US 7,412,452 B2Granted

Data storage and retrieval system with intensional category representations to provide dynamic categorization of information items

AssigneeP.I., Inc.

InventorMark Venguerov

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Abstract

A system and method for applying intensional category representations to provide dynamic categorization of information items in a data storage and retrieval system is disclosed. The disclosed system may apply pattern recognition techniques during information storage and retrieval to provide dynamic categorization of information items. Information items are categorized as they are observed. Information items may each be associated with one or more categories. An information item may become a member of a category either initially, when it is created, or subsequently by dynamic acquisition of certain properties. Category membership may be further be acquired or lost when property values are changed, and/or as a result of changes to properties or property values of referenced or referring information items. The disclosed information storage and retrieval system operates to categorize objects as they evolve over time. Properties may be added to information items, thus changing the structure of the information item, with the result that new functionality is dynamically associated with the information items.

Claims40

Dependent claims

A data storage and retrieval system stored on a computer readable memory in a computer system having at least one processor, comprising:

a plurality of information items, each of said information items including at least one property;
a plurality of intensional category definitions operable to provide dynamic categorization of said plurality of information items, wherein each of said intensional information item category definitions includes a predicate, wherein said predicate is operable to identify an input one of said information items as a member of a category based on said at least one property in said input one of said information items, wherein said category definitions are stored separately from said information items, and wherein said category definitions maintain no references to any one of said information items;
an information item and category interface operable to
receive a new information item and dynamically add said information item to said plurality of information items, wherein said new information item is dynamically created independently from creating or modifying any of said plurality of intensional category definitions,
receive a new intensional category definition and dynamically add said new intensional category definition to said plurality of intensional category definitions, wherein said new intensional category definition is created independent from and without creating or modifying any of said plurality of information items, and
receive a modification to an existing one of said plurality of information items and dynamically modify said one of said plurality of information items, wherein said modification is performed independent from and without creating or modifying any of said plurality of intensional category definitions;
categorization logic operable to categorize said plurality of information items using said intensional category definitions, including said new intensional category definition, to populate at least one pre-computed category membership data structure to support efficient processing of at least one query, independent from creating or modifying any of said plurality of information items, wherein said categorization of said plurality of information items using said intensional category definitions including said new intensional category definition results in at least one of said plurality of information items existing prior to creation of said new intentional category definition participating in a category defined by said new intensional category definition;
and
an information item retrieval graphical user interface operable to receive said at least one input query from a user, wherein said input query indicates a subset of said plurality of information items by identification of at least one of said intensional category definitions.

6 more elements

A method for providing a data storage and retrieval system, comprising:

storing a plurality of information items, each of said information items including at least one property;
storing a plurality of intensional category definitions operable to provide dynamic categorization of said plurality of information items, wherein each of said intensional information item category definitions includes a predicate, wherein said predicate is operable to identify an input one of said information items as a member of a category based on said at least one property in said input one of said information items, wherein said category definitions are stored separately from any one of said information items, and wherein said category definitions maintain no references to any one of said information items;
operating in response to an information item and category interface to
receive a new information item and dynamically add said information item to said plurality of information items, wherein said new information is dynamically created independently from creating or modifying any of said plurality of intensional category definitions,
receive a new intensional category definition, and dynamically add said new intensional category definition to said plurality of intensional category definitions, wherein said new intensional category definition is created independent from and without creating or modifying any of said plurality of information items, and
receive a modification to an existing one of said plurality of information items and dynamically modify said one of said plurality of information items, wherein said modification is performed independent from and without creating or modifying any of said plurality of intensional category definitions;
categorizing said plurality of information items using said intensional category definitions, including said new intensional category definition, to populate at least one pre-computed category membership data structure to support efficient processing of at least one query, independent from creating or modifying any of said plurality of information items, wherein said categorizing said plurality of information items using said intensional category definitions including said new intensional category definition results in at least one of said plurality of information items existing prior to creation of said new intentional category definition participating in a category defined by said new intensional category definition;
and
operating in response to an information item retrieval interface to receive at least one input query, wherein said input query indicates a subset of said plurality of information items by identification of at least one of said intensional category definitions.

6 more elements

A computer program product including a computer readable storage medium, said computer readable storage medium having a computer program executed by at least one processor for providing a data storage and retrieval system stored thereon, said computer program comprising:

program code for storing a plurality of information items, each of said information items including at least one property;
program code for storing a plurality of intensional category definitions operable to provide dynamic categorization of said plurality of information items, wherein each of said intensional information item category definitions includes a predicate, wherein said predicate is operable to identify an input one of said information items as a member of a category based on said at least one property in said input one of said information items, wherein said category definitions are stored separately from said information items, and wherein said category definitions maintain no references to any one of said information items;
program code for operating in response to an information item and category interface to
receive a new information item and dynamically add said information item to said plurality of information items independently from creating or modifying any of said plurality of information items,
receive a new intensional category definition and dynamically add said new intensional category definition to said plurality of intensional category definitions, wherein said new intensional category definition is created independent from and without creating or modifying any of said plurality of information items, and
receive a modification to an existing one of said plurality of information items and dynamically modify said one of said plurality of information items, wherein said modification is performed independent from and without creating or modifying any of said intensional category definitions;
program code for categorizing said plurality of information items using said intensional category definitions, including said new intensional category definition, to populate at least one pre-computed category membership data structure to support efficient processing of at least one query, independent from creating or modifying any of said plurality of information items, wherein said categorizing said plurality of information items using said intensional category definitions including said new intensional category definition results in at least one of said plurality of information items existing prior to creation of said new intentional category definition participating in a category defined by said new intensional category definition;
and
program code for operating in response to an information item retrieval interface to receive at least one input query, wherein said input query indicates a subset of said plurality of information items by identification of at least one of said intensional category definitions.

