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Best-value determination rules for an entity resolution system

  • US 9,910,875 B2
  • Filed: 12/22/2008
  • Issued: 03/06/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method to reconcile distinct candidate values in an entity resolution system storing distinct identity records that resolve to a plurality of entities, the computer-implemented method comprising:

  • receiving a selection of an entity from the plurality of entities stored in the entity resolution system, wherein each entity is associated with a respective plurality of distinct identity records that previously resolved to the respective entity based on one or more entity resolution rules, wherein each identity record includes two or more attribute types and attribute values, wherein the attribute values in each identity record includes information corresponding to one individual, wherein a relationship is identified between at least two of the plurality of entities;

    subsequent to resolving the plurality of distinct identity records to the selected entity based on the one or more entity resolution rules, evaluating the plurality of distinct identity records of the selected entity against a plurality of representative value determination rules distinct from the one or more entity resolution rules, wherein each representative value determination rule has a respective rule name and specifies to evaluate a respective attribute type using a distinct criterion for selecting a representative value, wherein the evaluation for each representative value determination rule comprises;

    identifying two or more attribute types associated with the respective representative value determination rule, the representative value determination rule specifying to qualify a first attribute type by a specified value of a second attribute type different from the first attribute type, wherein at least two of the representative value determination rules are associated with at least the first attribute types;

    identifying a set of attribute values, stored in the plurality of distinct identity records of the selected entity, that correspond to the first attribute type qualified by the specified value of the second attribute type;

    determining whether the representative value determination rule applies to the entity, based on the identified set of attribute values;

    upon determining that the representative value determination value rule applies to the entity, selecting, from the identified set of attribute values, a respective, distinct, candidate value to represent the first attribute types qualified by the specified value of the second attribute type, wherein each of the at least two representative value determination rules assigns a respective, distinct confidence level to the candidate value selected by the respective representative value determination rule;

    determining, by operation of one or more computer processors, the candidate value having the highest confidence level among the selected candidate values;

    designating only the candidate value as a sole value representing the first attribute type qualified by the specified value of the second attribute type, including storing an indication of the sole value as representing the first attribute type; and

    retaining each of the identified set of attribute values, represented by the sole value, as part of the plurality of distinct identity records of the selected entity without merging or replacing the identified set of attribute values in the plurality of distinct identity records in the selected entity; and

    generating an entity display summary including the sole value representing the first attribute type qualified by the specified value of the second attribute type, whereafter the entity display summary is output.

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