System for timely delivery of personalized aggregations of, including currently-generated, knowledge

• US 20040059705A1
• Filed: 09/25/2002
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mindagent, LLC
• Original Assignee: Mindagent, LLC
• Inventors: Mazur, Kenneth A., Wittke, Edward R., Mazur, Connie S., Wittke, Mellissa A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,668,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/00 Computing arrangements using knowledge-based models

Abstract

A multidimensional method and apparatus for adaptively characterizing and aggregating data through a secure automated means of database modification, a prioritization and weighting system, a third party enhanced metadata entry and classification mechanism, adaptive and time varying individual personality and preference characterization, and an aggregation and delivery capability which allows for multiple data formats and mediums. Individual characterization incorporates an inference engine which formulates client composite images which vary with time. Asynchronous data interchanges enabled through the use of XML allow for more efficient and effective resource utilization and time. The knowledge system of this invention A) effectively integrates information from diverse sources, B) verifies, adds to or enhances source metadata (product data sheet; article title), and C) searches, queries, retrieves, and aggregates information. Selected product information can be obtained by e-mail without exposure to spamming by using e-mail address translation.

Claims

1. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality comprising apparatus for collecting data and information about the data, apparatus for classifying the data and enhancing the information about the data, and apparatus for organizing the data and the information into selectable infrastructures.

2. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 1, wherein the data may include the text of a book and/or a newspaper or magazine article and/or a catalog and/or a song or other sound and/or video or other images.

3. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 1, wherein the information about the data may include the title and/or the author and/or the source and/or subject and other metadata including more generic terms.

4. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 1, wherein the data is classified into a distinct number of bins or nodes through the metadata.

5. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 4, and apparatus whereby the data bins or nodes may be organized into various infrastructures.

6. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 5, wherein the infrastructures tree structures proceeding from grandparent and parent nodes down through a node to sub-nodes and sub-sub-nodes each reflecting specific metadata.

7. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 6, and apparatus for displaying to the user a selected tree structure and facilitating user specification of a node of interest.

8. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus for displaying to the user the tree structure further facilitates user specification of spheres of interest involving several subject nodes.

9. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus for displaying to the user the tree structure further also facilitates user specification of the weightings of the relative importance to be accorded the various subject nodes in a sphere of interest.

10. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 1, and apparatus for collecting information about the needs of users.

11. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 10, wherein the information collected about the needs of users is about their preferences and personalities.

12. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 11, wherein the preferences-of-users information may include information about professions, and/or family, home, hobbies, food, and car.

13. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 11, wherein the personalities-of-users information may include information about likes and dislikes, and/or health.

14. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 10, wherein the information collected about the needs of users is classified into a distinct number of bins or nodes.

15. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 14, wherein the bins or nodes of information collected about the needs of users are organized into a tree structure proceeding from grandparent and parent nodes down through a node to sub-nodes and sub-sub-nodes each reflecting specific characteristics.

16. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 10, and apparatus for matching the information collected about the needs of user with data in the infrastructure.

17. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 16, and apparatus for communicating the matched data.

18. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 17, wherein the apparatus for communicating the matched data displays it in a format selected by the user.

19. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 18, wherein the user-selected format for displaying the matched data is stored in the user'"'"'s local display apparatus.

20. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 6, and apparatus for displaying to the user a selected tree structure and facilitating user creation of a special tree structure.

21. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 3, and apparatus for facilitating review by a mentor of the text and title and/or the author and/or the source and/or other metadata including more generic terms information about the data and mentor enhancement of the metadata.

22. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 5, and apparatus preventing changes in the infrastructures without the approval of an administrator.

23. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 5, and user-operated personal computers for indicating their data preferences and personalities, a composite image generator for receiving the data preferences and personalities indications and generating tokens thereof apparatus responsive to said token for scanning the collected text and metadata and identifying and forwarding pertinent data and metadata, and apparatus for receiving and aggregating the forwarded data and sending the personalized data and metadata to the appropriate user and the metadata to the composite image generator for updating the token according to actual user use.

24. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 17, wherein the apparatus for communicating the matched data displays it in a format selected by the user.

25. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 24, wherein the matched data communicated at times designated by the user is data organized into the infrastructure in time periods designated by the user.

27. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 17, wherein the apparatus for communicating the matched data to the user does so in several different modes, and deletion of an item by the user in one mode deletes it from the other mode too.

28. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 23, and apparatus for adjusting according to special circumstances the apparatus for receiving and aggregating the forwarded data and sending the personalized data and metadata to the appropriate user and the metadata to the composite image generator for updating the token.

30. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 4, and apparatus for adding a node and automatically updating the system.

31. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 30, wherein the apparatus for adding a node and automatically updating the system accommodates upon approval by an administrator addition by a user and by a mentor.

32. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 4, wherein the data is automatically reclassified age-wise upon the passage of time.

33. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 10, wherein the information collected about the needs of users includes their ages which is automatically updated with the passage of time.

34. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 1, and apparatus for limiting access to the system to authenticated persons.

37. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge storage instrumentality according to claim 14, wherein the bins or nodes of information collected about the needs of users are organized into a hierarchical structure.

38. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 37, wherein the bins or nodes of information collected about the needs of users are organized into a hierarchical structure based on sources of the data.

39. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 38, wherein the bins or nodes of information organized into a hierarchical structure based on sources of the data may be further organized based on topics.

40. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 18, wherein the user-selected format for displaying the matched data is stored in the apparatus for collecting information about the needs of users.

41. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 40, wherein the user-selected format for displaying the matched data is also stored the user'"'"'s local display apparatus.

42. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 18, wherein storage of the user-selected format for displaying the matched data is shared between the user'"'"'s local display apparatus and the apparatus for collecting information about the needs of users.

43. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 27, wherein deletion of an item by the user in one mode need not delete it from another mode too.

44. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 17, wherein the apparatus for communicating the matched data also communicates related metadata, and apparatus enabling user filing and/or linking and/or forwarding and/or listing of particular data and/or metadata.

45. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 21, wherein apparatus for facilitating review by a mentor of the text and title and/or the author and/or the source and/or other metadata and mentor enhancement of the metadata also facilitates mentor identification of the potential audience for the data such as who might be interested in reading the article or listening to the song or watching the video.

50. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 17, wherein the apparatus for communicating the matched data does so by e-mail, wherein the apparatus for collecting information about the needs of users does so to particular e-mail addresses, wherein the apparatus for matching the information collected about the needs of user with data in the infrastructure may do so to substitute e-mail addresses, and wherein the apparatus for collecting data and information about the data may notify the source of some data of a user'"'"'s future interest in the particular type of data.

60. A automated time-varying and graphically based apparatus for capturing and generating personality profiles of individuals according to claim 7, and logic apparatus whereby the user-profiling information output from both the graphical apparatus to specify and store individual attributes such as personality traits, socio-economic conditions, past history and experiences, and the inference engine using the logic apparatus to generalize and characterize individuals given the data entered, are combined to generate an overall individual- or user-composite image consisting of preference and personality information;

and apparatus by which user-profiling data can be encapsulated into a portable “

token”

.

61. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 17, wherein the apparatus for collecting data and information about the data and the apparatus for communicating the matched data, share a common underlying data structure and language.

26. An adaptive knowledge system wherein data and metadata about the data is stored, comprising a knowledge- storage instrumentality for storing the data and the metadata, apparatus for classifying the data by received metadata and enhanced metadata, apparatus for indicating the data preferences and the personalities of the users, and apparatus for aggregating the stored data according to the content of the data and the metadata and the preferences and personalities of a particular user and delivering the aggregated data to the user on request or periodically.

29. An adaptive knowledge system wherein data and metadata about the data is stored according to claim 26, and apparatus for adjusting according to special circumstances to prevent the apparatus for aggregating the stored data according to the content of the data and the metadata and the preferences and personalities of a particular user and delivering all of the aggregated data to the user.

35. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 35, wherein the apparatus for limiting access to the system to authenticated persons requires use of a password.

36. An adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 35, wherein the apparatus for limiting access to the system to authenticated persons employs biometric authentication such as eye, fingerprint or facial screening.

46. A method for operating an adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality, comprising the steps of collecting data and information about the data, classifying the data and enhancing the information about the data, and organizing the data and the information into selectable infrastructures.

