Method and system for aggregating and disseminating time-sensitive information

• US 7,685,097 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2005
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Her Majesty The Queen In Right of Canada As Represented By The Minister of Industry (The Republic of Canada)
• Original Assignee: Her Majesty The Queen In Right of Canada As Represented By The Minister of Industry (The Republic of Canada)
• Inventors: Mawudeku, Helen Abla, Nowak, Zdzislaw Rudolf, Blench, Michael Anthony, Lake, Sean Patrick, St. John, Ronald Kingsley
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleurantin; Jean B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jami; Hares
• Application Number:
  US11/057,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20060004702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,862 Days
• Field of Search: 707/102, 707 1- 3, 707/7, 707/10, 707/100, 709/217, 600/300
• US Class Current: 707/748
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing

Abstract

A method of aggregating and disseminating time sensitive information. A data source is searched to identify recently-posted information items matching predetermined selection criteria. A respective relevance score is calculated for each identified information item. A respective urgency rating is determined for each identified information item. Each information item is triaged using the urgency rating, and disseminated to at least one client based on the triage result.

Claims

1. A method of aggregating and disseminating time sensitive information, the method comprising steps of:

searching a data source to identify recently-posted information items matching predetermined selection criteria; and

for each identified information item;

calculating a relevance score for the information item based on a content of the information item;

determining an urgency rating for the information item based on the content of the information item;

triaging the information item using the urgency rating and the relevance score; and

disseminating the information item to at least one client based on the triage result;

wherein triaging the information item comprises, when the urgency rating is less than a predetermined urgency threshold, and the relevance score is between predetermined first and second relevancy thresholds, passing the information item to a gatekeeper, the gatekeeper being operative to assess relevance of the information item;

wherein the first relevancy threshold is less than the second relevancy threshold; and

wherein the step of triaging each information item further comprises, when the urgency rating is less than the predetermined threshold, steps of;

if the relevancy score is greater than a predetermined third relevancy threshold, wherein the third relevancy threshold is greater than the second relevancy threshold;

generating an auto-alert in respect of the information item; and

forwarding the auto-alert to the client.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of searching a data source comprises steps of:

generating a query based on the predetermined selection criteria; and

repeatedly searching the data source at predetermined intervals using the query.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the recently posted information items comprise information items posted during a time period since an immediately previous search.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the predetermined interval is based on an estimated update frequency of the data source.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of searching a data source comprises steps of:

receiving a response set containing the identified information items;

parsing the response set to extract each information item from the response set; and

normalizing a format of each information item.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the steps of parsing and normalizing comprise steps of:

providing a respective item record for storing at least a content of each information item; and

copying data of each information item within the response set to its respective item record.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising steps of:

identifying duplicate information items; and

discarding any identified duplicate items.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of searching the data source is repeated for each one of a predetermined set of two or more heterogenous data sources.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of calculating a respective relevance score for each identified information item comprises steps of:

providing a taxonomy of terms including at least a respective relevance weighting of each term; and

processing content of the information item using the taxonomy to derive a composite relevance score for the information item.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the step of processing content of the information item using the taxonomy comprises steps of:

searching the content of the information item to find occurrences of each terms of the taxonomy, and;

for each taxonomy term located in the content, adding the respective relevancy weighting to the composite relevancy score.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the taxonomy comprises a plurality of categories of subject matter, and wherein each term of the taxonomy comprises a respective relevancy weighting pertaining to each category.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of processing content of the information item comprises steps of:

deriving a respective composite relevancy score pertaining to each category of the taxonomy; and

selecting the highest relevancy score.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of determining a respective urgency rating for each identified information item comprises steps of:

providing a taxonomy of terms including at least a respective alert flag value for each term; and

processing content of the information item using the taxonomy to determine a composite alert status of the information item.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the step of processing content of the information item using the taxonomy comprises steps of:

searching the content of the information item to find occurrences of each term of the taxonomy, and;

for each taxonomy term located in the content;

comparing the alert flag value to the composite alert status; and

updating the composite alert status based on the comparison result.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the taxonomy comprises a plurality of categories of subject matter, and wherein each term of the taxonomy comprises a respective alert flag value pertaining to each category.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the step of processing content of the information item comprises steps of:

deriving a respective composite alert status of the information item pertaining to each category of the taxonomy; and

selecting the highest composite alert status.

17. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of triaging each information item further comprises, when the urgency rating is above the predetermined threshold, steps of:

generating an auto-alert in respect of the information item; and

forwarding the auto-alert to the client.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the auto-alert comprises an e-mail containing either one or both of:

information content of the information item;

data identifying the information item, such that the client can access the information item.

19. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of triaging each information item further comprises a step of:

if the relevancy score is between the second and third relevancy thresholds, automatically disseminating the information item to the at least one client.

20. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of triaging each information item further comprises, when the relevancy score is less than the predetermined first relevancy threshold, a step of discarding the information item.

21. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of disseminating the information item comprises a step of storing the information item in an active database accessible by the at least one client.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising steps of:

generating a machine translated gist of the information item; and

storing the machine translated gist in the database in association with the information item.