Automatic object reference identification and linking in a browseable fact repository
View Patent ↗Links between facts associated with objects are automatically created and maintained in a fact repository. Names of objects are automatically identified in the facts, and collected into a list of names. The facts are then processed to identifying such names in the facts. Identified names are used as anchor text for search links. A search link includes a search query for a service engine which search the fact repository for facts associated with objects having the same name.
1. A computer implemented method comprising:
at a computer system including one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs, automatically, without user intervention:
obtaining a list of fact values from a plurality of facts in a fact repository having a selected type of attribute, wherein the fact repository includes a plurality of facts, and each fact includes:
(i) an attribute descriptive of the fact; and
(ii) a value associated with the attribute, wherein the values include numbers, dates, and text;
responsive to a search for a value included in the list of fact values:
identifying, from the plurality of facts, a fact associated with the value; and
formatting for display:
(A) a search link associated with the fact in the fact repository, wherein the search link is a hyperlink that invokes performance of a search of the fact repository when selected by a user, and wherein the search link comprises a search query including search criteria that include the value, and the value is used as an anchor for the search link; and
(B) information representing a source from which the fact was gathered.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the source is external to the fact repository.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information representing the source includes a hyperlink to the source.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: formatting for display (C) a confidence value for the fact.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: formatting for display (D) an importance value for the fact, wherein the importance value indicates a degree of importance the fact carries in order to understand an entity described by the fact.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the value represents a person, and further comprising: formatting for display values representing one or more other related persons.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: formatting for display: (i) an attribute descriptive of the facts, (ii) multiple values associated with the attribute, and (iii) a corresponding source for each value in the multiple values.
8. A system, comprising:
a processor;
memory; and
one or more programs for execution by the processor, the one or more programs comprising instructions for, without user intervention:
obtaining a list of fact values from a plurality of facts in a fact repository having a selected type of attribute, wherein the fact repository includes a plurality of facts, and each fact includes:
(i) an attribute descriptive of the fact; and
(ii) a value associated with the attribute, wherein the values include numbers, dates, and text;
responsive to a search for a value included in the list of fact values:
identifying, from the plurality of facts, a fact associated with the value; and
formatting for display:
(A) a search link associated with the fact in the fact repository, wherein the search link is a hyperlink that invokes performance of a search of the fact repository when selected by a user, and wherein the search link comprises a search query including search criteria that include the value, and the value is used as an anchor for the search link; and
(B) information representing a source from which the fact was gathered.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the source is external to the fact repository.
10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the information representing the source includes a hyperlink to the source.
11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for: formatting for display (C) a confidence value for the fact.
12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for: formatting for display (D) an importance value for the fact, wherein the importance value indicates a degree of importance the fact carries in order to understand an entity described by the fact.
13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the value represents a person, and wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for: formatting for display values representing one or more other related persons.
14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for: formatting for display: (i) an attribute descriptive of the facts, (ii) multiple values associated with the attribute, and (iii) a corresponding source for each value in the multiple values.
15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by an electronic device that includes one or more processors, a video input, and a tuner, wherein the one or more programs comprise instructions for, without user intervention:
obtaining a list of fact values from a plurality of facts in a fact repository having a selected type of attribute, wherein the fact repository includes a plurality of facts, and each fact includes:
(i) an attribute descriptive of the fact; and
(ii) a value associated with the attribute, wherein the values include numbers, dates, and text;
responsive to a search for a value included in the list of fact values:
identifying, from the plurality of facts, a fact associated with the value; and
formatting for display:
(A) a search link associated with the fact in the fact repository, wherein the search link is a hyperlink that invokes performance of a search of the fact repository when selected by a user, and wherein the search link comprises a search query including search criteria that include the value, and the value is used as an anchor for the search link; and
(B) information representing a source from which the fact was gathered.
16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the source is external to the fact repository.
17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for: formatting for display (C) a confidence value for the fact.
18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for: formatting for display (D) an importance value for the fact, wherein the importance value indicates a degree of importance the fact carries in order to understand an entity described by the fact.
19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the value represents a person, and wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for: formatting for display values representing one or more other related persons.
20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for: formatting for display: (i) an attribute descriptive of the facts, (ii) multiple values associated with the attribute, and (iii) a corresponding source for each value in the multiple values.