47. A method according to claim 46, and the steps of collecting information about the needs of users, matching the information collected about the needs of user with data and information in the infrastructure, and communicating the matched data in a format and at a time selected by the user.

49. A method for operating an adaptive knowledge system including a knowledge-storage instrumentality according to claim 46, and the steps of collecting information about the needs of users, matching the information collected about the needs of a user with data in the infrastructure, communicating the matched data to the user in several different modes, and deleting an item by the user in one mode deletes or does not delete it from another mode too according to the choice of the user.

48. A method for operating an adaptive knowledge system wherein data and metadata about the data is stored, comprising the steps of storing the data and the metadata, classifying the data by received metadata and enhanced metadata, indicating the data preferences and the personalities of the users, and aggregating the stored data according to the content of the data and the metadata and the preferences and personalities of a particular user and delivering the aggregated data to the user on request or periodically.

51. In an information system, addresses unique to various persons, sources of various kinds of information, and substitute addresses rendering unidentifiable to the sources of information the persons whose addresses were replaced in the system.

52. An automated system for adding, modifying and deleting database elements, comprising:

a database having data elements;

an infrastructure for said database;

apparatus providing a plurality of graphically-based interfaces which display the database infrastructure, migration about said infrastructure, and association of database actions with graphical display;

apparatus for requesting changes to said database either locally or remote from said database;

a secure apparatus for communicating between users and the database infrastructure based on asynchronous and/or synchronous XML-based data file transfers;

apparatus for reviewing and approving the changes requested either locally or remote from the database;

apparatus by which users can view a limited portion of the database structure, migrate about said structure limited portion, and make bounded selections from said structure limited portion without the need to directly interact with the database;

apparatus by which said user selections are aggregated and recorded in said XML files and communicated to the database infrastructure at one time rather than through multiple interactions;

apparatus by which data elements are added, removed, or modified without the need to modify the underlying software;

apparatus for reconciling and synchronizing the actions and data files exchanged with multiple users;

apparatus for limiting the access of users to particular portions of the database for both those requesting changes and those approving of them;

apparatus for restricting the display of the database structure to a subset of the total data set;

apparatus for aggregating, sorting, and prioritizing database change requests; and

apparatus by which a subset of the database can be communicated between the users and the database infrastructure, enabling the receipt of just database updates per last interaction as well as the receipt of only that section of relative importance to the user.

53. An automated system for adding data and its associated metadata to specific locations within a database structure, comprising:

a database having data elements;

an infrastructure for said database;

apparatus providing a plurality of graphically-based interfaces which display the database infrastructure, migration about said structure, and association of database actions with graphical display;

secure apparatus for requesting either locally or remote from the database the addition, modification or deletion of data and metadata into or within the database;

apparatus either local or remote from database infrastructure for reviewing and approving the changes requested in the database;

secure communication apparatus between users and the database infrastructure, based on asynchronous and/or synchronous XML based data file transfers;

apparatus by which users can view the database structure, migrate about said structure, and make selections without the need to directly interact with the database;

apparatus by which said user selections are aggregated and recorded in said XML files and communicated to the database infrastructure at one time rather than through multiple interactions;

apparatus by which users can select associations of data to particular elements within the database infrastructure;

apparatus by which users can enter metadata which further define nature of the data and its associations to database elements;

apparatus by which said data and metadata are entered into the database;

apparatus by which said metadata can be modified;

apparatus by which the associations of data to database elements can be modified, changed, and deleted;

apparatus for reconciling and synchronizing the actions and data files exchanged with multiple users;

apparatus for limiting the access of users to particular portions of the database for both those requesting additions and changes and those approving of them;

apparatus for restricting the display of the database structure to a subset of the total data set;

apparatus for aggregating, sorting, and prioritizing database change requests;

apparatus by which a subset of the database can be communicated between the users and the database infrastructure, enabling the receipt of just database updates per last interaction as well as the receipt of only that section of relative importance to the user;

graphically-based apparatus for identifying the target audience for particular pieces of data;

apparatus by which inherent variability in parameters related to individual input is accounted for by the use of fuzzy logic, like variables, and logic;

apparatus by which multiple parties, including some independent of the original source of the data itself, can enter metadata associated with common data; and

apparatus by which said metadata can be utilized in subsequent data selection, aggregation, and delivery.

54. An automated system for viewing, selecting and delivering data in multiple formats, comprising:

a database having data elements;

an infrastructure for the database;

apparatus providing a plurality of graphically-based interfaces which display the database structure, migration about said structure, and association of database actions with graphical display;

secure communication apparatus between users and the database infrastructure based on asynchronous and/or synchronous XML based data file transfers;

apparatus for selecting database elements as well as establishing attributes and parameters such as “

content factor”

which define the relative ranking of said elements;

apparatus by which the relative weightings of database element parameters are entered and utilized such as might be associated with “

content factor”

verses “

age”

;

apparatus by which attributes and parameters are prioritized and weighted and subsequently utilized in the aggregation and delivery processes;

apparatus by which inherent variability in parameters related to individual input is accounted for by the use of fuzzy logic, like variables, and logic;

apparatus by which database elements are associated into groups called “

spheres” and

“

pools”

;

apparatus by which selections can associated with one or more delivery mediums;

apparatus by which the user can request particular formats per database element as well as the linkage of multiple data sets;

apparatus by which users can view the database structure, migrate about said structure and make selections without the need to interact directly with the database infrastructure;

apparatus by which said user selections are aggregated and recorded in said XML files and communicated to the database infrastructure at one time rather than through multiple interactions;

apparatus for limiting the access of users to particular portions of the database;

apparatus for restricting the display of the database structure to a subset of the total data set;

apparatus by which a subset of the database is communicated between the database infrastructure and the user, enabling the receipt of just database updates per last interaction as well as the receipt of only that section of relative importance to the user;

apparatus by which said users can define delivery of data relative to time and calendar days of the, week;

apparatus by which users can define multiple aggregated listings such as “

weekend”

, “

workweek” and

“

vacation”

listings;

apparatus by which users can define how aggregated listings are updated and modified;

apparatus by which users can delete, save, and maintain items in their multiple aggregated listings;

apparatus for saving multiple user selection configurations; and

apparatus by which user specifications can be encapsulated into a portable “

token”

like data set.

55. An automated system for viewing, selecting and delivering data in multiple formats, according to claim 54, wherein aggregated listings selected for multiple mediums are reconciled and synchronized by:

apparatus identifying data for delivery in multiple formats such as text-based user pages or audible segments; and

apparatus by which users can delete, save, or maintain data across multiple aggregated listings per different mediums.

56. An automated system for viewing, selecting and delivering data in multiple formats, according to claim 54, wherein the metadata includes feature sets which define key attributes, ideas, and pieces of information per particular types of data.

57. An automated system for viewing, selecting and delivering data in multiple formats, according to claim 54, wherein information related to identifying/classifying the source of data is capable of being entered via the secure apparatus for requesting the addition, modification or deletion of data and metadata into or within the database, and being subsequently utilized in the aggregation and delivery logic, and comprises a set of metadata per data source type such as experience, years in field, known affiliations.

59. An automated system for viewing, selecting and delivering data in multiple formats, according to claim 54, wherein the apparatus by which users can view the database structure enables multiple views of the database structure and includes an apparatus by which the graphical display of the database structure/data is user modifiable based on a selection of the underlying organizational criteria which includes product/field, people, company/organization, event/action or place.

58. A automated time-varying and graphically based apparatus for capturing and generating personality profiles of individuals comprising:

a graphical apparatus to specify and store individual attributes such as personality traits, socioeconomic conditions, past history and experiences;

logic apparatus such as fuzzy logic which allows for inherent variability in the nature of the definition and use of attributes, and permits sorting same;

an inference engine using the logic apparatus to generalize and characterize individuals given the data entered;

apparatus by which characterizations such as age are modified over time automatically; and

apparatus by which user profiling data can be encapsulated into a portable “

token”

-like data set.

