# US 2014/0156261 A1 · Determining similarity of unfielded names using feature assignments

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- Number: US 2014/0156261 A1
- Document ID: US20140156261A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/692,798
- Filed: 2012-12-03
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-12-03
- Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation
- Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation
- Inventors: Frankie E. Patman Maguire
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156261A1

## CPC

- G06F 40/30: Semantic analysis
- G06F 40/295: Named entity recognition
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

Provided are techniques for comparing names. A first phrase score is obtained by comparing a name phrase in a first name to a name phrase in a second name. A second phrase score is obtained by comparing another name phrase in the first name to another name phrase in the second name. An overall score is generated based on the obtained first phrase score and the obtained second phrase score. The overall score is updated based on comparing features of the first name with features of the second name.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-7. (canceled)

### Claim 8

A computer program product for comparing names, the computer program product comprising:
a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, wherein the computer readable program code, when executed by at least one processor of a computer, is configured to perform:
obtaining a first phrase score by comparing a name phrase in a first name to a name phrase in a second name;
obtaining a second phrase score by comparing another name phrase in the first name to another name phrase in the second name;
generating an overall score based on the obtained first phrase score and the obtained second phrase score; and
updating the overall score based on comparing features of the first name with features of the second name.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the computer readable program code, when executed by the at least one processor of the computer, is configured to perform:
identifying the features of the first name that comprise at least one of sequence, hierarchical relationships, and semantic relationships.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the computer readable program code, when executed by the at least one processor of the computer, is configured to perform:
identifying the features of the second name that comprise at least one of sequence, hierarchical relationships, and semantic relationships.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the computer readable program code, when executed by the at least one processor of the computer, is configured to perform:
obtaining additional phrase scores; and
selecting highest phrase scores from among the first phrase score, the second phrase score, and the additional phrase scores for generating the overall score.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the computer readable program code, when executed by the at least one processor of the computer, is configured to perform:
adjusting the first phrase score for at least one of an incompatible feature and a missing dependency feature.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the computer readable program code, when executed by the at least one processor of the computer, is configured to perform:
adjusting the first phrase score based on comparing features of the first name with features of the second name.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The computer program product of claim 8, wherein a Software as a Service (SaaS) is configured to perform the computer program product operations.

### Claim 15

A computer system for comparing names, comprising:
at least one processor; and
a storage device connected to the at least one processor, wherein the storage device has stored thereon a program, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute instructions of the program to perform operations, wherein the operations comprise:
obtaining a first phrase score by comparing a name phrase in a first name to a name phrase in a second name;
obtaining a second phrase score by comparing another name phrase in the first name to another name phrase in the second name;
generating an overall score based on the obtained first phrase score and the obtained second phrase score; and
updating the overall score based on comparing features of the first name with features of the second name.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The computer system of claim 15, further comprising:
identifying the features of the first name that comprise at least one of sequence, hierarchical relationships, and semantic relationships.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The computer system of claim 15, further comprising:
identifying the features of the second name that comprise at least one of sequence, hierarchical relationships, and semantic relationships.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The computer system of claim 15, further comprising:
obtaining additional phrase scores; and
selecting highest phrase scores from among the first phrase score, the second phrase score, and the additional phrase scores for generating the overall score.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The computer system of claim 15, further comprising:
adjusting the first phrase score for at least one of an incompatible feature and a missing dependency feature.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The computer system of claim 15, further comprising:
adjusting the first phrase score based on comparing features of the first name with features of the second name.

### Claim 21 (depends on 15)

The computer system of claim 15, wherein a Software as a Service (SaaS) is provided to perform the system operations.