Intelligent data retrieval system

• US 20070136264A1
• Filed: 12/13/2005
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chemtron Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: MUSE Green Investments LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Tran, Bao
• Granted Patent: US 8,131,718 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

Abstract

An electronic assistant which dispatches tasks on the user'"'"'s behalf and according to his or her preferences is disclosed. The assistant has an enactor for processing data received from a sensor and for changing its environment via an actuator. The enactor receives instruction from a predictor/goal generator, which in turn is connected to a general knowledge warehouse. Additionally, the warehouse and the predictor/goal generator are connected to a plurality of specialist knowledge modules, including a scheduler, an information locator, a communicator, a form filler, a trainer, a legal expert, a medical expert and other experts. The electronic assistant provides an interface which frees the user from learning complex search languages and allows some functions to be automatically performed. A variety of machine learning processes allow the assistant to learn the user'"'"'s styles, techniques, preferences and interests. After learning about the user'"'"'s interests in particular types of information, the assistant guides the user through the process of on-line information source selection, utilization, and interaction management via the information locator. The information locator generates a query conforming to the user characteristics for retrieving data of interest. The information locator next submits the query to one or more information sources. Upon receipt of results of the submitted query, the information locator communicates the results to the user, and updates the knowledge warehouse with responses from the user to the results. The assistant supports the ability to refine the query and to manage the costs associated with the search. Further, the assistant automatically incorporates data relating to changes in the query interface and other relevant characteristics of the information sources so that search command sequences can be altered without user interaction. The search configuration of each search carried out by the user is saved in a database. The data maintained in the database includes keywords and concepts for search, interval between subsequent searches, deadline for the search, the number of documents to acquire from each engine, and domain over which to do the search, including the preferred set of search engines or the preferred set of news groups.

Claims

1. An electronic assistant for managing and locating data of interest for a user, comprising:

a processor;

an input device coupled to said processor and adapted to receive keyboard entry, handwritings or speech from said user;

a knowledge warehouse coupled to said processor, said knowledge warehouse storing preferences or characteristics of said user; and

an information locator coupled to said warehouse, said information locator generating a query conforming to said user characteristics for retrieving data of interest and broadcasting said query to one or more information sources, said information locator receiving results of said broadcasted query, communicating said results to said user, and updating said knowledge warehouse with responses from said user to said results.

2. The electronic assistant of claim 1, wherein said user has particular styles, techniques, preferences or interests, further comprising an intelligent desktop assistant coupled to said processor and said information locator, said desktop assistant dynamically adapting to said user styles, techniques, preferences or interests, updating said user styles, techniques, preferences or interests in said knowledge warehouse, and instructing said information locator to locate data of interest for said user based on said user styles, techniques, preferences or interests.

3. The electronic assistant of claim 1, wherein each of said information sources has a query interface subject to one or more changes and wherein said information locator adapts to changes in said query interface in formulating said query.

4. The electronic assistant of claim 1, wherein said query is associated with a cost limitation and wherein said information locator executes a query formulation and submission strategy to minimize said cost.

5. The electronic assistant of claim 1, wherein said query has a priority level, further comprising a scheduler coupled to said information locator, said scheduler determining a deadline required for said query and increasing said priority level of said query as said deadline approaches.

6. The electronic assistant of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more remote information sources; and

a communications system coupling said information locator with said remote information sources.

7. The electronic assistant of claim 6, wherein said remote information sources are located on an Internet.

8. The electronic assistant of claim 6, wherein said remote information sources include World Wide Web pages.

9. The electronic assistant of claim 6, wherein said communications system transceives TCP/IP packets or SLIP packets of data.

10. The electronic assistant of claim 6, wherein said communications system comprises:

a wireless modem having a communications cost; and

a transformer coupling said wireless modem to said remote information sources, said transformer rearranging data prior to transmission to said wireless modem to minimize said communications cost.

11. A computer system for supporting a user having particular styles, techniques, preferences or interests, said computer system comprising:

a host computer, including;

a host knowledge warehouse coupled to said processor, said knowledge warehouse storing said user styles, techniques, preferences or characteristics; and

an information locator coupled to said warehouse, said information locator generating a query conforming to said user characteristics for retrieving data of interest and broadcasting said query to one or more information sources, said information locator receiving results of said broadcasted query, communicating said results to said user, and updating said knowledge warehouse with responses from said user to said results;

a docking station connected to said host computer; and

a portable computer adapted to communicate with said host computer when said portable computer is inserted into said docking station, said portable computer including;

a processor; and

an intelligent desktop assistant coupled to said processor and said information locator, said desktop assistant dynamically adapting to said user styles, techniques, preferences or interests, updating said user styles, techniques, preferences or interests in said knowledge warehouse, and instructing said information locator to locate data of interest for said user based on said user styles, techniques, preferences or interests.

12. The computer system of claim 11, further comprising a wireless modem for coupling said intelligent desktop assistant to said information locator when said portable computer is not docked with said docking station.

13. The computer system of claim 11, wherein each of said information sources has a query interface subject to one or more changes and wherein said information locator adapts to changes in said query interface in formulating said query.

14. The computer system of claim 11, wherein said query is associated with a cost limitation and wherein said information locator executes a query formulation and submission strategy to minimize said cost.

15. The computer system of claim 11, wherein said query has a priority level, further comprising a scheduler coupled to said information locator, said scheduler determining a deadline required for said query and increasing said priority level of said query as said deadline approaches.

16. The computer system of claim 11, further comprising:

one or more remote information sources; and

a communications system coupling said information locator with said remote information sources.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein said remote information sources are located on an Internet.

18. The computer system of claim 16, wherein said remote information sources include World Wide Web pages.

19. The computer system of claim 16, wherein said communications system transceives TCP/IP packets or SLIP packets of data.

20. A portable system for communicating with a remote facsimile machine, comprising:

a processor;

a fax-modem coupled to said processor;

an input device coupled to said processor and adapted to receive non-cursive handwriting data or speech data from a user; and

a computer readable code executable on said processor, said computer readable code sending data to said remote facsimile machine and receiving from said remote facsimile machine using said fax-modem.