METHOD AND SYSTEM OF HIERARCHICAL METADATA MANAGEMENT AND APPLICATION

• US 20120143923A1
• Filed: 12/05/2011
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TITUS Inc.
• Original Assignee: TITUS Inc.
• Inventors: Roy, Regi Baby, Charbonneau, Stephane Roger Daniel Joseph, Whitney, Benjamin Taylor, Reid, Paul Anthony, Simon, Edward Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 9,245,058 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/803
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/907 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually

Abstract

A method of metadata management is provided. Metadata associated with information objects is important in the management and classification of electronic information referred to as information objects. A metadata schema structure definition is defined enabling a metadata schema to be applied to the information objects to ensure consistent creation and management of hierarchical metadata across and organization and interoperability between different metadata schemas.

Claims

1. A method of metadata management which when executed by a processor comprising:

determining metadata descriptors and metadata constraints of one or more types of information objects stored in a memory;

determining a metadata schema structure definition comprising a plurality of metadata descriptors and relationships between one or more of the plurality of metadata descriptors from the determined metadata descriptors and metadata constraints to be used to define metadata for the one or more types of information objects;

determining an interoperability definition of one or more of the plurality of metadata descriptors, associated metadata values and a serialization definition to enable interchange with an external metadata schema format;

generating a metadata schema including interoperability mappings in a structured definition language using the metadata schema structure definition and the determined interoperability definition; and

storing the metadata schema to the memory.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the metadata schema further comprises defining one or more views, each view defining a subset of the metadata schema to be applied to one or more information object types.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein generating the metadata schema further comprises validating the metadata schema against the determined metadata constraints, wherein the constraints define logical constraints among metadata descriptors, metadata descriptor value types and metadata values.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the metadata schema including the interoperability mapping are retrieved by clients to enable bi-direction exchange of metadata and formatting of the information objects that have had metadata applied to them using the defined metadata schema and an external entity requiring the external metadata schema format.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining authentication requirements to authorize presentation of a subset of the plurality of metadata descriptors or values to a client computing device utilizing the schema by accessing a directory service providing access permissions associated with a user of the client computing device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein one or more metadata descriptors are defined conditionally bound to the selection of dependent metadata descriptors and associated values.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the constraints define user selections of metadata values defined within the schema.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein defining the metadata schema structure definition further comprises defining a cardinality of one or more of the plurality of metadata descriptors and associated metadata values.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the structured definition language is defined in extensible markup language (XML).

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the information objects are defined as computer readable electronic data files stored in a memory.

11. The method of claim 1 where in defining the metadata schema structure definition further comprises retrieving one or more schema templates, each associated with one or more information object types and determined to have properties similar to the metadata descriptors and metadata constraints of one or more types of information objects, the one or more schema structure definition templates adapted to create the metadata schema structure definition to map the metadata descriptors and metadata constraints.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the metadata schema templates are selected as providing schema structures or views which are bounded by previously predefined schema structure constraints that have the greatest degree of confidence to encompass metadata of the one or more information objects.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein determining metadata descriptors and metadata constraints of one or more types of information objects is performed by analyzing a subset of information objects stored in a memory.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the metadata schema is validated against a sample population of information object types to ensure that constraints have been met, wherein if the determined metadata schema does not meet the constraints, the schema generation process maybe repeated until an acceptable metadata schema that meets the constraints is generated.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the metadata schema is defined by performing a best fit of the adapted schema against the one or more schema templates.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the best-fit metadata schema is presented with metrics identifying compliance or non-compliance of that schema and information objects which do not fit the metadata schema.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the metadata schema identifies at least one dynamic value provider associated with a metadata descriptor, wherein the value associated with the metadata descriptor is provided by the dynamic value provider.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the metadata generated by the metadata schema identifies a location of the dynamic value provider, whereby a client using the metadata associated with the information object would retrieve a value from the dynamic value provider upon processing the information object.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining information object type of an information object;

receiving metadata schema in response to a request based upon the information object type, the metadata schema comprising a plurality of metadata descriptors and associated constraints associated with the information object;

parsing received plurality of metadata descriptors and metadata constraints defined in the metadata schema to determine valid metadata values for the information object type;

determining metadata descriptor values to be associated with the received metadata descriptors from the information object; and

storing the determined metadata descriptor values associated with the information object.

20. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for metadata management, the method comprising:

determining metadata descriptors and metadata constraints of one or more types of information objects stored in a memory;

determining a metadata schema structure definition comprising a plurality of metadata descriptors and relationships between one or more of the plurality of metadata descriptors from the determined metadata descriptors and metadata constraints to be used to define metadata for the one or more types of information objects;

determining an interoperability definition of one or more of the plurality of metadata descriptors, associated metadata values and a serialization definition to enable interchange with an external metadata schema format;

generating a metadata schema including an interoperability mapping in a structured definition language using the defined metadata schema and the determined interoperability definition; and

storing the metadata schema to the memory.

