Computer-Implemented System And Method For Providing Classification Suggestions

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method for providing classification suggestions is provided. A set of uncoded documents is maintained. One of the uncoded documents is selected and compared with a set of reference documents, each associated with a classification. Those reference documents that are similar to the uncoded document are identified. Relationships between the uncoded document and each reference document are identified by counting a number of similar reference documents associated with each different classification. The classification having a highest count of similar reference documents is selected for the selected uncoded document as a suggestion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented system for providing classification suggestions, comprising:
 a database to maintain a set of uncoded documents;   a selection module to select one of the uncoded documents and to compare the selected uncoded document with a set of reference documents each associated with a classification;   a similarity module to identify those reference documents that are similar to the uncoded document;   an identification module to identify relationships between the uncoded document and each reference document comprising counting a number of similar reference documents associated with each different classification; and   a suggestion module to suggest for the selected uncoded document the classification having a highest count of similar reference documents.   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a vector module to generate a score vector for each uncoded document and each reference document, wherein the score vectors each comprise one or more terms occurring in that document and a score for each term; and   a comparison module to determine a similarity value for each reference document and the uncoded document by comparing the score vectors of that reference document to the score vector of the uncoded document   
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a threshold module to apply a predetermined threshold to the similarity values and to identify those reference documents with similarity values that satisfy the predetermined threshold as the reference documents similar to the uncoded document.   
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a display to display the similar reference documents with the uncoded documents.   
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a display to display the classifications with the similar reference documents.   
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a classification display module to differentiate different types of the classifications via at least one of color, symbol, and shape.   
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a placement module to add the selected uncoded document with the suggested classification to the set of reference documents.   
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a display to display the uncoded documents as a list, wherein at least the selected uncoded document is displayed with the suggested classification.   
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a reference selection module to select a further uncoded document from the set displayed in the list;   a similarity display module to display the reference documents similar to the further selected uncoded document; and   a classification receipt module to receive for the further uncoded document one of the classifications associated with one or more of the reference documents similar to the further selected uncoded document.   
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a distance determination module to determine a distance between the selected uncoded document and each of the similar reference documents; and   a weighting module to weigh the count of similar reference documents associated with each classification based on the distances of the associated similar reference documents.   
     
     
         11 . A computer-implemented method for providing classification suggestions, comprising:
 maintaining a set of uncoded documents;   selecting one of the uncoded documents and comparing the selected uncoded document with a set of reference documents each associated with a classification;   identifying those reference documents that are similar to the uncoded document;   identifying relationships between the uncoded document and each reference document comprising counting a number of similar reference documents associated with each different classification; and   suggesting for the selected uncoded document the classification having a highest count of similar reference documents.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 generating a score vector for each uncoded document and each reference document, wherein the score vectors each comprise one or more terms occurring in that document and a score for each term; and   determining a similarity value for each reference document and the uncoded document by comparing the score vectors of that reference document to the score vector of the uncoded document   
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 applying a predetermined threshold to the similarity values; and   identifying those reference documents with similarity values that satisfy the predetermined threshold as the reference documents similar to the uncoded document.   
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 displaying the similar reference documents with the uncoded documents.   
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 displaying the classifications with the similar reference documents.   
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 differentiating different types of the classifications via at least one of color, symbol, and shape.   
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 adding the selected uncoded document with the suggested classification to the set of reference documents.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 displaying the uncoded documents as a list, wherein at least the selected uncoded document is displayed with the suggested classification.   
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 selecting a further uncoded document from the set displayed in the list;   displaying the reference documents similar to the further selected uncoded document; and   receiving for the further selected uncoded document one of the classifications associated with one or more of the reference documents similar to the further selected uncoded document.   
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining a distance between the selected uncoded document and each of the similar reference documents; and   weighing the count of similar reference documents associated with each classification based on the distances of the associated similar reference documents.