IP Library Granted Patent US 9,501,744
Granted Patent B1
US 9,501,744 · App. 13/906,246 · Granted Nov 22, 2016

System and method for classifying data

Inventors: Michel Brisebois (Renfrew, CA); Jason Aylesworth (Nepean, CA); Curtis Johnstone (Ottawa, CA); Andrew John Leach (Ottawa, CA); Elena Vinogradov (Kanata, CA); Joel Stacy Blaiberg (Teaneck, NJ); Stephen Pope (Ashton, CA); Shawn Donald Holmesdale (Ottawa, CA); Guangning Hu (Ottawa, CA)
Assignee: Dell Software Inc.
G06N5/048
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,501,744
App. No.
13/906,246
Filed
May 30, 2013
Granted
Nov 22, 2016
Kind
B1
Art Unit
2122
USPC
706/52
Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes providing an a priori classification engine, an a posteriori classification engine, and a heuristics engine. The a priori classification engine is operable to perform an a priori classification. The a posteriori classification engine is operable to perform an a posteriori classification. The heuristics engine is operable to perform a heuristics classification. In addition, the method includes accessing data from at least one source. The method further includes, responsive to an indication that the a priori classification should be performed, performing the a priori classification on the data. The method also includes, responsive to an indication that the a posteriori classification should be performed, performing the a posteriori classification on the data. Further, the method includes, responsive to an indication that the heuristics classification should be performed, performing the heuristics classification on the data.

Claims (59)

1. A method comprising:

on a computer system comprising at least one server computer, providing a plurality of distinct data classification engines, wherein the plurality of distinct data classification engines comprising an a priori classification engine, a posteriori classification engine, and a heuristics engine;

wherein the a priori classification engine is operable to perform an a priori classification, the a priori classification comprising utilization of a set of user-specified classification rules;

wherein the a posteriori classification engine is operable to perform an a posteriori classification, the a posteriori classification comprises utilization of one or more probabilistic algorithms;

wherein the heuristics engine is operable to perform a heuristics classification, the heuristics classification comprising analysis of at least one of a number and a percentage of characteristics of particular data that match a profile of a particular classification;

accessing, by the computer system, the data from at least one source;

responsive to an indication that the a priori classification should be performed, performing, by the computer system via the priori classification engine, the a priori classification on the data to classify the data;

responsive to an indication that the a posteriori classification should be performed, performing, by the computer system via the a posteriori classification engine, the a posteriori classification on the data to classify the data;

verifying whether the previously classified data has been correctly classified;

responsive to a determination that the previously classified data has not been correctly classified, the posteriori classification reclassifies the previously classified data and updates the one or more probabilistic algorithms used for classifying the data; and

responsive to an indication that the heuristics classification should be performed, performing, by the computer system via the heuristics engine, the heuristics classification on the data to classify the data.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the a priori classification engine, the a posteriori classification engine, and the heuristics engine are each operable to classify the data into a plurality of classifications.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the a priori classification engine, the a posteriori classification engine, and the heuristics engine are each operable to classify a communication.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the a priori classification engine is operable to classify a type of the communication.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the type is selected from the group consisting of: email, instant message, voice mail, text message, and social-media message.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the a posteriori classification engine is operable to determine a probability that the communication is a personal message.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the a posteriori classification engine is operable to determine a probability that the communication is a work-related message.

8. The method of claim 3 , wherein the heuristics engine is operable to determine whether the communication should be classified as a personal message.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the performing of the heuristics classification comprises:

receiving new data;

identifying one or more comparison attributes;

comparing the one or more comparison attributes with one or more thresholds; and

responsive to a determination that classification criteria has been satisfied, assigning a classification to the new data.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the steps are performed in the order listed.

11. An information handling system comprising:

a processing unit, wherein the processing unit is operable to implement a method comprising:

providing a plurality of distinct data classification engines, wherein the plurality of distinct data classification engines comprising an a priori classification engine, a posteriori classification engine, and a heuristics engine;

wherein the a priori classification engine is operable to perform an a priori classification, the a priori classification comprising utilization of a set of user-specified classification rules;

wherein the a posteriori classification engine is operable to perform an a posteriori classification, the a posteriori classification comprises utilization of one or more probabilistic algorithms;

wherein the heuristics engine is operable to perform a heuristics classification, the heuristics classification comprising analysis of at least one of a number and a percentage of characteristics of particular data that match a profile of a particular classification;

accessing data from at least one source;

responsive to an indication that the a priori classification should be performed, performing, via the priori classification engine, the a priori classification on the data to classify the data;

responsive to an indication that the a posteriori classification should be performed, performing, via the a posteriori classification engine, the a posteriori classification on the data to classify the data;

verifying whether the previously classified data has been correctly classified;

responsive to a determination that the previously classified data has not been correctly classified, the posteriori classification reclassifies the previously classified data and updates the one or more probabilistic algorithms used for classifying the data; and

responsive to an indication that the heuristics classification should be performed, performing, via the heuristics engine, the heuristics classification on the data to classify the data.

