Deriving a hierarchical event based database having action triggers based on inferred probabilities

• US 8,135,740 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2010
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ServiceNow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Friedlander, Robert R., Hennessy, Richard A., Kraemer, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trujillo, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Casanova, Jorge A
• Application Number:
  US12/911,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20110071975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 707/780, 707/999.003, 707/999.107, 707/758, 706/45, 706/46, 706/47, 706/52
• US Class Current: 707/780
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24565 Triggers; Constraints
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access

Abstract

Inferring a probability of a first inference absent from a database at which a query regarding the inference is received. The query is used as a frame of reference for the search. The database returns a probability of the correctness of the first inference based on the query and on the data. An action trigger is executed responsive to at least one of a) the probability of the first inference exceeding a first pre-selected value, b) a significance of the inference exceeding a second pre-selected value, c) a rate of change in the probability of the first inference exceeding a third pre-selected value, d) an amount of change in the probability of the first inference exceeding a fourth pre-selected value, and e) combinations thereof. At least one of the probability of the first inference and the action trigger is stored in the database.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for building a database capable of inferring a probability of a first inference, the computer implemented method comprising:

establishing a database structure, wherein the database structure is adapted to receive a plurality of divergent data, wherein in the database the plurality of divergent data includes a plurality of cohort data, wherein the database is adapted such that each datum of the plurality of divergent data in the database is conformed to dimensions of the database, wherein the database is further adapted such that each datum of the plurality of divergent data has associated metadata and an associated key, wherein the associated metadata comprises data regarding cohorts associated with corresponding datum, data regarding hierarchies associated with the corresponding datum, data regarding a corresponding source of the datum, and data regarding probabilities associated with integrity, reliability, and importance of each datum;

establishing a first set of rules for the database structure, the first set of rules comprising rules for determining a second set of rules to be applied to a query submitted to the database, wherein the second set of rules are at least determined that a fact submitted with the query will serve as a frame of reference when executing the query, wherein the frame of reference is established to generate associations among cohorts of the plurality of cohort data, wherein the cohorts are a group of associated individuals or objects sharing a common characteristic, wherein the associations are automatically generated using data stored at an atomic level, wherein the second set of rules determine a search space for the query, and wherein the second set of rules are adapted to create the probability of the first inference, wherein the probability of the first inference is determined from comparing the plurality of data according to the second set of rules using the fact as the frame of reference;

receiving a plurality of divergent data in the database;

conforming the plurality of divergent data to the dimensions of the database to form a plurality of conformed data;

associating the metadata and a key with each datum in the plurality of conformed data;

establishing a third set of rules for executing an action trigger responsive to at least one of a) the probability of the first inference exceeding a first pre-selected value, b) a significance of the first inference exceeding a second pre-selected value, c) a rate of change in the probability of the first inference exceeding a third pre-selected value, d) an amount of change in the probability of the first inference exceeding a fourth pre-selected value, and e) combinations thereof; and

storing the database structure.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the action trigger comprises a message presented to a user.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2, wherein the action trigger relates to at least one of, a security system, an information control system, a biological system, and an environmental factor.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 2, wherein the message comprises a request to a user to take an action selected from the group consisting of undertaking a particular line of research and investigating a particular fact.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the action trigger comprises a second query to create a second probability of a second inference.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the action trigger relates to at least one of, a security system, an information control system, a biological system, and an environmental factor.

7. A database stored in a storage device, the database comprising:

a plurality of divergent data stored in a data structure on the storage device, wherein the plurality of divergent data includes a plurality of cohort data, wherein each datum of the plurality of divergent data in the database is conformed to dimensions of the database, wherein each datum of the plurality of divergent data has associated metadata and an associated key, wherein the associated metadata comprises data regarding cohorts associated with corresponding datum, data regarding hierarchies associated with the corresponding datum, data regarding a corresponding source of the datum, and data regarding probabilities associated with integrity, reliability, and importance of each associated datum;

computer usable program code for establishing a fact, received in a query, as a frame of reference for the query, wherein the frame of reference is established to generate associations among cohorts of the plurality of cohort data, wherein the cohorts are a group of associated individuals or objects sharing a common characteristic, and wherein the associations are automatically generated using data stored at an atomic level;

computer usable program code for applying a first set of rules to the query, wherein the first set of rules are determined for the query according to a second set of rules, wherein the first set of rules determine how the plurality of data are to be compared to the fact, and wherein the first set of rules determine a search space for the query;

computer usable program code for executing the query to create a probability of a first inference, wherein the probability of the first inference is determined from comparing the plurality of data according to the first set of rules;

computer usable program code for executing an action trigger responsive to at least one of a) the probability of the first inference exceeding a first pre-selected value, b) a significance of the first inference exceeding a second pre-selected value, c) a rate of change in the probability of the first inference exceeding a third pre-selected value, d) an amount of change in the probability of the first inference exceeding a fourth pre-selected value, and e) combinations thereof; and

computer usable program code for storing the probability of the first inference.

8. The database of claim 7, wherein the action trigger comprises a message presented to a user.

9. The database of claim 8, wherein the message comprises a request to a user to analyze one of the probability of the first inference and information related to the probability of the first inference.

10. The database of claim 8, wherein the message comprises a request to a user to take an action selected from the group consisting of undertaking a particular line of research and investigating a particular fact.

11. The database of claim 7, wherein the action trigger comprises a second query to create a second probability of a second inference.

12. The database of claim 7, wherein the action trigger relates to at least one of, a security system, an information control system, a biological system, and an environmental factor.