Research rapidity and efficiency improvement by analysis of research artifact similarity

• US 8,583,624 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2008
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Adams, James C., Dettinger, Richard D., Kolz, Daniel P., Wenzel, Shannon E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ly, Cheyne D
• Application Number:
  US12/265,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20090063477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,833 Days
• Field of Search: 707/713, 707/722, 707/736, 707/758, 707/769
• US Class Current: 707/713
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

Methods for comparing query-related objects are provided. In one embodiment, a first plurality of query-related objects for a first user is compared to a second plurality of query-related objects for a second user to determine a degree of similarity between the first and second plurality of query-related objects. A notification of the degree of similarity is issued.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for comparing query-related objects, comprising:

receiving a first plurality of query-related objects for a first user;

receiving a second plurality of query-related objects for a second user, wherein both the first and second plurality of query-related objects include objects of different object types;

determining a degree of similarity between the first and second plurality of query-related objects of the same object type, comprising;

determining a plurality of query-related objects based on their frequency of use in composing queries; and

calculating the degree of similarity based on comparing the first plurality of query-related objects of each object type with the second plurality of query-related objects of the same object type, wherein the degree of similarity is reduced upon determining that the first plurality of query-related objects and the second plurality of query-related objects contain at least one query-related object that is similar to one of the determined plurality of query-related objects;

and

upon determining that the degree of similarity exceeds a predefined threshold for similarity, issuing a notification of the degree of similarity to the first user, wherein the notification identifies the second user using contact information associated with the second plurality of query-related objects.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second plurality of query-related objects include abstract queries resolved against a logical model abstractly describing physical data, wherein the logical model comprises a plurality of logical fields defined by a logical field name and an access method, wherein the access method specifies a technique for returning a value for the respective logical field and wherein the access method is selected from two or more different types of access methods.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a value for a typical degree of similarity of a plurality of query-related objects; and

calculating the predefined threshold for similarity, based on the determined value for the typical degree of similarity.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each received query-related object is one of a query object, a result object, and an analysis object.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a weight to each received query-related object; and

using the weight assigned to each received query-related object to adjust the degree of similarity between the first and second plurality of query-related objects.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing the first plurality of query-related objects with the second plurality of query-related objects to determine the degree of similarity comprises:

comparing a component of each of the query-related objects in the first plurality of query-related objects with a component of each of the query-related objects in the second plurality of query-related objects to determine a degree of similarity of the components; and

using the degree of similarity of the components to determine the degree of similarity of the first and second plurality of query-related objects.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification contains information that allows at least one of the first user and the second user to communicate with the other user.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first user and the second user communicates with the other user by placing a phone call or sending an email message, a text message, or a voicemail message.

9. A computer-implemented method for comparing query-related objects, comprising:

receiving a first plurality of query-related objects for a first user;

receiving a second plurality of query-related objects for a second user, wherein both the first and second plurality of query-related objects include objects of different object types;

retrieving contact information associated with the second plurality of query-related objects, wherein the contact information pertains to the second user;

determining a degree of similarity between the first and second plurality of query-related objects of the same object type, comprising;

assigning a weight to each received query-related object;

determining a plurality of query-related objects based on their frequency of use in composing queries; and

calculating the degree of similarity based on comparing the first plurality of query-related objects of each object type with the second plurality of query-related objects of the same object type, wherein the degree of similarity is reduced upon determining that the first plurality of query-related objects and the second plurality of query-related objects contain at least one query-related object that is similar to one of the determined plurality of query-related objects;

and

upon determining that the adjusted degree of similarity exceeds a predefined threshold for similarity, issuing a notification of the degree of similarity to the first user, wherein the notification contains at least a portion of the retrieved contact information for the second user and that allows the first user to communicate with the second user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the information allows at least one of the first user and the second user to communicate with the other user by placing a phone call or sending an email message, a text message, or a voicemail message.

11. A computer-implemented method for comparing query-related objects, comprising:

receiving a first plurality of query-related objects for a first user;

receiving a second plurality of query-related objects for a second user, wherein both the first and second plurality of query-related objects include objects of different object types;

retrieving contact information associated with the second plurality of query-related objects, wherein the contact information pertains to the second user;

comparing the first plurality of query-related objects of each type with the second plurality of query-related objects of the same object type to determine a degree of similarity between the first and second plurality of query-related objects of the same object type;

wherein comparing comprises;

comparing a component of each of the query-related objects in the first plurality of query-related objects with a component of each of the query-related objects in the second plurality of query-related objects to determine a degree of similarity of the components;

determining a plurality of query-related objects based on their frequency of use in composing queries; and

using the degree of similarity of the components to determine the degree of similarity of the first and second plurality of query-related objects, wherein the degree of similarity is reduced upon determining that the first plurality of query-related objects and the second plurality of query-related objects contain at least one query-related object that is similar to one of the determined plurality of query-related objects; and

upon determining that the degree of similarity exceeds a predefined threshold for similarity, issuing a notification of the degree of similarity to the first user, wherein the notification contains at least a portion of the retrieved contact information for the second user and that allows the first user to communicate with the second user.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the information allows at least one of the first user and the second user to communicate with the other user by placing a phone call or sending an email message, a text message, or a voicemail message.