IMPLICIT, SPECIALIZED SEARCH OF BUSINESS OBJECTS USING UNSTRUCTURED TEXT

• US 20080104052A1
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Platt, John C., Vogt, Bob, Venolia, Gina, Anderson, Glen H., Ryan, Patricia A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,634,467 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/35 Clustering; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/258 Heading extraction; Automatic titling; Numbering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A method and system for providing business context corresponding to unstructured documents is provided. A business context correlation system analyzes the contents of a user'"'"'s unstructured document, identifies the business context of the unstructured document from the analyzed contents, and presents the business context along with the unstructured document to the user. The business context includes the relevant contextual objects and documents associated with one or more business applications. Providing a view of the business context along with the unstructured document allows the user more fully understand and act on the displayed document.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for presenting a user business context corresponding to an unstructured document, the method comprising:

extracting at least one relevant term from an unstructured document;

classifying the relevant terms extracted from the unstructured document into at least one action related to a business object associated with a business application; and

presenting the at least one action to the user for possible execution.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the unstructured document is an email message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the unstructured document is an IM message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the unstructured document is a transcribed telephone conversation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one relevant term is extracted from the unstructured document using a dictionary of terms.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one relevant term is extracted from the unstructured document using natural language processing.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the relevant terms are classified using at least one linear classifier associated with the at least one action.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the at least one action is appropriate to present based on one or more characteristics of the user; and

presenting the at least one action to the user upon determining that the at least one action is appropriate to present based on one or more characteristics of the user.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

classifying the relevant terms extracted from the unstructured document into at least one document category;

identifying a work-flow process associated with the document category;

identifying a task to perform in the work-flow process; and

presenting the work-flow task to the user for possible execution.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the work-flow task is related to a business object associated with a business application.

11. A computer-readable media encoded with computer executable instructions for controlling a computer system to present a user business context corresponding to an unstructured document, by a method comprising:

extracting one or more relevant terms from an unstructured document;

classifying the relevant terms extracted from the unstructured document into at least one document category;

identifying a work-flow process associated with the document category;

identifying a task to perform in the work-flow process; and

presenting the work-flow task to the user for possible execution.

12. The computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein the document category is a sales opportunity.

13. The computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein the document category is a request for information.

14. The computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein the document category is a customer issue.

15. The computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein the document category is an urgent document.

16. The computer-readable media of claim 11, further comprising:

determining whether the work-flow task is appropriate to present based on one or more characteristics of the user; and

presenting the work-flow task to the user upon determining that the at least one action is appropriate to present based on one or more characteristics of the user.

17. The computer-readable media of claim 11, further comprising:

classifying the relevant terms extracted from the unstructured document into at least one action related to a business object associated with a business application; and

presenting the at least one action to the user for possible execution.

18. The computer-readable media of claim 17, further comprising:

determining whether the at least one action is appropriate to present based on one or more characteristics of the user; and

presenting the at least one action to the user upon determining that the at least one action is appropriate to present based on one or more characteristics of the user.

19. A business context correlation system, comprising:

a component that extracts relevant terms from an unstructured document;

a component that classifies the relevant terms extracted from the unstructured document into at least one action related to a business object associated with a business application; and

a component that presents the at least one action for possible execution.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

a component that classifies the relevant terms extracted from the unstructured document into at least one document category;

a component that identifies a work-flow process associated with the document category;

a component that identifies a task to perform in the work-flow process; and

a component that presents the work-flow task for possible execution.