Selective dissemination of information
First Claim
1. A database user alerting method for use with a database system in which are stored a plurality of information items, said method including the steps, performed in a computer system, of:
- storing in association with each information item in the database system a plurality of parameters including (i) at least one keyword indicative of the subject matter of said information item, and (ii) a priority level value for each information item, wherein said priority level value is selected from a predetermined set of priority level values, and wherein said at least one keyword is selected from a finite hierarchical set of keywords having a tree structure relating broad keywords to progressively narrower keywords;
creating and storing an interest profile for each database user indicative of categories of information of interest to said each database user, said interest profile comprising (i) a list of keywords taken from said finite hierarchical set and (ii) an associated priority level value for each keyword;
comparing the parameters stored in association with each information item with the stored interest profile for each database user; and
,alerting a database user of the existence of an information item when said interest profile for that database user includes (i) at least one keyword associated with the information item and (ii) a priority level value associated with said at least one keyword that does not exceed the priority level value associated with the information item.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A database method and system for disseminating information to user, and for alerting users to the disseminated information, stores a plurality of parameters in association with information items. The plurality of parameters includes at least one keyword taken from a finite hierarchical set of keywords indicative of the subject matter of the information items, and a priority level value indicative of the perceived importance of the information items. The finite hierarchical set of keywords has a tree structure relating broad keywords to progressively narrower keywords. An interest profile is created for each of the users and comprises a list of keywords, selected from the finite hierarchical set, and a priority level associated with each keyword. The parameters stored in association with each information item, and the stored interest profile for that user, are compared. Each user whose interest profile matches the parameters of the information item is alerted to the presence of the matching information item.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A database user alerting method for use with a database system in which are stored a plurality of information items, said method including the steps, performed in a computer system, of:
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storing in association with each information item in the database system a plurality of parameters including (i) at least one keyword indicative of the subject matter of said information item, and (ii) a priority level value for each information item, wherein said priority level value is selected from a predetermined set of priority level values, and wherein said at least one keyword is selected from a finite hierarchical set of keywords having a tree structure relating broad keywords to progressively narrower keywords; creating and storing an interest profile for each database user indicative of categories of information of interest to said each database user, said interest profile comprising (i) a list of keywords taken from said finite hierarchical set and (ii) an associated priority level value for each keyword; comparing the parameters stored in association with each information item with the stored interest profile for each database user; and
,alerting a database user of the existence of an information item when said interest profile for that database user includes (i) at least one keyword associated with the information item and (ii) a priority level value associated with said at least one keyword that does not exceed the priority level value associated with the information item. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A database user alerting system including a plurality of information items, said system alerting database users of the system to the presence in the system of selected ones of said plurality of information items of interest to each of said database users, said system including:
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means to store a finite hierarchical set of keywords having a tree structure relating broad keywords to progressively narrower keywords; means to store said plurality of information items; means to store, in association with each of said information items, a plurality of parameters including (i) at least one keyword indicative of the subject matter of each of said information items and (ii) a priority level value for each of said information items, wherein said priority level value is selected from a predetermined set of priority level values, and wherein said at least one keyword is selected from said hierarchical set; means to create an interest profile for each of said database users indicative of categories of information of interest to said database users, said interest profile comprising (i) a list of keywords taken from said finite hierarchical set and (ii) an associated priority level value for each keyword; comparator means to determine said selected items of information of interest to each database user by comparing the parameters stored in association with each information item with the parameters stored in the interest profile for each database user and by selecting information items when the interest profile for a database user includes (i) at least one keyword associated with the information item and (ii) a priority level value associated with the at least one keyword that does not exceed the priority level value associated with the information item; and
,output means to output an indication of the or each selected items of information of interest to each corresponding database user. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification