Search tool that utilizes scientific metadata matched against user-entered parameters

• US 8,560,531 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2011
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation, Oregon State University (Oregon University System)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Maier, David, Megler, Veronika Margaret
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr., Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROMELL, ALEXANDRIA Y
• Application Number:
  US13/175,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20130006976A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 707/725, 707/723, 707/724
• US Class Current: 707/723
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/242 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results

Abstract

A method for providing proximate dataset recommendations can begin with the creation of metadata records corresponding to datasets that represent scientific data by a scientific dataset search tool. The metadata records can conform to a standardized structural definition, and may be hierarchical. Values for the data elements of the metadata records can be contained within the datasets. Metadata records with a value that is proximate to a user-entered search parameter can be identified. A proximity score can be calculated for each identified metadata record. The proximity score can express a relevance of the corresponding dataset to the user-entered search parameters. The identified metadata records can be arranged in descending order by the calculated proximity rating, creating a list of proximate dataset results. The proximate dataset results can be presented within a user interface.

Claims

1. A method for providing proximate dataset recommendations comprising:

creating of a plurality of metadata records that correspond to a plurality of datasets representing scientific data by a scientific dataset search tool, wherein said plurality of metadata records conform to a standardized structural definition, wherein values for data elements of a metadata record are contained within a corresponding dataset;

identifying at least one metadata record from the plurality of metadata records having a value that is proximate to one or more user-entered search parameters, wherein one of the search parameters is a temporal parameter, wherein proximity is determined with respect to a range represented by the corresponding user-entered search parameters;

calculating a proximity score for each identified metadata record, wherein said proximity score expresses a relevance of the corresponding dataset to the user-entered search parameters, wherein calculating the proximity score comprises calculating a temporal proximity score, wherein calculating the temporal proximity score further comprises;

determining a temporal distance, d_Tdist, from a central point of the user-entered temporal search parameter for the dataset using the following formula or a variation or derivative thereof;

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

arranging the at least one identified metadata record in descending order by the calculated proximity rating, wherein said arranged metadata records create a listing of proximate dataset results; and

presenting the proximate dataset results within a user interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user-entered search parameters comprise a geospatial parameter.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user-entered search parameters comprise a numeric range or a non-numeric parameter or keyword that can be translated to a numeric range.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the plurality of metadata records further comprises:

accessing a data store storing a dataset;

extracting from the dataset values for metadata record data elements, wherein the values comprise at least temporal bounds of the dataset, geospatial bounds of the dataset, and a unique identifier for the proximate dataset result;

populating a new metadata record with the extracted values; and

storing the new metadata record in a data store accessible by the geospatially/temporally proximate dataset search tool.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the proximity score for each identified metadata record further comprises:

calculating the temporal proximity score for the identified metadata record, wherein said temporal proximity score is weighted based upon a radius of a range expressed by the user-entered temporal search parameter;

calculating a geospatial proximity score for the identified metadata record, wherein said geospatial proximity score is weighted based upon a radius of a range expressed by the user-entered geospatial search parameter; and

combining the temporal proximity score and the geospatial proximity score into the proximity score.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

converting the determined d_Tdist to the temporal proximity score, d_Ts, using

d_Ts=s(d_Tdist),

wherein s is a scaling function that translates d_Tdist into a value within a scale defined for the proximity score.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the search parameters is a geospatial parameter, and wherein calculating the proximity score comprises calculating a geospatial proximity score.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein calculating the geospatial proximity score further comprises:

determining a geospatial distance, d_Gdist, from a central point of the user-entered geospatial search parameter for the dataset using the following formula or a variation or derivative thereof;

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

converting the determined d_Gdist to the geospatial proximity score, d_Gs, using

d_Gs=s(d_Gdist),

wherein s is a scaling function that translates d_Gtdist into a value within a scale defined for the proximity score.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the proximity score utilizes a scale having a lower bound and an upper bound denoting a distant match and an exact match 0, respectively, to the user-entered geospatial and temporal search parameters.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

arranging the at least one identified metadata record in descending order by the calculated proximity score, wherein said arranged metadata records create a listing of proximate dataset results, wherein said arranging of the at least one identified metadata record further comprises; and

comparing the calculated proximity score of the at least one identified metadata record to the lower bound of the scale.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the scientific dataset search tool is a component of a data analysis system.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the standardized structural definition of the plurality of metadata records utilizes a hierarchical configuration in which metadata records are able to be nested within a superior metadata record.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the user-entered search parameters include at least one limiting value for at least one of the user-entered search parameters, wherein the calculated proximity score is further scaled with respect to the at least one limiting value.

