Normalizing and classifying locale-specific information
A method and apparatus are disclosed for transforming information from one semantic environment to another, for example, to facilitate electronic information searches. In one implementation, a SOLx system 1700 includes a Normalization/Translation NorTran Workbench 1702 and a SOLx server 1708 . The NorTran Workbench 1702 is used to develop a knowledge base based on information from a source system 1712 , to normalize legacy content 1710 according to various rules, and to develop a database 1706 of translated content. During run time, the SOLx server 1708 receives transmissions from the source system 1712 , normalizes the transmitted content, accesses the database 1706 of translated content and otherwise translates the normalized content, and reconstructs the transmission to provide substantially real-time transformation of electronic messages. Additionally, content can be classified relative to a taxonomy defining relationships between terms or items so as to facilitate electronic searching or other processing.
1. The method for use in facilitating electronic communication between first and second data systems, wherein said first data system operates in a first semantic environment defined by at least one of linguistics and syntax, specific to said first semantic environment, relating to the subject matter of an electronic communication under consideration, said electronic communication having a machine format and a content, wherein said content includes human directed information, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a computer-based processing tool operating on a computer system;
first using said computer-based processing tool to access said communication and convert at least a term of said first communication between said first semantic environment and a second semantic environment that is different from said first semantic environment, said term comprising a portion of said content;
second using said computer-based processing tool to associate a classification with one of said first term and said converted term of said communication, said classification identifying said one of said first term and said converted term as belonging to a same class as at least one other term based on a shared characteristic of said at least one other term and said one of said first term and said converted term; and
third using said classification to process said electronic communication under consideration.
2. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the second semantic environment is defined by at least one of a standardized lexicon and standardized syntax rules relating to the subject matter of said electronic communication under consideration.
3. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the step of first using comprises providing a set of semantic elements defining the second semantic environment, parsing the first communication into a set of objects and mapping the set of objects to the set of semantic elements.
4. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the communication comprises one of a product, service or parts list, an invoice, a catalogue, an order form or other business form.
5. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein he communication comprises a search query for searching one of a database and a network.
6. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said shared characteristics is a related meaning of the converted term and said at least one other term, such that said classification groups together synonyms.
7. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said shared characteristic is a common commercial category such that said classification groups together said converted term and said at least one other term based on a related commercial context.
8. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said shared characteristic relates to a common lineage within a predefined hierarchical structure characterizing the subject matter of the communication.
9. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said step of third using comprises performing a search of one of a database and a network using said classification.
10. The method as set forth in claim 9 , wherein said search is performed in a context of said first semantic environment.
11. The method as set forth in claim 9 , wherein said search is performed in a context of said second semantic environment.
12. An apparatus for use in facilitating electronic communication between first and second data systems, wherein said first data system operates in a first semantic environment defined by at least one of linguistics and syntax, specific to said first semantic environment, relating to the subject matter of an electronic communication under consideration, said electronic communication having a machine format and a content, wherein said content includes human directed information, said apparatus comprising of:
a conversion module for accessing said communication and converting at least a term of said first communication between said first semantic environment and a second semantic environment that is different from said first semantic environment, said term comprising a portion of said content;
a classification module for associating a classification with one of said first term and second converted term of said communication, said classification identifying said one of said first term and said converted term as belonging to a same class as at least one other term based on a shared characteristic of said at least one other term and said one of said first term and said converted term; and
a processing module for using said classification to process said electronic communication under consideration.
13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the second semantic environment is defined by at least one of a standardized lexicon and standardized syntax rules relating to the subject matter of said electronic communication under consideration.
14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said conversion module is operative for providing a set of semantic elements defining the second semantic environment, parsing the first communication into a set of objects and mapping the set of objects to the set of semantic elements.
15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the communication comprises one of a product, service or parts list, an invoice, a catalogue, an order form or other business form.
16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the communication comprises a search query for searching one of a database and a network.
17. The method as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said shared characteristic is a related meaning of the converted term and said at least one other term, such that said classification groups together synonyms.
18. The method as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said shared characteristic is a common commercial category such that said classification groups together said converted term and at least one other term based on a related commercial context.
19. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said shared characteristic relates to a common lineage within a predefined hierarchical structure characterizing the subject matter of the communication.
20. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said processing module is operative for performing a search of one of a database and a network using said classification.
21. The apparatus as set forth in claim 20 , wherein said search is performed in a context of said first semantic environment.
22. The apparatus is set forth in claim 20 , wherein said search is performed in a context of said second semantic environment.