Knowledge discovery system with user interactive analysis view for analyzing and generating relationships

• US 7,953,687 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2010
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Evans, Karoline, Martinsek, Emil Robert, Madigan, Daniel R., Spell, Rhazes, Simmons, Hillery D., LaSalle, Ryan Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Sparks; Donald
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, LI WU
• Application Number:
  US12/843,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20100293125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 309 Days
• Field of Search: 706/45
• US Class Current: 706/45
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/02 Knowledge representation; Symbolic representation

Abstract

A knowledge model discovery system is configured to provide an interactive view having simultaneously displayed sub-views that include a relational data element view and a geophysical view. Using the interactive view, a user may perform search and analysis of information organized with a knowledge management tool in conjunction with geographic information. The relational data element view may provide a relational visualization that displays data elements provided with the knowledge management tool as narrowed by the context of a user analysis. The geophysical view may provide a geographically based depiction of the same data elements using a similar context. The relational data element view and the geophysical view may be operated in coordination to maintain cohesiveness and similar context of the information displayed in the views.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

processing a source object to derive a plurality of data elements;

detecting a plurality of relationships, each relationship of the plurality of relationships comprising an association between at least one data element of the plurality of data elements and at least one stored data element of a database of stored data elements;

automatically generating, by a computing system, a plurality of links corresponding to the plurality of relationships, each of the plurality of links comprising a relationship;

for each link of the plurality of links, deriving a link strength, the link strength being based on the association between data elements comprising the link, wherein the detecting a plurality of relationships comprises detecting an implied relationship between two data elements by applying transitive reasoning using the link strength to the two data elements having a prior relationship with a common third element, wherein the link strength exceeds a determined threshold, and

automatically reconciling a relational data element view with a geophysical view,

the computing system being further configured to display an interactive, graphical representation of at least one of;

the plurality of relationships; and

the plurality of links, in a display device and in response to a received user input.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the value expressing a link strength is derived in response to a user request, the user request having a context.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the value varies based on the context of the user request.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a data source corresponding to the source object has an intrinsic weight based on a pre-configured reliability of the source object.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the value of a link strength varies based on the intrinsic weight of data sources corresponding to the data elements comprising the link.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the link strength has an initial value determined when the link is generated.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the database of stored data elements comprises:

a plurality of stored data elements;

a plurality of links corresponding to a plurality of detected relationships between two or more stored data elements of the plurality of stored data elements; and

a plurality of data sources corresponding to the plurality of stored data elements.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising adding the plurality of data elements to the database of stored data elements.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising adding the plurality of links corresponding to the plurality of data elements to the database of stored data elements.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising adding data sources corresponding to the plurality of data elements to the database of stored data elements.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the stored data elements are assigned to a plurality of categories in the database.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein a stored data element is assigned to a plurality of categories in the database based on a plurality of terms comprising the stored data element.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the stored data elements are assigned to a plurality of categories in the database based on a context in which the data elements were used in the source document.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the stored data elements and assigned plurality of categories comprise a system of ontology.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the processing the source object comprises extracting the plurality of data elements from a plurality of terms comprising the source object according to the system of ontology.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the source object comprises a data file and the processing comprises data mining the source object to identify data elements.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the source object comprises a plurality of portions of text and the processing comprises processing the text comprised in the source object to identify data elements.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the source object comprises a plurality of images and the processing comprises processing the images comprised in the source object to identify data elements.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the processing the source object comprises cleansing the plurality of data elements from the plurality of terms according to the system of ontology.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein the processing the source object comprises prioritizing the plurality of data elements from the plurality of terms according to the system of ontology.

21. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a relationship between data elements from the plurality of relationships to a user;

querying the user for a confirmation corresponding to the relationship; and

storing the relationship in the database in response to receiving a confirmation from the user.

22. A non-transitory computer readable media comprising program instructions which, when executed by a processor of a computing system is operable to perform a method for performing analytic processing, the program instructions comprising:

instructions to process a source object to derive a plurality of data elements;

instructions to detect a plurality of relationships, each relationship of the plurality of relationships comprising an association between at least one data element of the plurality of data elements and at least one stored data element of a database of stored data elements;

instructions to automatically generate a plurality of links corresponding to the plurality of relationships, each of the plurality of links comprising a relationship;

instructions to derive a link strength for each link of the plurality of links, the link strength being based on the association between data elements comprising the link, wherein the instructions to detect a plurality of relationships comprises instructions to detect an implied relationship between two data elements by applying transitive reasoning using the link strength to the two data elements having a prior relationship with a common third element, wherein the link strength exceeds a determined threshold, and

instructions to reconcile a relational data element view with a geophysical view.

