# US 2014/0156263 A1 · Determining similarity of unfielded names using feature assignments

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- Number: US 2014/0156263 A1
- Document ID: US20140156263A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/939,718
- Filed: 2013-07-11
- 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/US20140156263A1

## 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 1

A method for comparing names, comprising:
obtaining, with a processor of a computer, 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 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
identifying the features of the first name that comprise at least one of sequence, hierarchical relationships, and semantic relationships.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
identifying the features of the second name that comprise at least one of sequence, hierarchical relationships, and semantic relationships.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, 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 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
adjusting the first phrase score for at least one of an incompatible feature and a missing dependency feature.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
adjusting the first phrase score based on comparing features of the first name with features of the second name.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein software is provided as a service in a cloud environment.