Resource standardization in an off-premise environment

• US 7,797,453 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Cheng, Lili, Meijer, Henricus Johannes Maria, Larus, James R., Brumme, Christopher W., Gounares, Alexander G., Bergstraesser, Thomas F., Snyder, Ira L. Jr., Mishra, Debi P.
• Primary Examiner(s): JEAN GILLES, JUDE
• Application Number:
  US11/613,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20080082601A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,364 Days
• Field of Search: 709/246, 709/205, 709/203, 709/201, 709/224, 709/208, 709/219, 709/206, 705/35, 705/40, 705/37
• US Class Current: 709/246
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

A computing paradigm where information can be aggregated from multiple services/programs within a ‘cloud-based’ environment is provided. Thus, the system can provide a uniform interface that can combine computational tasks across the multiple services/programs. Thus, the innovation takes advantage of the computing device being a ‘thin client’ which affords greater user comfort to a user without sacrificing data processing capabilities. Accordingly, the mechanisms are disclosed that standardize and/or normalize data across the resources within the cloud.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates data management, comprising:

a processor;

one or more computer-readable storage media storing one or more components configured for execution by the processor, the components comprising;

an interface component that receives a request for data;

a data aggregation component that retrieves the data from an off-premise source comprising a plurality of disparate resources, each disparate resource operating according to a specific protocol and format tailored to a specific purpose;

a data normalizer component that translates semantics and structure of the data into a common format that is compatible across the plurality of disparate resources;

a data analysis component that evaluates the data and determines the common format based at least on a cost analysis; and

a machine learning and reasoning component that utilizes an automatic classifier process employing a probabilistic and statistical-based analysis to infer an action that a user desires to be automatically performed by the data aggregation component and the data normalizer component.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface component authenticates an identity of a requestor of the data and regulates access to the data as a function of the authentication.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the interface component comprises an identity component that establishes the identity of the requestor.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the interface component enables an access control list (ACL) to be configured, wherein the ACL controls access to the data as a function of the identity of the requestor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the data normalizer component is extensible to enable normalization into a plurality of target formats.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface component enables installation of a plug-in that extends normalization capabilities as a function of disparate target formats.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the data analysis component further evaluates the data and determines at least one of a type, size, content and context associated with the data, wherein the data normalizer component normalizes the data as a function of the at least one of type, size, content and context.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the data analysis component further employs context to determine a target format for the data.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the data aggregation component acquires data from a local resource, and the data is compatible with both off-premise and on-premise resources.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the data analysis component further evaluates the data and determines the common format based at least on one of a compatibility analysis, a user preference, a user context and a device profile.

10. A computer-implemented method of standardizing data, comprising:

receiving a data request from a requestor;

authenticating identity of the requestor;

utilizing an automatic classifier process employing a probabilistic and statistical-based analysis to infer an action, associated with the data request, that the requestor desires to be automatically performed;

retrieving data from an on-premise or off-premise source as a function of the data request, the on-premise or off-premise source comprising a plurality of disparate resources, each disparate resource operating according to a specific protocol and format tailored to a specific purpose;

determining a standard format common to the plurality of disparate resources retrieved based at least on a cost analysis; and

normalizing the data in accordance with the standard format.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising de-normalizing the data in accordance with a disparate target format.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising filtering the data based at least on the identity of the requestor.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the standard format is further based on one of a compatibility analysis, a user preference, a user context and a device profile.

13. One or more computer-readable storage media storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, configure a computing device to perform a method facilitating standardization of data, the method comprising:

determining a requestor associated with a data request;

authenticating an identity of the requestor;

utilizing an automatic classifier process employing a probabilistic and statistical-based analysis to infer an action, associated with the data request, that the requestor desires to be automatically performed;

retrieving data that corresponds to the data request from a plurality of resources, each resource operating according to a specific protocol and format tailored to a specific purpose;

determining a standard format common to the plurality of resources retrieved based at least on a cost analysis; and

standardizing the data in accordance with the standard format.

14. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 13, wherein the standardizing employs a result of the authentication to allow or deny standardization as a function of a policy established by an owner of the data.