Dynamic ontology-driven template selection

• US 7,966,348 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2008
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Chen, Feng-wei, Parekh, Nikhil R., Lee, Ju Y., Mago, Margaret H., Holtman, John M., Reed, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lie; Angela M
• Application Number:
  US12/147,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20090327337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 707/790, 707/791, 707/793, 707/795, 707/797, 707/803, 707/810, 707/809, 707/999.101, 707/736, 707/737, 707/740, 707/756, 707/802, 707/812, 707/796, 707/705
• US Class Current: 707/803
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/02 Knowledge representation; Symbolic representation

Abstract

One aspect of the present invention includes dynamically selecting templates through the use of an ontology. In one embodiment, an ontology is defined to structure information system content, and an ontology classification is then assigned when content is provided to the information system. Based on this classification, the most appropriate template classified in the ontology is applied to the content. If a template exists at the content item'"'"'s ontology level, this template is applied to the content. If no template exists, then the ontology tree is navigated upward to locate a template at the nearest ancestor ontology level. If a template was found by navigating the ontology tree, then this template is applied to the content item.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing an ontology within an information system, comprising:

defining an ontology to categorize content contained within a plurality of electronic content files provided to an information system;

receiving an electronic content file at the information system, the electronic content file containing new content;

assigning an ontology classification to the electronic content file from a level of the ontology based on the new content contained in the electronic content file;

selecting a template for the electronic content file from a set of templates within the information system based on the ontology classification of the electronic content file, each template classified to at least one level of the ontology, and each template specifying requirements for new content added to the information system using the template, wherein the requirements define content structure, minimum content specifications, and additional contents required for inclusion within the information system, and wherein selecting a template for the electronic content file includes;

identifying a template classified at the ontology level of the electronic content file if a template is classified therein;

identifying a template classified elsewhere within the ontology if a template is not classified at the ontology level of the electronic content file by traversing the ontology to locate a template at a nearest ancestor of the ontology level of the electronic content file; and

applying, if a template was identified within the ontology, the selected template and the requirements of the selected template to the electronic content file; and

implementing any applicable changes to the new content of the electronic content file resulting from applying the requirements of the selected template to the new content of the electronic content file, the applicable changes to the new content implemented prior to addition of the electronic content file to the information system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning a semantic relationship between a template and a level of an existing ontology responsive to a creation of a template within the information system.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining a template responsive to creation of a new ontology or a new level of an existing ontology within the information system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein inferencing techniques are used to traverse the ontology when locating the template at the nearest ancestor of the ontology level of the electronic content file.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic content file comprises a document.

6. An information system, comprising:

at least one processor within the information system;

at least one memory store within the information system having instructions operable with the at least one processor for utilizing an ontology to classify and enforce template requirements for new content items, the instructions being executed on hardware components within the storage management system for;

categorizing content contained within a plurality of electronic content files provided to an information system with an defined an ontology;

processing an electronic content file at the information system, the electronic content file containing new content;

assigning an ontology classification to the electronic content file from a level of the ontology based on the new content contained in the electronic content file;

selecting a template for the electronic content file from a set of templates within the information system based on the ontology classification of the electronic content file, each template classified to at least one level of the ontology, and each template specifying requirements for new content added to the information system using the template, wherein the requirements define content structure, minimum content specifications, and additional contents required for inclusion within the information system, and wherein selecting a template for the electronic content file includes;

identifying a template classified at the ontology level of the electronic content file if a template is classified therein;

identifying a template classified elsewhere within the ontology if a template is not classified at the ontology level of the electronic content file by traversing the ontology to locate a template at a nearest ancestor of the ontology level of the electronic content file; and

applying, if a template was identified within the ontology, the selected template and the requirements of the selected template to the electronic content file; and

implementing any applicable changes to the new content of the electronic content file resulting from applying the requirements of the selected template to the new content of the electronic content file, the applicable changes to the new content implemented prior to addition of the electronic content file to the information system.

7. The information system of claim 6, further comprising instructions being executed for assigning a semantic relationship between a template and a level of an existing ontology responsive to a creation of a template within the information system.

8. The information system of claim 6, further comprising instructions being executed for defining a template responsive to creation of a new ontology or a new level of an existing ontology within the information system.

9. The information system of claim 6, wherein inferencing techniques are used to traverse the ontology when locating the template at the nearest ancestor of the ontology level of the electronic content file.

10. The information system of claim 6, wherein the electronic content file comprises a document.