Information system

• US 20030069867A1
• Filed: 10/16/2001
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Atleos Corp.
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Sime, Iain R.F., Coutts, Michael G., Dove, Lee G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,810,394 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 706/20
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/917 Text
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

An information system (12) is described. The system (12) comprises: a user interface (20,90) for selecting subject matter of interest to a user; retrieval means (64) for retrieving information items; classifying means (66) for classifying information items to identify information items relating to the selected subject matter; rating means (68) for rating the identified information items; and notifying means (72) for notifying the user about identified information items meeting a predetermined criteria. The system also includes feedback request means (70) for requesting a subject matter expert (SME) to apply a rating to the retrieved information items. The predetermined criteria typically includes the information item having a rating exceeding an interest value set by the user. A method of collecting selected information is also described.

Claims

1. An information system comprising:

means for selecting subject matter of interest to a user;

means for retrieving information items;

means for classifying information items to identify information items relating to the selected subject matter;

means for rating the identified information items; and

means for notifying the user about identified information items meeting a predetermined criteria.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the means for selecting subject matter of interest to a user includes means for allowing a user to select an interest value, so that only those information items rated above that interest value will be notified to the user.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the means for retrieving information items retrieves items prior to the means for classifying items classifying the retrieved items.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the means for retrieving information items is activated at regular intervals so that data sources are checked for relevant information on a regular basis.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the means for retrieving information items includes an extraction routine for extracting text from the information items.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the means for rating the identified information items is implemented automatically by an artificial intelligence system.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the notifying means includes a comparing routine for determining whether a retrieved information item exceeds a predetermined threshold.

8. A system according to claim 1, further comprising feedback request means for requesting a subject matter expert to apply a rating to the retrieved information items.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the rating means includes a feedback routine whereby the rating means automatically applies an initial rating using artificial intelligence, receives a rating applied by a subject matter expert, and modifies the rating process to approximate closer to the rating of the expert.

10. A method of collecting selected information, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying subject matter of interest to a user;

retrieving information items relating to the identified subject matter;

rating the retrieved information items; and

notifying the user of retrieved information items meeting a predetermined criteria.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the step of retrieving information items relating to the identified subject matter includes the steps of:

identifying a plurality of sources of information;

accessing each of the plurality of sources of information; and

for each source of information, extracting any information items that are more recent than the information items retrieved on a previous visit to the information source.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the step of rating the retrieved information items includes the steps of:

automatically applying an initial rating using artificial intelligence; and

transmitting the retrieved information items to a subject matter expert for the expert to apply a rating.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the step of rating the retrieved information items includes the step of:

using the rating applied to the information item by the subject matter expert to modify the automatic rating step.

14. A method of disseminating targeted information to a plurality of users within an organization, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving from each of a plurality of users, a selected subject matter of interest to that user;

storing for each user the subject matter selected by that user;

accessing a plurality of information sources;

retrieving information items relating to any of the stored selected subject matter;

for each retrieved information item, applying an importance value to that item; and

notifying each user of any retrieved information items meeting a predetermined criteria.

15. A business intelligence system comprising:

subscribing means for allowing a user to select subject matter of interest to that user;

searching means for accessing different information sources and for extracting from these sources any information items relating to the subject matter of interest;

evaluating means for applying an importance value to each extracted information item; and

notifying means for notifying the user about any information items meeting a predetermined criteria.

16. A client-server information system, the system comprising:

a client having an interface for selecting subject matter of interest to a user; and

a server for retrieving information items relating to the selected subject matter, rating the retrieved information items, and notifying the user of retrieved information items meeting a predetermined criteria.

17. A method of configuring an information system, the method comprising the steps of:

defining a subject matter of interest;

identifying sources of information;

identifying infrastructures to be used; and

configuring the identified infrastructures to employ resources to access the sources of information to retrieve information items relating to the subject matter of interest.