Providing additional information and data in cooperation with a communication application

• US 9,430,538 B2
• Filed: 02/29/2008
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Mattox, John R., Faus, Norman Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Waldron, Scott A
• Application Number:
  US12/040,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20090222414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,105 Days
• Field of Search: 707/999.001, 707/999.002, 707/999.003, 707/769
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/252 between a Database Management System and a front-end application

Abstract

Systems and methods classify, organize, and retrieve data from a variety of applications based on entities associated with the data. A data classification module is further configured to operate in cooperation with a communications application. Upon receiving an incoming communication via the communication application, the data classification module is configured to receive the identifying information from the communication application. The data classification module is configured to utilize the identifying information to retrieve additional information and data associated with the remote user from the searchable repository. The additional information and data can include additional identity information for the remote user. The additional information and data can also include information to allow the user to discern the context of the incoming communication. The data classification module is configured to generate an interface to provide the retrieved information to the user of communication application.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, a designation of a master application of a plurality of applications comprising a first application and a second application, wherein the master application provides first entity data for an entity record associated with a first entity in response to receiving the first entity data;

obtaining first additional entity data associated with the first entity from the first application;

obtaining second additional entity data associated with the first entity from the second application, wherein a first format of the first additional entity data is different than a second format of the second additional entity data;

extracting, from at least one of the first additional entity data or the second additional entity data, information identifying the first entity;

generating a first entity record comprising the first entity data and the extracted information identifying the first entity, wherein the first entity record is linked to a second entity record in view of an association between the first entity and another entity;

storing, in a repository, the first entity record;

receiving a request, from one of a plurality of different communication applications on behalf of a first user, for information identifying the first entity, wherein the plurality of different communication applications each provide a communication interface allowing the first user to communicate with a remote user, and wherein the first entity comprises the remote user;

searching the repository for the information identifying the remote user;

retrieving from the repository, in response to the searching, the first entity record and the second entity record; and

providing, using the processor, the first entity record and the second entity record in an interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface is a graphical user interface and the information identifying the remote user comprises a telephone number.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the repository is searched in view of the telephone number.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is generated by the one of the plurality of different communication applications in response to the request.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one of the plurality of different communication applications is associated with a technical support application.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein searching the repository for the information identifying the remote user further comprises:

determining an identity of a second entity associated with the remote user; and

providing the identity of the second entity in the interface.

7. A system comprising:

a searchable repository to store a first entity record; and

a processor operatively coupled to the searchable repository, the processor to;

receive a designation of a master application of a plurality of applications comprising a first application and a second application, wherein the master application provides first entity data for an entity record associated with a first entity in response to receiving the first entity data;

obtain first additional entity data associated with the first entity from the first application;

obtain second additional entity data associated with the first entity from the second application, wherein a first format of the first additional entity data is different than a second format of the second additional entity data;

extract, from at least one of the first additional entity data or the second additional entity data, information identifying the first entity;

generate the first entity record comprising the first entity data and the extracted information identifying the first entity, wherein the first entity record is linked to a second entity record in view of an association between the first entity and another entity;

receive a request, from one of a plurality of different communication applications on behalf of a first user, for information identifying the first entity, wherein the plurality of different communication applications each provide a communication interface allowing the first user to communicate with a remote user, and wherein the first entity comprises the remote user;

search the repository for the information identifying the remote user;

retrieve from the repository, in response to the search, the first entity record and the second entity record; and

provide the first entity record and the second entity record in an interface.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein at least one of the plurality of different communication applications is associated with a technical support application.

9. The system of claim 7, the processor to determine an identity of a second entity associated with the remote user;

and to provide the identity of the second entity in the interface.

10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions, that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive a designation of a master application of a plurality of applications comprising a first application and a second application, wherein the master application provides first entity data for an entity record associated with a first entity in response to receiving the first entity data;

obtain first additional entity data associated with the first entity from the first application;

obtain second additional entity data associated with the first entity from the second application, wherein a first format of the first additional data is different than a second format of the second additional data;

extract, by the processor, from at least one of the first additional entity data or the second additional entity data, information identifying the first entity;

generate a first entity record comprising the first entity data and the extracted information identifying the first entity, wherein the first entity record is linked to a second entity record in view of an association between the first entity and another entity;

store, in a repository, the record;

receive a request, from one of a plurality of different communication applications on behalf of a first user, for information identifying the first entity, wherein the plurality of different communication applications each provide a communication interface allowing the first user to communicate with a remote user, and wherein the first entity comprises the remote user;

search the repository for the information identifying the remote user;

retrieve from the repository, in response to the search, the first entity record and the second entity record; and

provide the first entity record and the second entity record in an interface.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

provide a run-time environment supporting at least one of the first application, the second application, or the plurality of different communication applications.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

provide a run-time environment comprising a complementary application program interface (API), the complementary API providing access to operating system services.