6 more elements

A computer system having at least one processor and memory for storing program code executable on said at least one processor, said memory having stored thereon program code for data storage and retrieval, comprising:

means for storing a plurality of information items, each of said information items including at least one property;
means for storing a plurality of intensional category definitions operable to provide dynamic categorization of said plurality of information items, wherein each of said intensional information item category definitions includes a predicate, wherein said predicate is operable to identify an input one of said information items as a member of a category based on said at least one property in said input one of said information items, wherein said category definitions are stored separately from said information items, and wherein said category definitions maintain no references to any one of said information items;
means for operating in response to an information item and category interface to
receive a new information item and dynamically add said information item to said plurality of information items, wherein said new information item is dynamically created independently from creating or modifying any of said plurality of intensional category definitions,
receive a new intensional category definition and dynamically add said new intensional category definition to said plurality of intensional category definitions, wherein said new intensional category definition is created independent from and without creating or modifying any of said plurality of information items, and
receive a modification to an existing one of said plurality of information items and dynamically modify said one of said plurality of information items, wherein said modification is performed independent from and without creating or modifying any of said plurality of intensional category definitions;
means for categorizing said plurality of information items using said intensional category definitions, including said new intensional category definition, to populate at least one pre-computed category membership data structure to support efficient processing of at least one query, independent from creating or modifying any of said plurality of information items, wherein said categorizing said plurality of information items using said intensional category definitions including said new intensional category definition results in at least one of said plurality of information items existing prior to creation of said new intentional category definition participating in a category defined by said new intensional category definition;
and
means for generating and operating in response to an information item retrieval graphical user interface to receive at least one input query from a user, wherein said input query indicates a subset of said plurality of information items by identification of at least one of said intensional category definitions.

6 more elements

A method for providing a data storage and retrieval system, comprising:

storing a plurality of information items, each of said information items including at least one property;
storing a plurality of intensional category definitions operable to provide dynamic categorization of said plurality of information items, wherein each of said intensional information item category definitions includes a predicate, wherein said predicate is operable to identify an input one of said information items as a member of a category based on said at least one property in said input one of said information items, wherein said category definitions are stored separately from any one of said information items, and wherein said category definitions maintain no references to any one of said information items;
operating in response to an information item and category interface to
receive a new information item and dynamically add said information item to said plurality of information items, wherein said new information is dynamically created independently from creating or modifying any of said plurality of intensional category definitions,
receive a new intensional category definition, and dynamically add said new intensional category definition to said plurality of intensional category definitions, wherein said new intensional category definition is created independent from and without creating or modifying any of said plurality of information items, and
receive a modification to an existing one of said plurality of information items and dynamically modify said one of said plurality of information items, wherein said modification is dynamically performed independently from creating or modifying any of said plurality of intensional category definitions;
categorizing said plurality of information items using said intensional category definitions to populate at least one pre-computed category membership data structure to support efficient processing of at least one query, independent from creating or modifying any of said plurality of information items, wherein said categorizing said plurality of information items using said intensional category definitions including said new intensional category definition results in said new information item participating in at least one of said categories defined by said plurality of intensional category definitions;
and
operating in response to an information item retrieval interface to receive at least one input query, wherein said input query indicates a subset of said plurality of information items by identification of at least one of said intensional category definitions.

6 more elements

A method for providing a data storage and retrieval system, comprising:

storing a plurality of information items, each of said information items including at least one property;
storing a plurality of intensional category definitions operable to provide dynamic categorization of said plurality of information items, wherein each of said intensional information item category definitions includes a predicate, wherein said predicate is operable to identify an input one of said information items as a member of a category based on said at least one property in said input one of said information items, wherein said category definitions are stored separately from said information items, and wherein said category definitions maintain no references to any one of said information items;
operating in response to an information item and category interface to
receive a new information item and dynamically add said information item to said plurality of information items, wherein said new information is dynamically created independently from creating or modifying any of said plurality of intensional category definitions,
receive a new intensional category definition, and dynamically add said new intensional category definition to said plurality of intensional category definitions, wherein said new intensional category definition is created independent from and without creating or modifying any of said plurality of information items, and
receive a modification to an existing one of said plurality of information items and dynamically modify said one of said plurality of information items, wherein said modification is performed independent from and without creating or modifying any of said plurality of intensional category definitions;
categorizing said plurality of information items using said intensional category definitions to populate at least one pre-computed category membership data structure to support efficient processing of at least one query, independent from creating or modifying any of said plurality of information items, wherein said categorizing said plurality of information items using said intensional category definitions including said new intensional category definition results in said modified information item participating in at least one of said categories defined by said plurality of intensional category definitions;
and
operating in response to an information item retrieval interface to receive at least one input query, wherein said input query indicates a subset of said plurality of information items by identification of at least one of said intensional category definitions.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.