Information service for facts extracted from differing sources on a wide area network

Abstract

In one general aspect, a wide area network fact information service method is disclosed. This method includes storing a plurality of canonical fact entries, storing one or more fact descriptor entries for each of the canonical fact entries, and ranking the canonical fact entries relative to each other based on the descriptor entries.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wide area network fact information service method, including:
 storing a plurality of canonical fact entries,   storing one or more fact descriptor entries for each of the canonical fact entries, and   ranking the canonical fact entries relative to each other based on the descriptor entries.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of ranking is a continuous process that recalculates the rank of canonical fact entries based on new descriptor entries. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of ranking is an iterative process that recalculates the rank of canonical fact entries based on new descriptor entries. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of ranking is a parallel process that recalculates the rank of canonical fact entries based on new descriptor entries. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the ranking is based on a predetermined ranking for entities associated with the canonical fact entries. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the entity ranking is based on a number of descriptor entries. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the entity ranking is based on a number of descriptor entries within a category. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the entity ranking is based on a sentiment/attitude value. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the entity ranking is based on co-occurrence with other facts and their rankings. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the ranking is based on a ranking of source credibility for data source providers associated with the descriptor entries. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein a same source provider can have different credibility values for different sources that it provides. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein a same source provider can have different credibility values for different categories of sources that it provides. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the credibility ranking is based on at least one user interest measure. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the ranking is based on a proximity measure for the descriptor entries. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the proximity measure is a temporal proximity measure. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein proximity measures are combined using a fading factor. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the ranking is based on a plurality of similarity measures that express a similarity between the canonical fact entries and/or fact descriptor entries. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the similarity measures relate to fact type and temporal overlap. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the similarity measures operate according to a hierarchy. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the ranking is based on publication times. 
     
     
         21 . A wide area network fact information service system, including:
 canonical fact entry storage,   fact descriptor entry storage for storing one or more fact descriptor entries for each of the canonical fact entries, and   a ranker for ranking the canonical fact entries relative to each other based on the descriptor entries.   
     
     
         22 . A wide area network fact information service system, including:
 means for storing a plurality of canonical fact entries,   means for storing one or more fact descriptor entries for each of the canonical fact entries, and   means for ranking the canonical fact entries relative to each other based on the descriptor entries.