Lexicon-based new idea detector

A computer-readable medium bearing instructions for detecting new ideas within symbolic representations pertaining to a domain of endeavor, said instructions, when executed, arrange to cause a computer to perform the steps of:

• accessing the symbolic representations pertaining to the domain of endeavor to detect a symbol contained within the symbolic representations that had been previously identified as not being found within a base lexicon of symbols associated with the domain of endeavor;
• retrieving a symbol from the symbolic representations;
• searching a base lexicon of symbols associated with the domain of endeavor for an instance of the symbol;
• if the instance of the symbol is not found in the base lexicon of symbols associated with the domain of endeavor, then performing the steps of:
• presenting the symbol to a user as a new symbol;
• receiving input from the user indicative of whether the new symbol should be tracked;
• if the input received from the user indicates that the new symbol should not be tracked, then adding the symbol to the base lexicon of symbols associated with the domain of endeavor;
• and
• if the input received from the user indicates that the new symbol should be tracked, then performing the steps of:
• accumulating data indicative of a spread of multiple instances of the symbol throughout the domain of endeavor;
• determining whether the spread of multiple instances of the symbol throughout the domain of endeavor exceeds a threshold;
• and
• if the spread of multiple instances of the symbol throughout the domain of endeavor exceeds a threshold, then outputting an indication based on the symbol to a user that a new idea within the domain of endeavor has been detected.

A computer-implemented method for detecting new ideas within symbolic representations pertaining to a domain of endeavor, comprising:

• accessing the symbolic representations pertaining to the domain of endeavor, wherein the symbolic representations pertaining to the domain of endeavor include contents of an internet web site reachable within a specified number of indirections from an Internet Protocol (IP) address, contents of transcripts of verbal communications, or electronic representations of written communications;
• retrieving a symbol from the symbolic representations;
• wherein the symbol includes a word, a neologism, an acronym, an abbreviation, or a string of words with a separator;
• searching a base lexicon of symbols associated with the domain of endeavor for an instance of the symbol;
• if the instance of the symbol is not found in the base lexicon of symbols associated with the domain of endeavor, then performing the steps of:
• presenting the symbol to a user as a new symbol;
• receiving input from the user indicative of whether the new symbol should be tracked;
• if the input received from the user indicates that the new symbol should not be tracked, then adding the symbol to the base lexicon of symbols associated with the domain of endeavor;
• and
• if the input received from the user indicates that the new symbol should be tracked, then performing the steps of:
• accumulating data indicative of a spread of multiple instances of the symbol throughout the domain of endeavor;
• determining whether the spread of multiple instances of the symbol throughout the domain of endeavor exceeds a threshold;
• and
• if the spread of multiple instances of the symbol throughout the domain of endeavor exceeds a threshold, then outputting an indication based on the symbol to a user that a new idea within the domain of endeavor has been detected.