21. A method of metadata management stored in a computer readable memory, the method executed by a processor coupled to the memory, the method comprising:

determining information object type of an information object;

receiving metadata schema in response to a request based upon the information object type, the metadata schema comprising a plurality of metadata descriptors and associated constraints associated with the information object;

parsing received plurality of metadata descriptors and metadata constraints defined in the metadata schema to determine valid metadata values for the information object type;

determining metadata descriptor values to be associated with the received metadata descriptors from the information object; and

storing the determined metadata descriptor values.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising receiving one or more views, each view defining a subset of the metadata schema to be applied to the information object type.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein determining the metadata descriptor values further comprises:

determining interoperability parameters associated with the information object type, the interoperability parameters determined from the metadata schema providing a mapping of metadata values and structure between the generated metadata schema and an external entity; and

generating the metadata descriptor values in conformity with the metadata schema and the interoperability parameters.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

retrieving a policy document associated with the metadata schema;

determining interoperability rules from the policy document for determining which of a plurality of differing values from the external entity are available to be associated with the metadata is to selected.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the interoperability parameter defines a data storage location for storing the metadata descriptor values.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein if there are multiple interoperability rules and values from each of the external entity are validly signed is authoritative for the associated defined values.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein when the multiple interoperability rules provide valid values from a plurality of valid signed sources, the value for each interoperability is weighted based upon one or more signature characteristics to select the value to be associated with the metadata.

28. The method of claim 22 wherein the metadata schema further defines one or more relationships between metadata names associated with the metadata descriptor values.

29. The method of claim 22 wherein determining interoperability parameters further comprising:

validating determined metadata by the associated ranges and constraints defined in metadata schema.

30. The method of claim 22 wherein the metadata schema further defining one or more conditional relationships and associated ranges.

31. The method of claim 22 further comprising authenticating a user by a defined authentication method for any metadata descriptors and or values that require authorization for modification or viewing by the user

32. The method of claim 22 wherein determining metadata descriptor values from the information object comprises retrieving'"'"' stored metadata associated with the information object and formatting the retrieve metadata to the metadata schema.

33. The method of claim 22 wherein determining metadata descriptor values further comprises communicating with a dynamic value provider identified in the metadata schema or associated with the information object and receiving a value to be associated with the metadata descriptors.

34. The method of claim 22 wherein determining metadata descriptor values further comprises determining values based on metadata values derived from the content or context of the information object is stored.

35. The method of claim 22 further comprising determining a language to display for the metadata descriptors and values based on a determined language of a consuming client computing device.

36. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for metadata management, the method comprising:

determining information object type of an information object;

receiving metadata schema in response to a request based upon the information object type, the metadata schema comprising a plurality of metadata descriptors and associated constraints associated with the information object;

parsing received plurality of metadata descriptors and metadata constraints defined in the metadata schema to determine valid metadata values for the information object type;

determining metadata descriptor values to be associated with the received metadata descriptors from the information object; and

storing the determined metadata descriptor values.

37. A method of metadata management at a schema access point executed by a processor, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a client computing device identifying an information object type;

determining an identity associated with the client computing device and associated security and configuration parameters;

determining applicable metadata schema in a structured definition language for information object type from a plurality of metadata schema based on the security and configuration parameters;

generating a client metadata schema using the applicable metadata schema and the determined security and configuration parameters; and

sending the client metadata schema to the client computing device for application of the client metadata schema to information objects of the object type.

38. The method of claim 37 further comprising generating one or more views, each view defining a subset of the metadata schema to be applied to the information object type.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the metadata schema including an interoperability mapping are provided to the client computing device to generate metadata for information objects of the requested type and using enable exchange of the information objects and the associated metadata with an external entity requiring an external metadata schema format defined by the interoperability mapping.

40. The method of claim 39 further comprising modifying the interoperability mapping associated with the metadata schema based upon the identity of associated with the client computing device and enabling bi-direction exchange of metadata and format of the information object between schema and the external entity.

41. The method of claim 39 wherein when multiple interoperability mappings define valid values from a plurality of valid signed sources, the value for each interoperability is weighted based upon one or more signature characteristics to select the value to be associated with the metadata.

42. The method of claim 37 wherein the structured definition language is defined in extensible markup language (XML).

43. The method of claim 37 further comprising determining authentication requirements to authorize presentation of a subset of the plurality of metadata descriptors or values to a client computing device utilizing the schema by accessing a directory service providing access permissions associated with a user of the client computing device.

44. The method of claim 37 wherein generating the metadata schema further comprises defining one or more views, each view defining a subset of the metadata schema to be applied to one or more information object types.

45. The method of claim 37 wherein one or more metadata descriptors are defined in the metadata schema structure definition conditionally bound to the selection of dependent metadata descriptors and associated values.

46. The method of claim 37 wherein determining the identify further comprises:

retrieving a policy decision associated with the metadata schema and the identify of requesting client computing device; and

determining metadata descriptor or values to be provided in compliance with the policy decision to the client computing device.

47. The method of claim 46 further comprising determining interoperability rules from the policy decision for determining which of a plurality of differing values from an external entity are available to be associated with the metadata is to selected.

48. The method of claim 37 further comprising determining a location of a dynamic value provider and modifying the metadata schema to identify the dynamic value provider location.

49. The method of claim 37 further comprising determining a location of a dynamic value provider and modifying the metadata schema to identify and value provided by the dynamic value provider.

50. The method of claim 37 wherein determining the identity associated with the client computing device is performed through a directory service coupled to the schema access point.

51. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for metadata management at a schema access point, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a client computing device identifying an information object type;

determining an identity associated with the client computing device and associated security and configuration parameters;

determining applicable metadata schema in a structured definition language for information object type from a plurality of metadata schema based on the security and configuration parameters;

generating a client metadata schema using the applicable metadata schema and the determined security and configuration parameters; and

sending the client metadata schema to the client computing device for application of the client metadata schema to information objects of the object type.