Computerized knowledge representation system with flexible user entry fields

• US 8,392,353 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2009
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ingenuity Systems, Inc. (Qiagen NV)
• Original Assignee: Ingenuity Systems, Inc. (Qiagen NV)
• Inventors: Cho, Raymond J., Chen, Richard O., Felciano, Ramon M., Richards, Daniel R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chaki, Kakali
• Assistant Examiner(s): COUGHLAN, PETER D
• Application Number:
  US12/499,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20100010957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 706/60
• US Class Current: 706/60
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/367 Ontology
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/022 Knowledge engineering; Knowledge acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

Methods for constructing and maintaining knowledge representation systems (KRS) are disclosed. The KRS is initially organized and populated using knowledge engineers. After initial organization, scientific domain experts digest and structure source texts for direct entry into the KRS using templates. These templates constrain both the form and content of the digested information, allowing it to be entered directly into the KRS. The methods disclosed herein permit the construction and maintenance of a much larger KRS than could be constructed and maintained using known methods. Fact type specific fact templates are completed, accepting predefined fact types found in predetermined information sources. Fact template may comprise a user interface that constrains user entry to one of a predetermined set of valid entries. The user interface may include a user field that permits entry of new information not included in the predetermined set of valid user entries.

Claims

1. Fact templates for use in a Knowledge Representation System (KRS) on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, comprising:

at least one fact-type specific fact template, each fact-type specific fact template accepting one predefined fact type found in predetermined information sources, wherein the template is capable of translating the fact type from one of a text-based, graphical and tabular language into a computational information language of the KRS; and

the at least one fact-type specific fact template having at least one user interface that constrains user data entry to one of a predetermined set of valid user entries that may be inserted into the fact template at the user interface;

wherein the user interface includes a user entry field that permits entry of new information not included in the predetermined set of valid user entries and wherein information entered into the user entry field automatically flags the completed fact template for review.

2. The fact templates of claim 1 wherein scientists expert in the field defined by the predetermined information sources are enabled to extract information from the predetermined information sources and complete the templates with the extracted information.

3. The fact templates of claim 1, wherein the KRS is modified to accept the new information if the fact template passes review.

4. A frame-based Knowledge Representation System (KRS) on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, populated with facts, the facts having been entered into the system by the step of:

completing at least one fact-type specific fact template, each fact-type specific fact template accepting one predefined fact type found in predetermined information sources, wherein the at least one fact-type specific fact template comprises at least one user interface that constrains user data entry to one of a predetermined set of valid user entries that may be inserted into the fact template at the user interface, and wherein the user interface includes a user entry field that permits entry of new information not included in the predetermined set of valid user entries;

transferring a plurality of structured facts from completed fact templates into the KRS to form a knowledge base, the structured facts being derived from natural language information sources;

wherein the KRS is an ontology having varying levels of abstraction of biological concepts and the structured facts correspond to one or more of the varying levels of abstraction of biological concepts and wherein information entered into the user entry field automatically flags the completed fact template for review.

5. The KRS of claim 4, wherein the natural language information sources comprise at least one of text-based and symbolic biological information sources.

6. The KRS of claim 4, wherein the fact templates structure and constrain a fact extracted from the information sources according to a user interface that constrains user data entry based upon a set of valid entries consistent with the structure and content of the ontology.

7. The KRS of claim 6, wherein the user interface includes a blank menu option, the blank menu option permitting the input of a new information choice not offered by the set of valid user entries.

8. The KRS of claim 7, wherein all completed templates in which a blank menu option was selected are reviewed prior to transferring the fact and the ontology is modified to accept the new information choice if a reviewer of the fact approves the new information choice.

9. The KRS of claim 8, wherein the templates are completed by experts knowledgeable in the field represented by the ontology and the review of new information choices is conducted by the experts and knowledge base engineers.

10. The KRS of claim 4, wherein the ontology is modified to accept the new information if the fact template passes review.