System and method for generating hierarchical categories from collection of related terms

A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

• accumulate and store interrelationships between terms and communication history;
• communicate the interrelationships to a plurality of users that are selecting and possibly ranking hierarchical (parent-child) interrelationships;
• receive selected interrelationships from the users;
• create weighted directed graphs of terms and selected interrelationships according to an integration policy;
• break any cycles in the weighted directed graphs;
• and create a hierarchical structure from the graphs by selecting one primary parent node (parent category) for each node (term) in the graphs.

A system for generating hierarchical categories from collection of related terms, the system comprising:

• a memory module configured to store software instructions and data;
• a processor module configured to execute the software instructions and process the data and comprising:
• a database module configured to store interrelationships between terms and communication history;
• an input/output (I/O) module configured to communicate the interrelationships to a plurality of users and receives selected hierarchical interrelationships from the users;
• an integration module configured to create weighted directed graphs of terms and selected interrelationships according to an integration policy;
• a cycle-breaking module configured to break any cycles in the weighted directed graphs;
• and a selection module configured to create a hierarchical structure from the graphs by selecting one primary parent node (parent category) for each node (term) in the graphs.

A method for deploying computer infrastructure, comprising integrating computer readable code into a computing system, wherein the code in combination with the computing system is capable of performing the following:

• storing interrelationships between terms and communication history;
• communicating the interrelationships to a plurality of users, receiving selected hierarchical interrelationships from the users;
• creating weighted directed graphs of terms and selected interrelationships;
• breaking any cycles in the weighted directed graphs;
• and selecting one primary parent node (parent category) for each node (term) in the graphs.