12. The information handling system of claim 11 , wherein the a priori classification engine, the a posteriori classification engine, and the heuristics engine are each operable to classify the data into a plurality of classifications.

13. The information handling system of claim 11 , wherein the a priori classification engine, the a posteriori classification engine, and the heuristics engine are each operable to classify a communication.

14. The information handling system of claim 13 , wherein the a priori classification engine is operable to classify a type of the communication.

15. The information handling system of claim 14 , wherein the type is selected from the group consisting of: email, instant message, voice mail, text message, and social-media message.

16. The information handling system of claim 13 , wherein the a posteriori classification engine is operable to determine a probability that the communication is a personal message.

17. The information handling system of claim 13 , wherein the a posteriori classification engine is operable to determine a probability that the communication is a work-related message.

18. The information handling system of claim 13 , wherein the heuristics engine is operable to determine whether the communication should be classified as a personal message.

19. The information handling system of claim 18 , wherein the performing of the heuristics classification comprises:

receiving new data;

identifying one or more comparison attributes;

comparing the one or more comparison attributes with one or more thresholds; and

responsive to a determination that classification criteria has been satisfied, assigning a classification to the new data.

20. A computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein, the computer-readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method comprising:

providing a plurality of distinct data classification engines, wherein the plurality of distinct data classification engines comprising an a priori classification engine, a posteriori classification engine, and a heuristics engine;

wherein the a priori classification engine is operable to perform an a priori classification, the a priori classification comprising utilization of a set of user-specified classification rules;

wherein the a posteriori classification engine is operable to perform an a posteriori classification, the a posteriori classification comprises utilization of one or more probabilistic algorithms;

wherein the heuristics engine is operable to perform a heuristics classification, the heuristics classification comprising analysis of at least one of a number and a percentage of characteristics of particular data that match a profile of a particular classification;

accessing data from at least one source;

responsive to an indication that the a priori classification should be performed, performing, via the priori classification engine, the a priori classification on the data to classify the data;

responsive to an indication that the a posteriori classification should be performed, performing, via the a posteriori classification engine, the a posteriori classification on the data to classify the data;

verifying whether the previously classified data has been correctly classified;

responsive to a determination that the previously classified data has not been correctly classified, the posteriori classification reclassifies the previously classified data and updates the one or more probabilistic algorithms used for classifying the data; and

responsive to an indication that the heuristics classification should be performed, performing, via the heuristics engine, the heuristics classification on the data to classify the data.

Assignments (27)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2025
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; BINARYTREE.COM LLC; ERWIN, INC.
Reel/Frame 073606/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2025
From: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; BINARYTREE.COM LLC; ERWIN, INC.
Reel/Frame 073613/0326 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2025
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; ERWIN, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 071527/0649 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2025
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; ERWIN, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 071527/0001 →
FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; BINARYTREE.COM LLC; ERWIN, INC.; ONE IDENTITY LLC; ONELOGIN, INC.; ONE IDENTITY SOFTWARE INTERNATIONAL DESIGNATED ACTIVITY COMPANY
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
Reel/Frame 058945/0778 →
SECOND LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; BINARYTREE.COM LLC; ERWIN, INC.; ONE IDENTITY LLC; ONELOGIN, INC.; ONE IDENTITY SOFTWARE INTERNATIONAL DESIGNATED ACTIVITY COMPANY
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 058952/0279 →
RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 059096/0683 →
RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 059105/0479 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 7, 2018
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046327/0347 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 7, 2018
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046327/0486 →
RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT R/F 040581/0850 Recorded May 22, 2018
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC. (F/K/A DELL SOFTWARE INC.); AVENTAIL LLC
Reel/Frame 046211/0735 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 6, 2017
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 044800/0848 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 040587 FRAME: 0624. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Nov 28, 2017
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC. (F/K/A DELL SOFTWARE INC.); AVENTAIL LLC
Reel/Frame 044811/0598 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 10, 2016
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040587/0624 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 9, 2016
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040581/0850 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN CERTAIN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040039/0642) Recorded Oct 31, 2016
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
To: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 040521/0016 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2016
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS, L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 040521/0467 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS, L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040030/0187 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040039/0642 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 19, 2013
From: QUEST SOFTWARE, INC.
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 031035/0914 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2013
From: BRISEBOIS, MICHEL; AYLESWORTH, JASON; JOHNSTONE, CURTIS; LEACH, ANDREW JOHN; VINOGRADOV, ELENA; BLAIBERG, JOEL STACY; POPE, STEPHEN; HOLMESDALE, SHAWN DONALD; HU, GUANGNING
To: QUEST SOFTWARE, INC.
Reel/Frame 030573/0001 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 61658034 · Jun 11, 2012