Identification of null sets in a context-based electronic document search

• US 8,898,165 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2012
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Friedlander, Robert R., Kraemer, James R., Silobrcic, Josko
• Primary Examiner(s): Vy, Hung T
• Application Number:
  US13/540,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20140006419A1
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 707/723, 707/758, 707/736, 707/741, 706/47
• US Class Current: 707/736
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems

Abstract

A computer hardware-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product identifies a null set of synthetic event containing electronic files in a database of electronic files. A synthetic event, which is a non-executable descriptor of a set of context-related factors, is created. A context-based search of a database of electronic files is performed to identify a synthetic event containing electronic file that includes the synthetic event. In response to determining that there are no electronic files in the database of electronic files that contain the synthetic event, a set of binary data is transmitted/broadcast. The set of binary data includes a notice that there are no synthetic event electronic files in the database of electronic files.

Claims

1. A computer hardware-implemented method of identifying a null set of synthetic event containing files in a database of electronic files, the computer hardware-implemented method comprising:

defining a synthetic event, wherein the synthetic event is a non-executable descriptor of a set of context-related factors, wherein the synthetic event is an occurrence of a set of words in a single document, wherein a factor in the set of context-related factors is the occurrence of all words in the set of words, and wherein a context of the set of context-related factors is the single document containing all of the words in the set of words;

performing a context-based search of a database of electronic files to identify a synthetic event containing electronic file, wherein the synthetic event containing electronic file comprises the synthetic event; and

in response to determining that there are no electronic files in the database of electronic files that contain the synthetic event, broadcasting a set of binary data that identifies the null set of synthetic event containing files in the database of electronic files.

2. The computer hardware-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the synthetic event further describes factors related to a user activity, and wherein the computer hardware-implemented method further comprises:

generating the recommendation to perform additional steps related to the user activity.

3. The computer hardware-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the synthetic event further describes factors related to a user activity, wherein the user activity is diagnosing a medical patient, and wherein the computer hardware-implemented method further comprises:

generating the recommendation to perform additional medical tests, on the medical patient, which are related to the identified synthetic event containing electronic file.

4. The computer hardware-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

limiting the context-based search to search only files that are not related to activities that generated the synthetic event, wherein an activity that generated the synthetic event was medical research, and wherein the context-based search is limited to searching non-medical literature; and

establishing a connection between the synthetic event and non-synthetic event elements found in the non-medical literature.

5. The computer hardware-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

ranking a source of the identified synthetic event containing electronic file, wherein the ranking is based on a public reputation of the source; and

weighting the identified synthetic event containing electronic file based on said ranking.

6. The computer hardware-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

ranking a source of the synthetic event containing electronic file, wherein the ranking is based on an historical frequency of usage of the source by a generator of the synthetic event; and

weighting the identified synthetic event containing electronic file based on said ranking.

7. A computer program product for identifying a null set of synthetic event containing files in a database of electronic files, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable storage media;

first program instructions to define a synthetic event, wherein the synthetic event is a non-executable descriptor of a set of context-related factors, wherein the synthetic event is an occurrence of a set of words in a single document, wherein a factor in the set of context-related factors is the occurrence of all words in the set of words, and wherein a context of the set of context-related factors is the single document containing all of the words in the set of words;

second program instructions to perform a context-based search of a database of electronic files to identify a synthetic event containing electronic file, wherein the synthetic event containing electronic file comprises the synthetic event; and

third program instructions to, in response to determining that there are no electronic files in the database of electronic files that contain the synthetic event, transmit a set of binary data to the requesting computer, wherein the set of binary data identifies the null set of synthetic event containing files in the database of electronic files; and

wherein the first, second, and third program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the synthetic event further describes factors related to a user activity, and wherein the computer program product further comprises:

fourth program instructions to the recommendation to perform additional steps related to the user activity; and

wherein the fourth program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media.

9. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the synthetic event further describes factors related to a user activity, wherein the user activity is scientific laboratory research, and wherein the computer program product further comprises:

fourth program instructions to generate the recommendation to perform additional scientific laboratory research on topics related to the identified synthetic event containing electronic file; and

wherein the fourth program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media.

10. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the synthetic event further describes factors related to a user activity, wherein the user activity is diagnosing a medical patient, and wherein the computer program product further comprises:

fourth program instructions to generate the recommendation to perform additional medical tests, on the medical patient, which are related to the identified synthetic event containing electronic file, wherein the synthetic event is a combination of facts about a patient, wherein the facts about the patient include the patient'"'"'s age, a medical diagnosis of a primary disease currently afflicting the patient, and a list of medications being taken by the patient, wherein the patient'"'"'s age, the medical diagnosis of the primary disease currently afflicting the patient, and the list of medications being taken by the patient are factors in the context-related factors, and wherein a context of the context-related factors is the patient being diagnosed for a secondary disease that is caused by the primary disease; and

wherein the fourth program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media.

11. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the synthetic event further describes a user activity, and wherein the computer program product further comprises:

fourth program instructions to determine a context for the context-based search based on an activity type of the user activity; and

wherein the fourth program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media.

12. The computer program product of claim 7, further comprising:

fourth program instructions to rank a source of the synthetic event containing electronic file, wherein the ranking is based on a public reputation of the source; and

fifth program instructions to weight the identified synthetic event containing electronic file based on said ranking; and

wherein the fourth and fifth program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media.

13. The computer program product of claim 7, further comprising:

fourth program instructions to rank a source of the identified synthetic event containing electronic file, wherein the ranking is based on an historical frequency of usage of the source by a generator of the synthetic event; and

fifth program instructions to weight the identified synthetic event containing electronic file based on said ranking; and

wherein the fourth and fifth program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media.

14. A computer system comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU), a computer readable memory, and a non-transitory computer readable storage media;

first program instructions to define a synthetic event, wherein the synthetic event is a non-executable descriptor of a set of context-related factors, wherein the synthetic event is an occurrence of a set of words in a single document, wherein a factor in the set of context-related factors is the occurrence of all words in the set of words, and wherein a context of the set of context-related factors is the single document containing all of the words in the set of words;

second program instructions to perform a context-based search of a database of electronic files to identify a synthetic event containing electronic file, wherein the synthetic event containing electronic file comprises the synthetic event; and

third program instructions to, in response to determining that there are no electronic files in the database of electronic files that contain the synthetic event, transmit a set of binary data to the requesting computer, wherein the set of binary data identifies the null set of synthetic event containing files in the database of electronic files; and

wherein the first, second, and third program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media for execution by the CPU via the computer readable memory.

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the synthetic event further describes factors related to a user activity, and wherein the computer system further comprises:

fourth program instructions to the recommendation to perform additional steps related to the user activity; and

wherein the fourth program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media for execution by the CPU via the computer readable memory.

16. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the synthetic event further describes factors related to a user activity, wherein the user activity is scientific laboratory research, and wherein the computer system further comprises:

fourth program instructions to generate a recommendation to research topics related to the identified synthetic event containing electronic file, wherein the synthetic event is a set of features being examined in a scientific laboratory while studying a particular disease, wherein a context of the set of context-related factors is a research project that is directed towards understanding the etiology of a particular disease, and wherein factors of the set of context-related factors are a phenotype, genotype, and exposure to specific chemicals common to persons having the particular disease; and

wherein the fourth program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media for execution by the CPU via the computer readable memory.

17. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the synthetic event further describes factors related to a user activity, wherein the user activity is diagnosing a medical patient, and wherein the computer system further comprises:

fourth program instructions to generate the recommendation to perform additional scientific laboratory research on topics related to the identified synthetic event containing electronic file; and

wherein the fourth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by the CPU via the non-transitory computer readable memory.

18. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the synthetic event further describes factors related to a user activity, and wherein the computer system further comprises:

fourth program instructions to determine a context for the context-based search based on an activity type of the user activity; and

wherein the fourth program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media for execution by the CPU via the computer readable memory.

19. The computer system of claim 14, further comprising:

fourth program instructions to rank a source of the identified synthetic event containing electronic file, wherein the ranking is based on a public reputation of the source; and

fifth program instructions to weight the identified synthetic event containing electronic file based on said ranking; and

wherein the fourth and fifth program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media for execution by the CPU via the computer readable memory.