System and method for creating a semantic web and its applications in browsing, searching, profiling, personalization and advertising

• US 6,311,194 B1
• Filed: 08/21/2000
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alto Dynamics, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Taalee, Inc. (Protege Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sheth, Amit, Avant, David, Bertram, Clemens
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLACK, LINH
• Application Number:
  US09/645,301
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1-4, 707/10, 707/6, 707/100, 707/102, 707/104, 707/500, 707/501, 707/505, 707/507, 707/513, 707/514, 705/26
• US Class Current: 715/236
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/284 Relational databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/38 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• 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 system and method for creating a database of metadata (metabase) of a variety of digital media content, including TV and radio content delivered on Internet. This semantic-based method captures and enhances domain or subject specific metadata of digital media content, including the specific meaning and intended use of original content. To support semantics, a WorldModel is provided that includes specific domain knowledge, ontologies as well as a set of rules relevant to the original content. The metabase may also be dynamic in that it may track changes to the any variety of accessible content, including live and archival TV and radio programming.

Claims

1. A method for generating metadata associated with a data set residing on a storage system, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a classifier associated with a data set;

(b) retrieving WorldModel-based extraction information including at least one attribute identifier correlated with pattern information associated with the received classifier;

(c) extracting metadata associated with the data set based upon the retrieved extraction information; and

(d) storing in a data store the extracted metadata which is correlated with an identifier corresponding to the data set.

2. The method of claim 1, and further comprising the step of retrieving the data set from a storage system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of retrieving the data set from a storage system comprises the steps of:

(i) establishing a connection to the storage system;

(ii) transmitting a request for the data set to the storage system; and

(iii) receiving the data set from the storage system.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of retrieving the data set from a storage system comprises utilizing a communication protocol selected from the group consisting of HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, WAIS and GOPHER.

5. The method of claim 2, and further comprising the step of determining whether metadata is extractable from the retrieved data set based upon information in the WorldModel.

6. The method of claim 1, and further comprising the step of determining whether metadata is extractable from the retrieved data set based upon information in the WorldModel.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving a classifier associated with a data set comprises receiving a URL associated with the data set.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of extracting metadata associated with the data set based upon the retrieved extraction information comprises searching for attribute values associated with attributes identified by the at least one attribute identifier in the data set based upon the pattern information correlated with the respective at least one attribute identifiers.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of extracting metadata associated with the data set based upon the retrieved extraction information comprises searching for attribute values in the data set according to the retrieved WorldModel-based extraction information.

10. The method of claim 1, and further comprising the step of organizing the extracted metadata into a formatted document.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the formatted document is formatted as an XML document.

12. The method of claim 1, and further comprising the steps of:

storing in a Knowledgebase information about the semantic relationships between attributes in the WorldModel;

enchancing the metadata using the information about the semantic relationships in the Knowledgebase.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of enchancing the extracted metadata using the information about the semantic relationships in the Knowledgebase comprises the steps of:

(i) identifying attributes associated with data set for which values could not be extracted using the retrieved WorldModel-based extraction information; and

(ii) assigning value to the identified attributes based upon the WorldModel and the information about the semantic relationships stored in the Knowledgebase.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata comprises an attribute.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the metadata further comprises a value associated with the attribute.

16. A method for generating targeted content, comprising steps of:

(a) receiving a classifier associated with a data set;

(b) retrieving WorldModel-based extraction information associated with the received classifier;

(c) extracting metadata associated with the data set based upon the retrieved extraction information; and

(d) accessing content information based on the metadata for presentation to a user, wherein the step of accessing content information comprises steps of;

(i) creating a markup language string that represents the classifier;

transmitting the markup language string to a content provider together with user profile information derived from the metadata; and

(ii) receiving a URL reference to semantically related media content from the content provider;

(e) receiving from a user a selection for a media asset from a query result;

providing a player for the media asset in a new instance of a Web browser which contains a Webpage related to the source of the media asset;

wherein the step of receiving a URL reference to semantically related media content comprises receiving advertisement information tailored to the Webpage in the new instance of the Web browser.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of accessing content information comprises accessing a database of advertisements mapped into the same domains as the WorldModel.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of accessing content information comprises steps of creating a markup language string that represents the classifier;

transmitting the markup language string to a targeted advertisement provider together with user profile information derived from the metadata; and

receiving a URL reference to semantically targeted advertisement information from the targeted advertisement provider.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of receiving a classifier comprises receiving a search query from a user.

20. A system for generating metadata associated with a data set, the system comprising:

(a) a processor;

(b) a data store coupled to the processor and storing WorldModel-based extraction information;

the processor being programmed to

retrieve a classifier associated with a data set;

retrieve WorldModel-based extraction information including at least one attribute identifier correlated with pattern information associated with a received classifier;

extract metadata associated with the data set based upon the retrieved extraction information; and

storing in the data store the extracted metadata which is correlated with an identifier corresponding to the data set.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor further determines whether the metadata is extractable from the retrieved data set based upon information in the WorldModel.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor receives a classifier associated with a data set by receiving a URL associated with the data set.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor extracts metadata associated with the data set based upon the retrieved extraction information by searching for attribute values associated with attributes identified by the at least one attribute identifier in the data set based upon the pattern information correlated with respect to the at least one attribute identifier.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor extracts metadata associated with the data set based upon the retrieved extraction information by searching for attribute values in the data set according to the retrieved WorldModel-based extraction information.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor organizes the extracted metadata into a formatted document.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the processor formats the document as an XML document.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein the data store stores in a Knowledgebase information about the semantic relationships between attributes in the WorldModel;

and wherein the processor enhances the extracted metadata using the information about the semantic relationships in the Knowledgebase.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the processor enchances the extracted metadata using the information about the semantic relationships in the Knowledgebase by identifying attributes associated with the data set for which values could not be extracted using the retrieved WorldModel-based extraction information;

and assigning values to the identified attributes based upon the WorldModel and the information about the semantic relationships stored in the Knowledgebase.

29. The system of claim 20, wherein the data store for storing the extracted metadata is a file system.

30. The system of claim 20, wherein the data store for storing the extracted metadata is a database.

31. The system of claim 20, wherein the data store comprises a database selected from the group consisting of a relational database, object-oriented database, and hierarchical database.