System and method for analyzing usage patterns in information aggregates

• US 20040088276A1
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Elder, Michael D., Rokosz, Vaughn T., Goodwin, James P., Schultz, Matthew, Jho, Jason Y.
• Granted Patent: US 7,103,609 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

System and method for evaluating an information aggregate. A metrics database stores document indicia including document attributes, associated persons and usage metrics. A query engine collects a plurality of documents having non-unique values on a shared attribute into an information aggregate and tracks usage metrics with respect to the documents. A visualization engine visualizes the usage metrics with respect to a single aggregate, or as a composite or comparison of usage metrics for a plurality of aggregates.

Claims

1. A method for evaluating information aggregates, comprising:

collecting a plurality of documents having non-unique values on a shared attribute into a first information aggregate;

tracking usage metrics with respect to documents in said first information aggregate; and

visualizing said usage metrics.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

tracking said usage metrics with respect to time of occurrence; and

visualizing said usage metrics with respect to time of occurrence.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

tracking said usage metrics across a set of aggregates; and

visualizing a composite distribution of said usage metrics.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

tracking said usage metrics across a set of aggregates; and

visualizing a cross-aggregate comparison of said usage metrics.

5. System for evaluating an information aggregate, comprising:

means collecting a plurality of documents having non-unique values on a shared attribute into a first information aggregate;

means for tracking usage metrics with respect to documents in said first information aggregate; and

means for visualizing said usage metrics.

6. System for evaluating an information aggregate, comprising:

a metrics database for storing document indicia including document attributes, associated persons and usage metrics;

a query engine for collecting a plurality of documents having non-unique values on a shared attribute into an information aggregate and for tracking usage metrics with respect to said documents; and

a visualization engine for visualizing said usage metrics.

7. The system of claim 6, said metrics database further for tracking said usage metrics with respect to time of occurrence;

and said visualization engine further for visualizing said usage metrics with respect to time of occurrence.

8. The system of claim 6, said metrics database further for tracking said usage metrics across a set of aggregates;

and said visualization engine further for visualizing a composite distribution of said usage metrics.

9. The system of claim 6, said metrics database further for tracking said usage metrics across a set of aggregates;

and said visualization engine further for visualizing a cross-aggregate comparison of said usage metrics.

10. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to a perform method for evaluating information aggregates, said method comprising:

collecting a plurality of documents having non-unique values on a shared attribute into a first information aggregate;

tracking usage metrics with respect to documents in said first information aggregate; and

visualizing said usage metrics.

11. The program storage device of claim 10, said method further comprising:

tracking said usage metrics with respect to time of occurrence; and

visualizing said usage metrics with respect to time of occurrence.

12. The program storage device of claim 10, said method further comprising:

tracking said usage metrics across a set of aggregates; and

visualizing a composite distribution of said usage metrics.

13. The program storage device of claim 10, said method further comprising:

tracking said usage metrics across a set of aggregates; and

visualizing a cross-aggregate comparison of said usage metrics.

14. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to a perform method for evaluating information aggregates, said method comprising:

storing document indicia in a metrics database, said indicia including document attributes, associated persons and usage metrics;

responsive to a user request and said metrics database, aggregating documents having same, unique attributes in an information aggregate;

tracking usage metrics with respect to said documents; and

visualizing said usage metrics.

15. A computer program product for evaluating information aggregates according to the method comprising:

collecting a plurality of documents having non-unique values on a shared attribute into a first information aggregate;

tracking usage metrics with respect to documents in said first information aggregate; and

visualizing said usage metrics.