US6236768B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for automated, context-dependent retrieval of information
Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Filing: 1998-05-01
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Granted: 2001-05-22
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Expires: 2018-05-01
Abstract
Abstract Documents stored in a database are searched for relevance to contextual information, instead of (or in addition to) similar text. Each stored document is indexed in term of meta-information specifying contextual information about the document. Current contextual information is acquired, either from the user or the current computational or physical environment, and this "meta-information" is used as the basis for identifying stored documents of possible relevance.
Inventors
- 👤 Bradley J. Rhodes
- 👤 Thad E. Starner
- 👤 Pattie E. Maes
- 👤 Alex P. Pentland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:39
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/907; G06F16/30; G06F16/38; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
Apparatus for context-based document identification, the apparatus comprising: a. a database indexing a plurality of documents each in terms of meta-information specifying contextual information about the document; b. means for automatically acquiring current contextual information; c. a search facility for searching the database to identify documents whose meta-information comprises information relevant to the acquired current contextual information; and d. a display for reporting the identified documents to the user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus for context-based document identification, the apparatus comprising: a. a database indexing a plurality of documents each in terms of meta-information specifying contextual information about the document; b. means for automatically acquiring current contextual information; c. a search facility for searching the database to identify documents whose meta-information comprises information relevant to the acquired current contextual information; and d. a display for reporting the identified documents to the user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the meta-information comprises at least one of (a) a user location, (b) time of day, (c) day of week, (d) date, and (e) subject.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the meta-information comprises identification of a person associated with the document.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for acquiring current contextual information comprises an environmental sensor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the environmental sensor is a global-positioning system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for acquiring current contextual information comprises means for identifying a nearby individual.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a system clock, the means for acquiring current contextual information being connected to the system clock and deriving contextual information therefrom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least some of the meta-information is continuous, the searching means automatically and continuously identifying relevant information based on proximity of the meta-information to the current contextual information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least some of the meta-information is discrete, the searching means identifying relevant information based on an exact match between the meta-information and the current contextual information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for adding new documents to the database, said means comprising: a. a plurality of document templates, each template corresponding to a document type and specifying contextual information within the document; and b. an analyzer for (i) matching a new document to a template and, in accordance with the template, extracting contextual information from the document, and (ii) indexing the document within the database in terms of the extracted contextual information.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the meta-information is represented in the database as vectors, each vector corresponding to a document and to a type of contextual information associated therewith and having a value representative of the associated contextual information.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the current contextual information is represented as a vector, the searching means determining relevance based on the current contextual-information vector and the vectors in the database.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for acquiring current contextual information comprises user-responsive means for accepting user-provided contextual information.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for storing a current document, the means for acquiring current contextual information comprising means for analyzing the current document for contextual information and extracting the contextual information therefrom.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of identifying documents from a stored document database in response to contextual information, the method comprising the steps of: a. indexing each stored document in terms of meta-information specifying contextual information about the document; b. automatically acquiring current contextual information; c. identifying stored documents whose meta-information comprises information relevant to the acquired current contextual information; and d. reporting the located documents to the user.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of identifying documents from a stored document database in response to contextual information, the method comprising the steps of: a. indexing each stored document in terms of meta-information specifying contextual information about the document; b. automatically acquiring current contextual information; c. identifying stored documents whose meta-information comprises information relevant to the acquired current contextual information; and d. reporting the located documents to the user.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the meta-information comprises at least one of (a) a user location, (b) time of day, (c) day of week, (d) date, and (e) subject.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the meta-information comprises identification of a person associated with the document.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 15 wherein at least some of the meta-information is continuous, relevant information being automatically and continuously identified based on proximity of the meta-information to the current contextual information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 15 wherein at least some of the meta-information is discrete, relevant information being identified based on an exact match between the meta-information and the current contextual information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of adding new documents to the database according to substeps comprising: a. defining a plurality of document templates, each template corresponding to a document type and specifying contextual information within the document; b. matching a new document to a template and, in accordance with the template, extracting contextual information from the document; and c. indexing the document within the database in terms of the extracted contextual information.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of representing the meta-information as vectors, each vector corresponding to a document and to a type of contextual information associated therewith and having a value representative of the associated contextual information.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the current contextual information is represents as a vector, relevance being determined in accordance with the current contextual information vector and the vectors in the database.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the current contextual information is acquired from a user.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 15 wherein current contextual information is acquired from a current document.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-05-21 | 2004-11-20 | 2005-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-05-21 | 2008-11-20 | 2009-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-05-21 | 2012-11-20 | 2013-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |