Data object visualization using maps

A computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by one or more processors of a computer system, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:

• receiving search results from a fact repository responsive to a search query submitted to the fact repository by a user, wherein the search results include objects from the fact repository, wherein a respective object has associated facts, wherein a respective fact includes an attribute field indicating an attribute, a value field describing the indicated attribute, and a confidence level field that indicates the likelihood that the fact is correct, and wherein the objects in the fact repository are created by:
• extracting facts from web documents;
• determining, through fact induction, subjects with which the extracted facts are associated, wherein a respective subject is represented by a respective object in the fact repository;
• storing the extracted facts in the fact repository;
• and
• associating the stored extracted facts with the objects corresponding to the determined subjects;
• presenting the search results to a user in a user interface, wherein the user interface allows the user to select one or more objects to be graphed in the user interface;
• receiving a user-selection of a set of objects to be graphed from the user, wherein the set of objects is selected from the search results;
• determining that at least one object in the set of objects is associated with at least one value of at least one fact that describes a geographic location;
• generating a geographic map based on the at least one value of the at least one fact and maps of geographic regions stored on the system;
• presenting via the user interface the geographic map;
• and
• plotting a visual indicator of the at least one object on the geographic map at a location corresponding to the value of the at least one fact of the at least one object.

A method for presenting facts, comprising:

• receiving search results from a fact repository responsive to a search query submitted to the fact repository by a user, wherein the search results include objects from the fact repository, wherein a respective object has associated facts, wherein a respective fact includes an attribute field indicating an attribute, a value field describing the indicated attribute, and a confidence level field that indicates the likelihood that the fact is correct, and wherein the objects in the fact repository are created by:
• extracting facts from web documents;
• determining, through fact induction, subjects with which the extracted facts are associated, wherein a respective subject is represented by a respective object in the fact repository;
• storing the extracted facts in the fact repository;
• and
• associating the stored extracted facts with the objects corresponding to the determined subjects;
• presenting the search results to a user in a user interface, wherein the user interface allows the user to select one or more objects to be graphed in the user interface;
• receiving a user-selection of a set of objects to be graphed from the user, wherein the set of objects is selected from the search results;
• determining that at least one object in the set of objects is associated with at least one value of at least one fact that describes a geographic location;
• generating a geographic map based on the at least one value of the at least one fact and maps of geographic regions stored on the system;
• presenting via the user interface the geographic map;
• and
• plotting a visual indicator of the at least one object on the geographic map at a location corresponding to the value of the at least one fact of the at least one object.