Data ecosystem awareness

• US 7,613,713 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2005
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Forney, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): BOCCIO, VINCENT F
• Application Number:
  US11/291,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20070130182A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104.1, 707/100, 707/1, 715/745, 715/751
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

Information pertaining to human interactions with multiple data systems is collected. At least one of the human interactions occurs outside of an Internet environment. A user is provided with, based at least in part on the collected information, an indication of relevant data.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing a first user with a link to a word processing document, the relevancy of the word processing document from the perspective of the first user being determined at least in part on data interactions initiated by a second user, the first user being different than the second user, wherein the method comprises:

storing, on a computer readable storage medium, a record of a role assumed by the second user within an organization;

receiving, from the second user, a cut command that is a cut portion of a cut-and-paste operation, the cut command causing a removal of a collection of text from a word processing document;

responding to the received cut command by modifying information in a database to indicate a creation or alteration of an association between the second user and the word processing document;

storing a data record that includes an identifier indicating a template as being associated with a particular activity;

receiving from the first user a command to open the template;

preferentially identifying and selecting the word processing document based on a programmed assumption that the first user will be interested in the word processing document because those engaged in the activity are likely to be interested in a document from which a person assigned the role within the organization cut material, wherein identifying comprises referencing the record of the role, the information in the database that indicates creation or alteration of the association, and the data record that includes the identifier indicating the template;

utilizing the computer processor to preferentially provide, based on the programmed assumption and in response to the received command to open the template, the first user with the link to the word processing document by visibly rendering the link as part of a graphical user interface displayed to the first user on a display.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising

storing a data record that includes a listing of a plurality of individual tasks that are part of a process;

identifying a point where the first user is in the process by identifying, from a record of inputs received from the first user, which of the plurality of individual tasks has been completed, wherein identifying comprises referencing the data record that includes a listing of a plurality of individual tasks that are part of a process; and

wherein the programmed assumption upon which the word processing document is preferentially identified is also based on an assumption that the first user will be interested in the word processing document because those at the identified point in the process that are engaged in the activity are likely to be interested in a document from which a person assigned the role within the organization cut material.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a data record that identifies the second user as a source of a particular type of subject matter expertise;

wherein identifying and selecting comprises referencing the data record that identifies the second user as a source of the particular type of subject matter expertise;

wherein the programmed assumption upon which the word processing document is preferentially identified is also based on an assumption that the first user will be interested in the word processing document because those at the identified point in the process that are engaged in the activity are likely to be interested in a document associated with a person that is a source of the particular type of subject matter expertise.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the first user with the link further comprises providing in response to an automatically generated query.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the first user with the link further comprises providing the link on the graphical user interface as part of a collection of links, each link in the collection being to a different word processing document that is consistent with the programmed assumption.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

storing a data record that identifies the second user as a source of a particular type of subject matter expertise;

wherein identifying and selecting comprises referencing the data record that identifies the second user as a source of the particular type of subject matter expertise;

wherein the programmed assumption upon which the word processing document is preferentially identified is also based on an assumption that the first user will be interested in the word processing document because those at the identified point in the process that are engaged in the activity are likely to be interested in a document associated with a person that is a source of the particular type of subject matter expertise.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein providing the first user with the link further comprises providing the link on the graphical user interface as part of a collection of links, each link in the collection being to a different word processing document that is consistent with the programmed assumption.

8. A computer-implemented method for providing a first user with a link to a word processing document, the relevancy of the word processing document from the perspective of the first user being determined at least in part on data interactions initiated by a second user, the first user being different than the second user, wherein the method comprises:

receiving, from the second user, a copy command that is a copy portion of a copy-and-paste operation, the copy command causing a capture of a collection of text from a word processing document;

responding to the received copy command by modifying information in a database to indicate a creation or alteration of an association between the second user and the word processing document;

utilizing a computer processor that is a component of the computer to preferentially identify and select the word processing document based on a programmed assumption that the first user will be interested in the word processing document because the first user is likely to be interested in documents from which the second user has copied text, wherein identifying comprises referencing the information in the database that indicates creation or alteration of the association; and

utilizing the computer processor to preferentially provide, based on the programmed assumption and in response to the received command to open the template, the first user with the link to the word processing document by visibly rendering the link as part of a graphical user interface displayed to the first user on a display.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising

storing a data record that includes a listing of a plurality of individual tasks that are part of a process;

identifying a point where the first user is in the process by identifying, from a record of inputs received from the first user, which of the plurality of individual tasks has been completed, wherein identifying comprises referencing the data record that includes a listing of a plurality of individual tasks that are part of a process; and