62. A method for adding to, modifying in, and deleting from an automated system database elements, comprising the steps of:

collecting data elements for a database;

providing an infrastructure for said database;

providing a plurality of graphically-based interfaces which display the database infrastructure, enabling migration about said infrastructure, and enabling association of database actions with graphical display;

requesting changes to said database either locally or remote from said database;

communicating between users and the database infrastructure based on asynchronous and/or synchronous XML -based data file transfers;

reviewing and approving the changes requested either locally or remote from the database;

users viewing the database structure, migrating about said structure, and making selections without the need to directly interact with the database;

aggregating and recording user selections in said XML files and communicating to the database infrastructure at one time rather than through multiple interactions;

adding, removing, or modifying data elements without the need to modify the underlying software;

reconciling and synchronizing the actions and data files exchanged with multiple users;

limiting the access of users to particular portions of the database for both those requesting changes and those approving of them;

restricting the display of the database structure to a subset of the total data set;

aggregating, sorting, and prioritizing database change requests; and

communicating a subset of the database between the users and the database infrastructure, enabling the receipt of just database updates per last interaction as well as the receipt of only that section of relative importance to the user.

63. A method for adding data and its associated metadata to specific locations within a database structure of an automated system, comprising:

collecting data elements for a database;

providing an infrastructure for said database;

providing a plurality of graphically based interfaces which display the database infrastructure, enabling migration about said structure, and enabling association of database actions with graphical display;

requesting either locally or remotely from the database the addition, modification or deletion of data and metadata into or within the database;

reviewing and approving either locally or remotely the changes requested from database infrastructure;

communicating securely between users and the database infrastructure, based on asynchronous and/or synchronous XML based data file transfers;

users viewing the database structure, migrating about said structure, and making selections without the need to interact directly with the database infrastructure;

aggregating and recording said user selections in said XML files and communicating to the database infrastructure at one time rather than through multiple interactions;

users selecting associations of data to particular elements within the database infrastructure;

users entering metadata which further define nature of the data and its associations to database elements;

entering said data and metadata into the database;

modifying said metadata;

modifying, changing, and deleting associations of data to database elements;

reconciling and synchronizing the actions and data files exchanged with multiple users;

limiting the access of users to particular portions of the database for both those requesting additions and changes and those approving of them;

restricting the display of the database structure to a subset of the total data set;

aggregating, sorting, and prioritizing database change requests;

communicating a subset of the database between the users and the database infrastructure;

enabling the receipt of just database updates per last interaction as well as the receipt of only that section of relative importance to the user;

identifying graphically the target audience for particular pieces of data;

accounting for the inherent variability in parameters related to individual input by the use of fuzzy logic, like variables, and logic;

multiple parties, including some independent of the original source of the data itself;

entering metadata associated with common data; and

utilizing said metadata in subsequent data selection, aggregation, and delivery.

64. A method for viewing, selecting and delivering data in multiple formats in automated system, comprising the steps of:

collecting data elements for a database;

providing an infrastructure for the database;

providing a plurality of graphically-based interfaces which display the database structure, enabling migration about said structure, and enabling association of database actions with graphical display;

communicating securely between users and the database infrastructure based on asynchronous and/or synchronous XML based data file transfers;

selecting database elements as well as establishing attributes and parameters such as “

content factor”

which define the relative ranking of said elements;

entering the relative weightings of database element parameters and utilizing such as might be associated with “

content factor”

verses “

age”

;

prioritizing and weighting said attributes and parameters and subsequently utilizing them in the aggregation and delivery processes;

accounting for the inherent variability in parameters related to individual input by the use of fuzzy logic, like variables, and logic;

associating database elements into groups called “

spheres” and

“

pools”

;

associating selections with one or more delivery mediums;

users requesting particular formats per database element as well as the linkage of multiple data sets;

users viewing the database structure, migrating about said structure, and make selections without the need to directly interact with the database infrastructure;

aggregating and recording in said XML files said user selections and communicate them to the database infrastructure at one time rather than through multiple interactions;

limiting the access of users to particular portions of the database;

restricting the display of the database structure to a subset of the total data set;

communicating a subset of the database between the database infrastructure and the user, enabling the receipt of just database updates per last interaction as well as the receipt of only that section of relative importance to the user;

said users defining delivery of data relative to time and calendar days of the week;

users defining multiple aggregated listings such as “

weekend”

, “

workweek” and

“

vacation”

listings;

users defining how aggregated listings are updated and modified;

users deleting, saving and maintaining items in their multiple aggregated listings;

saving multiple user selection configurations; and

encapsulating user specifications into a portable “

token”

like data set.