16. A method for providing proximate dataset recommendations comprising:

creating of a plurality of metadata records that correspond to a plurality of datasets representing scientific data by a scientific dataset search tool, wherein said plurality of metadata records conform to a standardized structural definition, wherein values for data elements of a metadata record are contained within a corresponding dataset;

identifying at least one metadata record from the plurality of metadata records having a value that is proximate to one or more user-entered search parameters, wherein proximity is determined with respect to a range represented by the corresponding user-entered search parameters, wherein one of the search parameters is a geospatial parameter;

calculating a proximity score for each identified metadata record, wherein said proximity score expresses a relevance of the corresponding dataset to the user-entered search parameters, wherein calculating the proximity score comprises calculating a geospatial proximity score, wherein calculating the geospatial proximity score further comprises;

determining a geospatial distance, d_Gdist, from a central point of the user-entered geospatial search parameter for the dataset using the following formula or a variation or derivative thereof;

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

converting the determined d_Gdist to the geospatial proximity score, d_Gs, using

d_Gs=s(d_Gdist),

wherein s is a scaling function that translates d_Gdist into a value within a scale defined for the proximity score.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

arranging the at least one identified metadata record in descending order by the calculated proximity rating, wherein said arranged metadata records create a listing of proximate dataset results; and

presenting the proximate dataset results within a user interface.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the user-entered search parameters comprise a temporal parameter.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the user-entered search parameters comprise a numeric range or a non-numeric parameter or keyword that can be translated to a numeric range.

21. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer usable storage medium storing computer usable program code executable by one or more processors, the computer usable program code comprising;

computer usable program code configured to create of a plurality of metadata records that correspond to a plurality of datasets representing scientific data by a scientific dataset search tool, wherein said plurality of metadata records conform to a standardized structural definition, wherein values for data elements of a metadata record are contained within a corresponding dataset;

computer usable program code configured to identify at least one metadata record from the plurality of metadata records having a value that is proximate to one or more user-entered search parameters, wherein one of the search parameters is a temporal parameter, wherein proximity is determined with respect to a range represented by the corresponding user-entered search parameters;

computer usable program code configured to calculate a proximity score for each identified metadata record, wherein said proximity score expresses a relevance of the corresponding dataset to the user-entered search parameters, wherein calculating the proximity score comprises calculating a temporal proximity score, wherein the computer usable code to calculate the temporal proximity score is further configured to;

determine a temporal distance, d_Tdist, from a central point of the user-entered temporal search parameter for the dataset using the following formula or a variation or derivative thereof;

22. The computer program product of claim 21, the computer usable program code further comprising:

computer usable program code configured to convert the determined d_Tdist to the temporal proximity score, d_Ts, using

d_Ts=s(d_Tdist),

wherein s is a scaling function that translates d_Tdist into a value within a scale defined for the proximity score.

23. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer usable storage medium storing computer usable program code executable by one or more processors, the computer usable program code comprising;

computer usable program code configured to create of a plurality of metadata records that correspond to a plurality of datasets representing scientific data by a scientific dataset search tool, wherein said plurality of metadata records conform to a standardized structural definition, wherein values for data elements of a metadata record are contained within a corresponding dataset;

computer usable program code configured to identify at least one metadata record from the plurality of metadata records having a value that is proximate to one or more user-entered search parameters, wherein proximity is determined with respect to a range represented by the corresponding user-entered search parameters, wherein one of the search parameters is a geospatial parameter;

computer usable program code configured to calculate a proximity score for each identified metadata record, wherein said proximity score expresses a relevance of the corresponding dataset to the user-entered search parameters, wherein calculating the proximity score comprises calculating a geospatial proximity score, wherein the computer usable program code configured to calculate the geospatial proximity score further comprises;

computer usable program code configured to determine a geospatial distance, d_Gdist, from a central point of the user-entered geo spatial search parameter for the dataset using the following formula or a variation or derivative thereof;

24. The computer program product of claim 23, the computer usable program code further comprising:

computer usable program code configured to convert the determined d_Gdist to the geospatial proximity score, d_Gs, using

d_Gs=s(d_Gdist),

wherein s is a scaling function that translates d_Gdist into a value within a scale defined for the proximity score.

25. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

at least one non-transitory computer usable storage medium storing computer usable program code executable by the one or more processors, the computer usable program code comprising;

computer usable program code configured to create of a plurality of metadata records that correspond to a plurality of datasets representing scientific data by a scientific dataset search tool, wherein said plurality of metadata records conform to a standardized structural definition, wherein values for data elements of a metadata record are contained within a corresponding dataset;

computer usable program code configured to identify at least one metadata record from the plurality of metadata records having a value that is proximate to one or more user-entered search parameters, wherein proximity is determined with respect to a range represented by the corresponding user-entered search parameters, wherein one of the search parameters is a geospatial parameter;

computer usable program code configured to calculate a proximity score for each identified metadata record, wherein said proximity score expresses a relevance of the corresponding dataset to the user-entered search parameters, wherein calculating the proximity score comprises calculating a geospatial proximity score, wherein the computer usable program code configured to calculate the geospatial proximity score further comprises;

computer usable program code configured to determine a geospatial distance, d_Gdist, from a central point of the user-entered geo spatial search parameter for the dataset using the following formula or a variation or derivative thereof;

26. The system of claim 25, the computer usable program code further comprising:

computer usable program code configured to convert the determined d_Gdist to the geospatial proximity score, d_Gs, using

d_Gs=s(d_Gdist),

wherein s is a scaling function that translates d_Gdist into a value within a scale defined for the proximity score.