Granted Patent B2

US 7,941,433 · App. 11/656,885 · Granted May 10, 2011

Abstract

Claims (25)

1. A computer-implemented method of maintaining a data cluster of records referring to a same object or phenomenon in a context-rich database, the method comprising:

assessing, by a processor, each record of the data cluster entered by a source on a predetermined number of parameters to develop a quality score for the source, wherein the predetermined number of parameters comprises a level of diligence used to enter the data;

assessing, by the processor, each field of a record entered by the source on parameters related to quality or performance of the data; and

storing, by the processor, one or more scores based on the assessments so as to enhance answering requests about a portion of the database.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameters related to quality or performance of the data comprise one or more of the following: completeness, integrity, and popularity.

3. The method of claim 1 , additionally comprising minimizing disparities between like concepts in different records, wherein differences arise from language used, time, date, location, collection method, subject field, measurement system, or coding.

4. The method of claim 1 , additionally comprising storing information about the performance for sources or other entities regarding completeness and integrity of data corresponding to the sources or other entities.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the source comprises at least one of the following: a source organization, a source person, and a source device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the records referring to the same object or phenomenon provides a definition of the same object or phenomenon.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the source provides unstructured data, and the unstructured data is processed with a template to allow for the unstructured data to be entered into the structure of the context-free database.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameters related to quality or performance of the data comprise integrity.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined number of parameters comprises one or more of the following: brand, model, serial number, specifications of the measurement equipment.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined number of parameters comprises transaction data.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the quality score for the source is determined based on past transactions associated with the source.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the level of diligence is dependent in part on a default ontology or taxonomy and a reserved word or phrase list.

13. A computer-implemented system for maintaining a data cluster of records referring to a same object or phenomenon in a context-rich database, the system comprising:

means, operable on a processor, for assessing each record of the data cluster entered by a source on a predetermined number of parameters to develop a quality score for the source, wherein the predetermined number of parameters comprises a level of diligence used to enter the data;

means, operable on a processor, for assessing each field of a record entered by the source on parameters related to quality or performance of the data; and

means, operable on a processor, for storing one or more scores based on the assessments so as to enhance answering requests about a portion of the database.

14. A computer-implemented system for maintaining a data cluster of records referring to a same object or phenomenon in a context-rich database, the system comprising:

a memory; and

a processor configured to:

assess each record of the data cluster entered by a source on a predetermined number of parameters to develop a quality score for the source, wherein the predetermined number of parameters comprises a level of diligence used to enter the data;

assess each field of a record entered by the source on parameters related to quality or performance of the data; and

store one or more scores based on the assessments so as to enhance answering requests about a portion of the database.

Assignments (6)