Method and system for aggregating and disseminating time-sensitive information

• US 20060004702A1
• Filed: 02/15/2005
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Her Majesty The Queen In Right of Canada As Represented By The Minister of Industry (The Republic of Canada)
• Original Assignee: Her Majesty The Queen In Right of Canada As Represented By The Minister of National Defence
• Inventors: Mawudeku, Helen Abla, Nowak, Zdzislaw Rudolf, Blench, Michael Anthony, Lake, Sean Patrick, St. John, Ronald Kingsley
• Granted Patent: US 7,685,097 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing

Abstract

A method of aggregating and disseminating time sensitive information. A data source is searched to identify recently-posted information items matching predetermined selection criteria. A respective relevance score is calculated for each identified information item. A respective urgency rating is determined for each identified information item. Each information item is triaged using the urgency rating, and disseminated to at least one client based on the triage result.

Claims

1. A method of aggregating and disseminating time sensitive information, the method comprising steps of:

searching a data source to identify recently-posted information items matching predetermined selection criteria;

calculating a respective relevance score for each identified information item;

determining a respective urgency rating for each identified information item;

triaging each information item using the urgency rating; and

disseminating each information item to at least one client based on the triage result.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of searching a data source comprises steps of:

generating a query based on the predetermined selection criteria; and

repeatedly searching the data source at predetermined intervals using the query.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the recently posted information items comprise information items posted during a time period since an immediately previous search.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the predetermined interval is based on an estimated update frequency of the data source.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of searching a data source comprises steps of:

receiving a response set containing the identified information items;

parsing the response set to extract each information item from the response set; and

normalizing a format of each information item.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the steps of parsing and normalizing comprise steps of:

providing a respective item record for storing at least a content of each information item; and

copying data of each information item within the response set to its respective item record.

7. A method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising steps of:

identifying duplicate information items; and

discarding any identified duplicate items.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of searching the data source is repeated for each one of a predetermined set of two or more heterogenous data sources.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of calculating a respective relevance score for each identified information item comprises steps of:

providing a taxonomy of terms including at least a respective relevance weighting of each term; and

processing content of the information item using the taxonomy to derive a composite relevance score for the information item.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the step of processing content of the information item using the taxonomy comprises steps of:

searching the content of the information item to find occurrences of each terms of the taxonomy, and;

for each taxonomy term located in the content, adding the respective relevancy weighting to the composite relevancy score.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the taxonomy comprises a plurality of categories of subject matter, and wherein each term of the taxonomy comprises a respective relevancy weighting pertaining to each category.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of processing content of the information item comprises steps of:

deriving a respective composite relevancy score pertaining to each category of the taxonomy, and

selecting the highest relevancy score.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of determining a respective urgency rating for each identified information item comprises steps of:

providing a taxonomy of terms including at least a respective alert flag value for each term; and

processing content of the information item using the taxonomy to determine a composite alert status of the information item.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the step of processing content of the information item using the taxonomy comprises steps of:

searching the content of the information item to find occurrences of each term of the taxonomy, and;

for each taxonomy term located in the content;

comparing the alert flag value to the composite alert status; and

updating the composite alert status based on the comparison result.

15. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the taxonomy comprises a plurality of categories of subject matter, and wherein each term of the taxonomy comprises a respective alert flag value pertaining to each category.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the step of processing content of the information item comprises steps of:

deriving a respective composite alert status of the information item pertaining to each category of the taxonomy; and

selecting the highest composite alert status.

17. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of triaging each information item comprises a step of:

comparing the urgency rating to a predetermined threshold.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the step of triaging each information item further comprises, when the urgency rating is above the predetermined threshold, steps of:

generating an auto-alert in respect of the information item; and

forwarding the auto-alert to the client.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the auto-alert comprises an e-mail containing either one or both of:

information content of the information item;

data identifying the information item, such that the client can access the information item.

20. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the step of triaging each information item further comprises, when the urgency rating is less than the predetermined threshold, steps of:

if the relevancy score is greater than a predetermined first relevancy threshold;

generating an auto-alert in respect of the information item; and

forwarding the auto-alert to the client.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the step of triaging each information item further comprises a step of:

if the relevancy score is greater than a predetermined second relevancy threshold, automatically disseminating the information item to the at least one client.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the step of triaging each information item further comprises, when the relevancy score is less than the predetermined second relevancy threshold, a step of:

if the relevancy score is greater than a predetermined third relevancy threshold, passing the information item to a gatekeeper, the gatekeeper being operative to assess relevance of the information item.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the step of triaging each information item further comprises, when the relevancy score is less than the predetermined third relevancy threshold, a step of discarding the information item.

24. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of disseminating the information item comprises a step of storing the information item in an active database accessible by the at least one client.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24, further comprising steps of:

generating a machine translated gist of the information item; and

storing the machine translated gist in the database in association with the information item.

26. A method of determining relevance of an information item to one or more predetermined categories of subject matter, the method comprising steps of:

providing a taxonomy of terms including, for each category, a respective relevance weighting of each term; and

processing content of the information item using the taxonomy to derive, for each category, a composite relevance score the information item.

27. A method as claimed in claim 26, wherein, for each category, the respective relevance weighting of each term is indicative of a degree to which the term is significant to the category.

28. A method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the step of processing content of the information item using the taxonomy comprises steps of:

searching content of the information item to find occurrences of each term of the taxonomy, and;

for each taxonomy term located in the content, adding the respective relevance weighting to a composite relevancy score pertaining to each category.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28, further comprising a step of selecting the highest composite relevancy score.