associated with the user.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein when a determination is made that the determined intended recipient is not an accurate match:

the probabilistic matcher is further operative to determine a second intended recipient of the information request item based at least in part on the match agreement score;

the output engine is further operative to transmit the information request item to the second determined intended recipient; and

a match analyzer to;

receive an information response item from the determined intended recipient;

determine, based on the information response item from the determined intended recipient, whether the determined intended recipient is an accurate match; and

when a positive determination is made, store a record of match accuracy data.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the mapping engine further comprises a notification engine to:

in response to an exact match between one or more mapping property values associated with the information source candidate and the one or more data elements, transmit a notification to the information requestor that the exact match is the intended recipient of the information request item; and

in response to identifying one or more information source candidates with at least one mapping property value partially matching at least one data element, transmit a notification to the information requestor of the one or more information source candidates.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the mapping engine further comprises a match analyzer to:

receive an information response item from the determined intended recipient;

determine, based on the information response item from the determined intended recipient, whether the determined intended recipient is an accurate match;

store a record of match accuracy data;

analyze match data and match accuracy data to identify a trend; and

when a trend is identified, refine one or more mapping property values associated with an information source candidate.

19. A non-transitory storage medium that includes instructions that, when executed by a hardware processor, improve efficiency in a smart mapping system determining an intended recipient of an information request item by:

receiving an information request dataset associated with an information request item from an information requestor requesting information associated with a user;

parsing the information request dataset to identify one or more data elements comprising information source data, user data, and information requestor data;

performing a search of a mapping database for one or more mapping property values that include a name mapping property value, an abbreviation mapping property value, and a state mapping property value associated with an information source candidate matching the one or more data elements comprising the information source data, the user data, and the information requestor data;

in response to an exact match between the name mapping property value, the abbreviation mapping property value, and the state mapping property value associated with the information source candidate and the one or more data elements comprising the information source data, the user data, and the information requestor data, determining that the information source candidate is the intended recipient of the information request item;

in response to not identifying an exact match between the name mapping property value, the abbreviation mapping property value, and the state mapping property value associated with the information source candidate and the one or more data elements comprising the information source data, the user data, and the information requestor data, determining the intended recipient by;

performing a search for one or more information source candidates with at least one of the name mapping property value, the abbreviation mapping property value, and the state mapping property value partially matching at least one data element;

calculating a match agreement score for the one or more information source candidates with at least one of the name mapping property value, the abbreviation mapping property value, and the state mapping property value partially matching the at least one data element; and

determining one of the one or more information source candidates with at least one of the name mapping property value, the abbreviation mapping property value, and the state mapping property value partially matching the at least one data element is the intended recipient of the information request item based at least in part on the match agreement score; and

transmitting the information request item to the determined intended recipient.

20. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 19, wherein when more than one probable location associated with the information source candidate exists:

calculating a confidence score for each probable location based at least in part on a weight associated with the location data element used to determine the probable location; and

selecting a best probable location based on the confidence score; and

performing a search for one or more information source candidates with a mapping property value matching the best probable location.