METHOD OF AND SYSTEM FOR RATING SOURCES FOR FACT CHECKING

• US 20130159127A1
• Filed: 02/11/2013
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Myslinski, Lucas J.
• Application Number:
  US13/763,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20130159127A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A fact checking system is able to verify the correctness of information and/or characterize information by comparing the information with one or more sources. The fact checking system automatically monitors, processes, fact checks information and indicates a status of the information. The sources used for fact checking are able to be rated.

Claims

1. A method programmed in a non-transitory memory of a device comprising:

a. classifying a first source in a classification;

b. comparing the first source with one or more second sources; and

c. computing a reliability rating of the first source based on the classification of the first source and the comparison of the first source with the one or more second sources, wherein the reliability rating is used for fact checking information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the reliability rating indicates how reliable the first source is regarding factual accuracy.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein classifying the first source is performed manually.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein classifying the first source is performed automatically.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein classifying the first source is based on determining a type of the first source.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the type includes one of an encyclopedia type, a national newspaper type, and an opinion web log type, wherein the encyclopedia type is rated higher than the national newspaper type which is rated higher than the opinion web log type.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more second sources have a higher reliability rating than the first source.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein comparing includes determining how many sources of the one or more second sources agree with the first source.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein comparing includes determining how many sources of the one or more second sources agree with the first source and how many sources of the one or more second sources disagree with the first source.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing the first source in a data structure wherein a highest rated source is accessible first.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising updating the reliability rating for the first source periodically.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising parsing the first source into parsed segments, and comparing each parsed segment of the first source with the one or more second sources.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the reliability rating is based on how many sources of the one or more second sources agree with each parsed segment.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein classifying the first source is performed manually, and the manually classified first source is used for comparison purposes to classify additional sources.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the classification includes a classification value, and computing the reliability rating includes adding or subtracting one or more points to the classification value based on the comparison of the first source with the one or more second sources.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein historical information, trending information, and/or peer review information is utilized in computing the reliability rating.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising preparing the first source for fact checking the information.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising fact checking the information, wherein fact checking the information includes comparing the information with the first source and considering the reliability rating.

19. A method programmed in a non-transitory memory of a device comprising:

a. parsing a first source into parsed segments for fact checking information;

b. comparing the parsed segments with one or more second sources; and

c. computing a reliability rating for the first source based on a classification value of the first source and the comparison of the parsed segments with the one or more second sources, wherein computing the reliability rating includes adding or subtracting points to the classification value based on the comparison of the parsed segments with the one or more second sources, further wherein the reliability rating is used for fact checking the information.

20. A device comprising:

a. a memory for storing an application for automatically performing;

i. parsing a first source into parsed segments;

ii. comparing the parsed segments with one or more second sources; and

iii. computing a reliability rating for the first source based on a classification value of the first source and the comparison of the parsed segments with the one or more second sources, wherein computing the reliability rating includes adding or subtracting points to the classification value based on the comparison of the parsed segments with the one or more second sources, wherein if a number of parsed segments verified as accurate is above a first threshold, then points are added to the classification value, and if the number of parsed segments verified as inaccurate is above a second threshold, then points are subtracted from the classification value, further wherein the reliability rating is used for fact checking information; and

b. a processor for processing the application.