Template-free extraction of data from documents

1. A computer-implemented method for processing data, comprising:

obtaining text from a document associated with a user, wherein the document was generated based on a template;

with the obtained text intact, applying a set of rules to each term in the obtained text to determine a broad category of a plurality of terms associated with the term;

applying an additional set of rules to refine the broad category associated with the term to a refined category of fewer terms based on a location in the document of at least one term in the broad category of the plurality of terms;

extracting a term from the obtained text using template-independent code developed to process documents generated based on a plurality of templates; and

enabling use of the term with an application.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

applying a set of rules to each term in the obtained text to determine a context associated with the term;

obtaining a modification to the determined context for one of the extracted terms from the user; and

using the modification to update the set of rules.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein obtaining the modification to the determined context for the one of the extracted terms from the user involves: obtaining an updated location in the document of the one of the extracted terms.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein applying the set of rules to each term in the obtained text to determine the context associated with the term involves:

categorizing the term based on at least one of a character type and a character sequence in the term; and

determining the context based on the categorized term and a categorization of one or more terms in proximity to the term.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein applying the set of rules to each term in the obtained text to determine the context associated with the term further involves: determining the context based on a location of the term in the document.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein the character type is at least one of:

a numeric character type;

an alphabetic character type;

an alphanumeric character type; and

a special character type.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising:

storing each extracted term in one of a plurality of data elements according to the determined context; and

creating, for each data element, one or more tags representing the context.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein enabling use of each data element with the one or more applications without requiring manual input of the extracted terms into the one or more applications involves:

obtaining, from an application, a request for data associated with a tag from the one or more tags;

matching the tag to one of the data elements; and

providing the one of the data elements to the application.

9. A system for processing data, comprising:

a memory;

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on the processor, cause the processor to instantiate:

a document-processing apparatus configured to obtain text from a document associated with a user, wherein the document was generated based on a template;

an extraction apparatus configured to:

with the obtained text intact, apply a set of rules to each term in the obtained text to determine a broad category of a plurality of terms associated with the term;

apply an additional set of rules to refine the broad category associated with the term to a refined category of fewer terms based on a location in the document of at least one term in the broad category of the plurality of terms;

extract a term from the obtained text using template-independent code developed to process documents generated based on a plurality of templates; and

enable use of the term with an application;

a management apparatus configured to enable use of the term with an application.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the extraction apparatus is further configured to:

apply a set of rules to each term in the obtained text to determine a context associated with the term;

obtain a modification to the determined context for one of the extracted terms from the user; and

use the modification to update the set of rules.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein applying the set of rules to each term in the obtained text to determine the context associated with the term involves:

categorizing the term based on at least one of a character type and a character sequence in the term; and

determining the context based on at least one of the categorized term, a categorization of one or more terms in proximity to the term, and a location of the term in the document.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the character type is at least one of:

a numeric character type;

an alphabetic character type;

an alphanumeric character type; and

a special character type.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the extraction apparatus is further configured to:

store each extracted term in one of a plurality of data elements according to the determined context; and

create, for each data element, one or more tags representing the context.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein enabling use of each data element with the one or more applications without requiring manual input of the extracted terms into the one or more applications involves:

obtaining, from an application, a request for data associated with a tag from the one or more tags;

matching the tag to one of the data elements; and

providing the one of the data elements to the application.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for processing data, the method comprising:

obtaining text from a document associated with a user, wherein the document was generated based on a template;

with the obtained text intact, applying a set of rules to each term in the obtained text to determine a broad category of a plurality of terms associated with the term;

applying an additional set of rules to refine the broad category associated with the term to a refined category of fewer terms based on a location in the document of at least one term in the broad category of the plurality of terms;

extracting a term from the obtained text using template-independent code developed to process documents generated based on a plurality of templates; and

enabling use of the term with an application.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , the method further comprising:

applying a set of rules to each term in the obtained text to determine a context associated with the term;

obtaining a modification to the determined context for one of the extracted terms from the user; and

using the modification to update the set of rules.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein applying the set of rules to each term in the obtained text to determine the context associated with the term involves:

categorizing the term based on at least one of a character type and a character sequence in the term; and

determining the context based on at least one of the categorized term, a categorization of one or more terms in proximity to the term, and a location of the term in the document.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the character type is at least one of:

a numeric character type;

an alphabetic character type;

an alphanumeric character type; and

a special character type.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , the method further comprising:

storing each extracted term in one of a plurality of data elements according to the determined context; and

creating, for each data element, one or more tags representing the context.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein enabling use of each data element with the one or more applications without requiring manual input of the extracted terms into the one or more applications involves:

obtaining, from an application, a request for data associated with a tag from the one or more tags;

matching the tag to one of the data elements; and

providing the one of the data elements to the application.