Data storage and retrieval system with intensional category representations to provide dynamic categorization of information items

• US 20060161529A1
• Filed: 01/20/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: P I Corporation
• Inventors: Venguerov, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,412,452 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

A system and method for applying intensional category representations to provide dynamic categorization of information items in a data storage and retrieval system is disclosed. The disclosed system may apply pattern recognition techniques during information storage and retrieval to provide dynamic categorization of information items. Information items are categorized as they are observed. Information items may each be associated with one or more categories. An information item may become a member of a category either initially, when it is created, or subsequently by dynamic acquisition of certain properties. Category membership may be further be acquired or lost when property values are changed, and/or as a result of changes to properties or property values of referenced or referring information items. The disclosed information storage and retrieval system operates to categorize objects as they evolve over time. Properties may be added to information items, thus changing the structure of the information item, with the result that new functionality is dynamically associated with the information items.

Claims

1. A data storage and retrieval system, comprising:

a plurality of information items, each of said information items including at least one property;

a plurality of intensional category definitions operable to provide dynamic categorization of said plurality of information items, wherein each of said intensional information item categories definitions includes a predicate, wherein said predicate is operable to identify an input one of said information items as a member of the category based on said at least one property in said input one of said information items, wherein said category definitions include no information item identifications;

an information item and category interface operable to

receive a new information item and dynamically add said information item to said plurality of information items,

receive a new intensional category definition and dynamically add said new intensional category definition to said plurality of intensional category definitions, and

receive a modification to an existing one of said plurality of information items and dynamically modify said one of said plurality of information items;

an information item retrieval interface operable to receive at least one input query, wherein said input query indicates a subset of said plurality of information items by identification of at least one of said intensional category definitions; and

at least one pre-computed category membership data structure to support efficient processing of said at least one query.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one predicate associated with said intensional category definitions is applied in response to said at least one input query.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said information item categories is operable to apply its associated predicate to at least one of said information items responsive to said information item being created.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said information item categories is operable to apply its associated predicate to at least one of said information items responsive to said information item being modified.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said modification to said at least one existing information item comprises addition of a new property to said information item.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said modification to said at least one existing information item comprises changing a value of a property of said information item.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said predicate for at least one of said information item categories is operable to test an input information item for the existence of a predetermined property, and in the event that said input information item includes said predetermined property, generate an indication that said input information item is associated with said one of said information item categories.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said information items comprise personal information.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein each of said information items comprise at least one personal information property.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said personal information comprises contact information.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said personal information property has a value comprising at least one postal address.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said personal information property has a value comprising at least one telephone number.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein said personal information property has a value comprising at least one name of a person.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein said personal information property has a value comprising a description of a personal activity.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein said personal information property has a value comprising a description of an appointment.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein said personal information property has a value comprising at least one electronic mail address.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said information item categories is configured as a synchronous category, such that all item modification operations to items associated with said synchronous one of said information item categories are reflected in the results of all information retrieval operations received subsequent to receipt said item modification operations and referring to said synchronous one of said information item categories.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said information item categories is configured as an asynchronous category, such that item modification operations to items associated with said asynchronous one of said information item categories need not be reflected in the results of information retrieval operations received subsequent to receipt of said item modification operations and referring to said asynchronous one of said information item categories.

19. A method for providing a data storage and retrieval system, comprising:

storing a plurality of information items, each of said information items including at least one property;

storing a plurality of intensional category definitions operable to provide dynamic categorization of said plurality of information items, wherein each of said intensional information item categories definitions includes a predicate, wherein said predicate is operable to identify an input one of said information items as a member of the category based on said at least one property in said input one of said information items, wherein said category definitions include no information item identifications;

operating in response to an information item and category interface to

receive a new information item and dynamically add said information item to said plurality of information items,

receive a new intensional category definition and dynamically add said new intensional category definition to said plurality of intensional category definitions, and

receive a modification to an existing one of said plurality of information items and dynamically modify said one of said plurality of information items;

operating in response to an information item retrieval interface to receive at least one input query, wherein said input query indicates a subset of said plurality of information items by identification of at least one of said intensional category definitions; and

