Concept-based categorization of unstructured objects

• US 7,536,413 B1
• Filed: 12/05/2005
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CONQ Incorporated
• Original Assignee: IxReveal Incorporated
• Inventors: Sha, David D., Mohan, Usha, Mohan, Rengaswamy
• Primary Examiner(s): Vy; Hung T
• Assistant Examiner(s): LODHI, ANDALIB FT
• Application Number:
  US11/275,050
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/355 Class or cluster creation or modification
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A method, operating model, system, data structure, computer program and computer program product for analyzing and categorizing and exploring or querying unstructured information and for tracking trends and exceptions. Method for analytical processing of unstructured objects in a dimensional space. Method for tracking trends in concepts. Method for tracking exceptions in concepts. Tools and interface for displaying concepts, query results, tracked trends and exceptions.

Claims

1. A computer-based method of associating an unstructured object with a category, comprising:

receiving an unstructured object, the unstructured object being associated with at least one concept;

calculating an inverted category ratio and a concept ratio for each concept associated with the unstructured object, the inverted category ratio for a concept being exp(−

Nci/Nc), Nc being the number of categories in the plurality of categories and Nci being the number of categories in which that concept occurs;

the concept ratio for a concept being the ratio of the number of times that concept occurs in the unstructured object over the total number of concepts that occur in the unstructured object;

calculating a category normalization ratio for each category in a plurality of categories;

associating the unstructured object with at least one category in the plurality of categories based on the inverted category ratio, the concept ratio, and the category normalization ratio; and

outputting, to a user display, information showing the correspondence between the unstructured object and the at least one category.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the category normalization ratio for a category is the ratio of the total number of concepts that occur in both the category and the unstructured object over the total number of concepts in the category.

3. A system for associating an unstructured object with a category, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory storing a plurality of processing instructions for directing the processor to;

receive an unstructured object, the unstructured object being associated with at least one concept;

calculate an inverted category ratio and a concept ratio for each concept associated with the unstructured object, the inverted category ratio for a concept being exp(−

Nci/Nc), Nc being the number of categories in the plurality of categories and Nci being the number of categories in which that concept occurs;

the concept ratio for a concept being the ratio of the number of times that concept occurs in the unstructured object over the total number of concepts that occur in the unstructured object;

calculate a category normalization ratio for each category in a plurality of categories; and

associate the unstructured object with at least one category in the plurality of categories based on the inverted category ratio, the concept ratio, and the category normalization ratio.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the category normalization ratio for a category is the ratio of the total number of concepts that occur in both the category and the unstructured object over the total number of concepts in that category.