23. The computer readable media according to claim 22, wherein the database of stored data elements comprises:

a plurality of stored data elements;

a plurality of links corresponding to a plurality of detected relationships between two or more stored data elements of the plurality of stored data elements; and

a plurality of data sources corresponding to the plurality of stored data elements.

24. The computer readable media according to claim 22, further comprising instructions to add the plurality of data elements to the database of stored data elements.

25. The computer readable media according to claim 24, further comprising instructions to add the plurality of links corresponding to the plurality of data elements to the database of stored data elements.

26. The computer readable media according to claim 24, further comprising instructions to add data sources corresponding to the plurality of data elements to the database of stored data elements.

27. The computer readable media according to claim 22, further comprising instructions to assign the stored data elements to a plurality of categories in the database.

28. The computer readable media according to claim 27, wherein the instructions to assign the stored data elements to a plurality of categories in the database comprises instructions to assign a stored data element to a plurality of categories in the database based on a plurality of terms comprising the stored data element.

29. The computer readable media according to claim 27, wherein the instructions to assign the stored data elements to a plurality of categories in the database comprises instructions to assign a stored data element to a plurality of categories in the database based on a context in which the data elements were used in the source document.

30. The computer readable media according to claim 27, wherein the stored data elements and assigned plurality of categories comprise a system of ontology.

31. The computer readable media according to claim 30, further comprising:

instructions to process a source object; and

instructions to extract the plurality of data elements from a plurality of terms comprising the source object according to the system of ontology.

32. The computer readable media according to claim 31, wherein the source object comprises a data file and the instructions to process the source object comprises instructions to data mine the source object to identify data elements.

33. The computer readable media according to claim 31, wherein the source object comprises a plurality of portions of text and the instructions to process the source object comprises instructions to process the portions of text comprised in the source object to identify data elements.

34. The computer readable media according to claim 31, wherein the source object comprises a plurality of images and the instructions to process the source object comprises instructions to process the images comprised in the source object to identify data elements.

35. The computer readable media according to claim 30, further comprising instructions to cleanse the plurality of data elements from the plurality of terms according to the system of ontology.

36. The computer readable media according to claim 30, further comprising instructions to prioritize the plurality of data elements from the plurality of terms according to the system of ontology.

37. The computer readable media according to claim 22, further comprising:

instructions to display a relationship between data elements from the plurality of relationships to a user;

instructions to query the user for a confirmation corresponding to the relationship; and

instructions to store the relationship in the database in response to receiving a confirmation from the user.

38. A system operable on at least one computing system that includes a display, the system comprising:

a processor operable for executing;

a database of stored data elements;

a data elements module operable to receive a source object from a data source and process the source object to derive a plurality of data elements;

a relationship builder module operable to;

detect a plurality of relationships, each relationship comprising an association between at least one data element of the plurality of data elements and at least one stored data element of the database; and

to automatically generate a plurality of links corresponding to the plurality of relationships, each of the plurality of links comprising a relationship;

a confidence module operable to derive a link strength for each link of the plurality of links, the link strength being based on the association between data elements comprising the link, wherein the link strength is expressed as a variable value, wherein the relationship builder module is further operable to detect a plurality of relationships comprises instructions to detect an implied relationship between two data elements by applying transitive reasoning using the link strength to the two data elements having a prior relationship with a common third element, wherein the link strength exceeds a determined threshold; and

a multiple visualization integration engine operable to provide interactive functionality of a plurality of views of a plurality of relationships in an interactive viewer presented in the display in response to a user input and also operable to reconcile a relational data element view with a geophysical view.

39. The system according to claim 38, wherein the multiple visualization integration engine is further operable to:

display a relationship between data elements from the plurality of relationships to a user;

query the user for a confirmation corresponding to the relationship; and

store the relationship in the database in response to receiving a confirmation from the user.