pre-computing at least one category membership data structure to support efficient processing of said at least one query.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising applying at least one predicate associated with said intensional category definitions in response to said at least one input query.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein each of said information item categories applies its associated predicate to at least one of said information items responsive to said information item being created.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein each of said information item categories is operable to apply its associated predicate to at least one of said information items responsive to said information item being modified.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said modification to said at least one existing information item comprises addition of a new property to said information item.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said modification to said at least one existing information item comprises changing a value of a property of said information item.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein said predicate for at least one of said information item categories is operable to test an input information item for the existence of a predetermined property, and in the event that said input information item includes said predetermined property, generate an indication that said input information item is associated with said one of said information item categories.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein said information items comprise personal information.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein each of said information items comprise at least one personal information property.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said personal information comprises contact information.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein said personal information property has a value comprising at least one postal address.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein said personal information property has a value comprising at least one telephone number.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein said personal information property has a value comprising at least one name of a person.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein said personal information property has a value comprising a description of a personal activity.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein said personal information property has a value comprising a description of an appointment.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein said personal information property has a value comprising at least one electronic mail address.

35. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

configuring at least one of said information item categories as a synchronous category; and

processing item modification operations to items associated with said synchronous one of said information item categories are reflected in the results of all information retrieval operations received subsequent to receipt said item modification operations and referring to said synchronous one of said information item categories.

36. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

configuring at least one of said information item categories as an asynchronous category; and

processing item modification operations to items associated with said asynchronous one of said information item categories are not be reflected in the results of at least one information retrieval operation received subsequent to receipt of said item modification operations and referring to said asynchronous one of said information item categories.

37. A computer program product including a computer readable medium, said computer readable medium having a computer program for providing a data storage and retrieval system stored thereon, said computer program comprising:

program code for storing a plurality of information items, each of said information items including at least one property;

program code for storing a plurality of intensional category definitions operable to provide dynamic categorization of said plurality of information items, wherein each of said intensional information item categories definitions includes a predicate, wherein said predicate is operable to identify an input one of said information items as a member of the category based on said at least one property in said input one of said information items, wherein said category definitions include no information item identifications;

program code for operating in response to an information item and category interface to

receive a new information item and dynamically add said information item to said plurality of information items,

receive a new intensional category definition and dynamically add said new intensional category definition to said plurality of intensional category definitions, and

receive a modification to an existing one of said plurality of information items and dynamically modify said one of said plurality of information items;

program code for operating in response to an information item retrieval interface to receive at least one input query, wherein said input query indicates a subset of said plurality of information items by identification of at least one of said intensional category definitions; and

program code for pre-computing at least one category membership data structure to support efficient processing of said at least one query.

38. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave, said computer data signal including at least one computer program for providing a data storage and retrieval system, said computer program comprising:

program code for storing a plurality of information items, each of said information items including at least one property;

program code for storing a plurality of intensional category definitions operable to provide dynamic categorization of said plurality of information items, wherein each of said intensional information item categories definitions includes a predicate, wherein said predicate is operable to identify an input one of said information items as a member of the category based on said at least one property in said input one of said information items, wherein said category definitions include no information item identifications;

program code for operating in response to an information item and category interface to

receive a new information item and dynamically add said information item to said plurality of information items,

receive a new intensional category definition and dynamically add said new intensional category definition to said plurality of intensional category definitions, and

receive a modification to an existing one of said plurality of information items and dynamically modify said one of said plurality of information items;

program code for operating in response to an information item retrieval interface to receive at least one input query, wherein said input query indicates a subset of said plurality of information items by identification of at least one of said intensional category definitions; and

program code for pre-computing at least one category membership data structure to support efficient processing of said at least one query.

39. A system for data storage and retrieval, comprising:

means for storing a plurality of information items, each of said information items including at least one property;

means for storing a plurality of intensional category definitions operable to provide dynamic categorization of said plurality of information items, wherein each of said intensional information item categories definitions includes a predicate, wherein said predicate is operable to identify an input one of said information items as a member of the category based on said at least one property in said input one of said information items, wherein said category definitions include no information item identifications;

means for operating in response to an information item and category interface to

receive a new information item and dynamically add said information item to said plurality of information items,

receive a new intensional category definition and dynamically add said new intensional category definition to said plurality of intensional category definitions, and

receive a modification to an existing one of said plurality of information items and dynamically modify said one of said plurality of information items;

means for operating in response to an information item retrieval interface to receive at least one input query, wherein said input query indicates a subset of said plurality of information items by identification of at least one of said intensional category definitions; and

means for pre-computing at least one category membership data structure to support efficient processing of said at least one query.