wherein the programmed assumption upon which the word processing document is identified also assumes that the first user will be interested in the word processing document because those at the identified point in the process are likely to be interested in a document in which the second user has demonstrated in interest by copying text.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

automatically determining, based on a record of data manipulations initiated by the second user, that the second user is a source of a certain type of subject matter expertise;

storing a data record that identifies the second user as a source of the certain type of subject matter expertise;

wherein preferentially identifying and selecting further comprises referencing the data record that identifies the second user as a source of the certain type of subject matter expertise; and

wherein the programmed assumption upon which the word processing document is preferentially identified is also based on an assumption that the first user will be interested in the word processing document because the first user is likely to be interested in documents associated with a person that is a source of the particular type of subject matter expertise.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein providing the first user with the link further comprises providing in response to an automatically generated query.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein providing the first user with the link further comprises providing the link on the graphical user interface as part of a collection of links, each link in the collection being to a different word processing document that is consistent with the programmed assumption.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing a data record that identifies the second user as a source of a particular type of subject matter expertise;

wherein preferentially identifying and selecting further comprises referencing the data record that identifies the second user as a source of the particular type of subject matter expertise;

wherein the programmed assumption upon which the word processing document is preferentially identified is also based on an assumption that the first user will be interested in the word processing document because those at the identified point in the process are likely to be interested in a document associated with a person that is a source of the particular type of subject matter expertise.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein providing the first user with the link further comprises providing the link on the graphical user interface as part of a collection of links, each link in the collection being to a different word processing document that is consistent with the programmed assumption.

17. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

automatically determining, based on a record of data manipulations initiated by the second user, that the second user is a source of a certain type of subject matter expertise;

storing a data record that identifies the second user as a source of the certain type of subject matter expertise;

wherein preferentially identifying and selecting further comprises referencing the data record that identifies the second user as a source of the certain type of subject matter expertise; and

wherein the programmed assumption upon which the destination word processing document is preferentially identified is also based on an assumption that the first user will be interested in the source word processing document because the first user is likely to be interested in documents associated with a person that is a source of the particular type of subject matter expertise.

15. A computer-implemented method for providing a first user with a link to a word processing document, the relevancy of the word processing document from the perspective of the first user being determined at least in part on data interactions initiated by a second user, the first user being different than the second user, wherein the method comprises:

receiving, from the second user, a cut command that is a cut portion of a cut-and-paste operation, the cut command causing a capture of a collection of text from a source word processing document;

receiving, from the second user, a paste command that is a paste portion of the cut-and-paste operation, the paste command causing an insertion of the collection of text into a destination word processing document;

responding to the received cut command by modifying information in a database to indicate a creation or alteration of a first association between the second user and the source document;

responding to the received paste command by modifying information in the database to indicate a creation or alteration of a second association between the source and destination word processing documents;

utilizing a computer processor that is a component of the computer to preferentially identify and select the destination word processing document based on a programmed assumption that the user is likely to be interested in the source document because it is associated with the second user, and that the user is likely to be interested in the destination document because it is associated with the source document, wherein identifying comprises referencing the information in the database that indicates creation or alteration of the first and second associations; and

utilizing the computer processor to preferentially provide, based on the programmed assumption, the first user with the link to the word processing document by visibly rendering the link as part of a graphical user interface displayed to the first user on a display.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising

storing a data record that includes a listing of a plurality of individual tasks that are part of a process;

identifying a point where the first user is in the process by identifying, from a record of inputs received from the first user, which of the plurality of individual tasks has been completed, wherein identifying comprises referencing the data record that includes a listing of a plurality of individual tasks that are part of a process; and

wherein the programmed assumption upon which the destination word processing document is identified also assumes that the first user will be interested in the source word processing document because those at the identified point in the process are likely to be interested in a document in which the second user has demonstrated in interest by cutting text.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein providing the first user with the link further comprises providing in response to an automatically generated query.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein providing the first user with the link further comprises providing the link on the graphical user interface as part of a collection of links, each link in the collection being to a different word processing document that is consistent with the programmed assumption.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

storing a data record that identifies the second user as a source of a particular type of subject matter expertise;

wherein preferentially identifying and selecting further comprises referencing the data record that identifies the second user as a source of the particular type of subject matter expertise;

wherein the programmed assumption upon which the destination word processing document is preferentially identified is also based on an assumption that the first user will be interested in the source word processing document because those at the identified point in the process are likely to be interested in a document associated with a person that is a source of the particular type of subject matter expertise.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein providing the first user with the link further comprises providing the link on the graphical user interface as part of a collection of links, each link in the collection being to a different word processing document that is consistent with the programmed assumption.