Method and apparatus for creating and categorizing exemplar structures to access information regarding a collection of objects

• US 20070179972A1
• Filed: 03/22/2007
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Linda Wright
• Original Assignee: Linda Wright
• Inventors: Wright, Linda
• Granted Patent: US 8,706,770 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/358 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A method for managing a collection of objects, comprises selecting a property which is common to all of the objects; creating a plurality of exemplar structures, at least one exemplar structure for each object; prototypically categorizing the exemplar structures; and using the exemplar structures to access information regarding said collection. Each exemplar structure comprises an exemplar, which is a good example of the property; a broader term, which provides context to the exemplar; an object identifier, which identifies one of the collection of objects; and at least one attribute, which describes the exemplar.

Claims

1. An exemplar structure created by a computer for a meaning instance which represents one dimension of meaning and is used to form a property that is common to each of a plurality of objects, the exemplar structure being configured to access information regarding at least one of the objects, the exemplar structure comprising:

a selected one of the objects;

an exemplar associated with the selected object;

at least one broader term associated with the exemplar, which provides context to the exemplar; and

at least one attribute associated with the exemplar, which is a distinguishing feature of the exemplar.

2. The exemplar structure of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one synset attached to the at least one attribute.

3. The exemplar structure of claim 2 wherein the synset is a cluster of like-meaning words, each representing one sense of a word.

4. The exemplar structure of claim 3 wherein if the at least one attribute is a noun or verb, at least one hyponym is attached to the at least one attribute.

5. The exemplar structure of claim 3 wherein if the at least one attribute is an adjective, at least one synonym is attached to the at least one attribute.

6. A computer configured to create an exemplar structure for a meaning instance which represents one dimension of meaning and is used to form a property that is common to each of a plurality of objects, the exemplar structure being configured to access information regarding at least one of the objects, the exemplar structure comprising:

a selected one of the objects;

an exemplar associated with the selected object;

at least one broader term associated with the exemplar, which provides context to the exemplar; and

at least one attribute associated with the exemplar, which is a distinguishing feature of the exemplar.

7. The computer of claim 6 wherein the exemplar structure further comprises:

at least one synset attached to the at least one attribute.

8. The computer of claim 7 wherein the synset is a cluster of like-meaning words, each representing one sense of a word.

9. The computer of claim 7 wherein if the at least one attribute is a noun or verb, at least one hyponym is attached to the at least one attribute.

10. The computer of claim 7 wherein if the at least one attribute is an adjective, at least one synonym is attached to the at least one attribute.

11. A computer-implemented method of creating and categorizing exemplar structures to access information regarding a collection of objects, the method comprising:

selecting a property which is common to all of the objects, wherein the property is formed by a plurality of meaning instances, each meaning instance representing one dimension of meaning;

creating at least one exemplar structure for each of the meaning instances; and

categorizing the exemplar structures by;

comparing attributes from at least two of the exemplar structures;

determining matching attributes;

increasing a count for each exemplar structure related to the matching attributes;

ranking the exemplar structures by the value of the count; and

using the exemplar structures to access information regarding the collection of objects.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein each exemplar structure comprises:

a selected one of the objects;

an exemplar associated with the selected object;

at least one broader term associated with the exemplar, which provides context to the exemplar;

at least one attribute associated with the exemplar, which is a distinguishing feature of the exemplar; and

at least one synset attached to the at least one attribute.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the synset is a cluster of like-meaning words, each representing one sense of a word.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein if the at least one attribute is a noun or verb, at least one hyponym is attached to the at least one attribute.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein if the at least one attribute is an adjective, at least one synonym is attached to the at least one attribute.

16. A computer-implemented method of creating and categorizing exemplar structures to access information regarding a collection of objects, the method comprising:

selecting a property which is common to all of the objects, wherein the property is formed by a plurality of meaning instances, each meaning instance representing one dimension of meaning;

creating at least one exemplar structure for each of the meaning instances; and

categorizing the exemplar structures by;

identifying a first attribute that is associated with a broader term and at least two exemplars; and

selecting an exemplar, from the at least two exemplars, as best representing the first attribute.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein each exemplar structure comprises:

a selected one of the objects;

an exemplar associated with the selected object;

at least one broader term associated with the exemplar, which provides context to the exemplar;

at least one attribute associated with the exemplar, which is a distinguishing feature of the exemplar; and

at least one synset attached to the at least one attribute.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the synset is a cluster of like-meaning words, each representing one sense of a word.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein if the at least one attribute is a noun or verb, at least one hyponym is attached to the at least one attribute.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein if the at least one attribute is an adjective, at least one synonym is attached to the at least one attribute.

21. A data management system for creating and categorizing exemplar structures to access information regarding a collection of objects, each object having a common property formed by a plurality of meaning instances, each meaning instance representing one dimension of meaning, the system comprising:

a computer interface configured for creating at least one exemplar structure for each meaning instance by;

selecting an object from the collection of objects;

assigning an exemplar;

attaching at least one broader term with the exemplar, which provides context to the exemplar; and

attaching at least one attribute with the exemplar, which is a distinguishing feature of the exemplar; and

a processor configured for categorizing the exemplar structures, wherein the exemplar structures are used to access information regarding the collection of objects.

22. The database management system of claim 21 wherein the processor categorizes the exemplar structures by:

comparing attributes from at least two of the exemplar structures;

determining matching attributes;

increasing a count for each exemplar structure related to the matching attributes;

ranking the exemplar structures by the value of the count; and

using the exemplar structures to access information regarding the collection of objects.

23. The database management system of claim 21 wherein the computer interface attaches at least one synset to the at least one attribute when the exemplar structure for the respective meaning instance has been defined.

24. The database management system of claim 23 wherein the synset is a cluster of like-meaning words, each representing one sense of a word.

25. The database management system of claim 23 wherein if the at least one attribute is a noun or verb, at least one hyponym is attached to the at least one attribute.

26. The database management system of claim 23 wherein if the at least one attribute is an adjective, at least one synonym is attached to the at least one attribute.

27. The database management system of claim 21 wherein the processor categorizes the exemplar structures by:

identifying a first attribute that is associated with a broader term and at least two exemplars; and

selecting an exemplar, from the at least two exemplars, as best representing the first attribute.