Semantic note enriching system

• US 9,098,574 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2010
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Brown, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUONG, HIEN LUONGVAN
• Application Number:
  US12/802,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20110061027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,880 Days
• Field of Search: 715/840
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/36 Creation of semantic tools, e.g. ontology or thesauri

Abstract

A semantic note taking system and method for collecting information, enriching the information, and binding the information to services is provided. User-created notes are enriched with labels, context traits, and relevant data to minimize friction in the note-taking process. In other words, embodiments of the invention are directed to collecting unscripted data, adding more meaning and use out of the data, and enriching the data with search results for rules and/or linked data provided by computer or network services. Mutable and late-binding to services is also provided to allow private thoughts to be published to a myriad of different applications and services in a manner compatible with how thoughts are processed in the brain. User interfaces and semantic skins are also provided to derive meaning out of notes without requiring a great deal of user input.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a mobile computing device, first data defining a first note, the first data provided by a user of the mobile computing device and identifying a desired data output selected by the user of the mobile device;

identifying, by the mobile computing device, sensor data obtained by the mobile computing device that can be used to derive the desired data output;

determining, by the mobile computing device, that a function rule for generating the desired data output requires at least one additional data input that is not included in the sensor data;

based on the determination that the function rule requires at least one additional data input, performing a search for an algorithm capable of generating the additional data input from the sensor data as input to the algorithm;

generating, the at least one additional data input by using the sensor data as input to the algorithm;

generating the desired data output by using the sensor data and the at least one additional data input as input to the function rule; and

associating the desired data output with the note.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a search for one or more function rules for generating the output, the search performed according to a predetermined accuracy level.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a search for one or more context traits to be associated with the first note.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a search for a service containing input data.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions for causing a mobile device to execute a method comprising:

receiving first data defining a first note, the first data provided by a user of the mobile computing device and identifying a desired data output selected by the user of the mobile device;

identifying sensor data obtained by the mobile computing device that can be used to derive the desired data output;

determining that a function rule for generating the desired data output requires at least one additional data input that is not included in the sensor data;

based on the determination that the function rule requires at least one additional data input, performing a search for an algorithm capable of generating the additional data input from the sensor data as input to the algorithm;

generating, the at least one additional data input by using the sensor data as input to the algorithm;

generating the desired data output by using the sensor data and the at least one additional data input as input to the function rule; and

associating the desired data output with the note.

6. A mobile computing device comprising:

a computer processor; and

a memory containing instructions that, when executed, cause the computer processor to;

receive first data defining a first note, the first data provided by a user of the mobile computing device and identifying a desired data output selected by the user of the mobile device;

identify sensor data obtained by the mobile computing device that can be used to derive the desired data output;

determine that a function rule for generating the desired data output requires at least one additional data input that is not included in the sensor data; and

perform a search for an algorithm capable of generating the additional data input from the sensor data as input to the algorithm;

generate, the at least one additional data input by using the sensor data as input to the algorithm;

generate the desired data output by using the sensor data and the at least one additional data input as input to the function rule; and

associate the desired data output with the note.