System And Method For Providing Inclusion-Based Electronically Stored Information Item Classification Suggestions With The Aid Of A Digital Computer

Abstract

A system and method for providing inclusion-based electronically stored information item classification suggestions with the aid of a digital computer are provided. A set of reference electronically stored information items is designated. A set of uncoded electronically stored information items is obtained. One or more of the coded reference electronically stored information items are combined with the set. A score vector is generated for each of the combined uncoded and reference electronically stored information items. The combined uncoded electronically stored information items are grouped into a plurality of clusters. The score vectors are used to generate a suggestion for assigning one of the classification codes. The visual representations of each of the classification codes of the reference electronically stored information items are displayed as a further suggestion for assigning one of the classification codes. An assignment of one of the classification codes is received.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for providing inclusion-based electronically stored information item classification suggestions with the aid of a digital computer, comprising:
 a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising program code; and   a computer processor configured coupled to the storage medium, wherein the processor is configured to execute the program code to perform steps to:
 designate a set of reference electronically stored information items each associated with one of a plurality of classification codes and a visual representation of that classification code; 
 obtain a set of uncoded electronically stored information items; 
 combine one or more of the reference electronically stored information items with the set of the uncoded electronically stored information items; 
 generate a score vector for each of the combined uncoded and reference electronically stored information items; 
 group the combined uncoded electronically stored information items into a plurality of clusters using the score vectors; 
 use the score vectors of one or more of the uncoded electronically stored information items in one or more of the clusters and the reference electronically stored information items in those clusters to generate and provide to user a suggestion for assigning one of the classification codes to each of the uncoded electronically stored information items in the one or more of the clusters; 
 display the visual representations of each of the classification codes of the reference electronically stored information items in the one or more clusters as a further suggestion for assigning one of the classification codes to each of the uncoded information in one or more of the clusters; and 
 receive an assignment of one of the classification codes for one or more of the uncoded electronically stored information items for which the suggestion was provided and the further suggestion was displayed. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , the steps further comprising:
 generate a neighborhood of reference electronically stored information items for each of the uncoded electronically stored information items in the one or more clusters, wherein the neighborhood is used for generating the suggestion for that uncoded electronically stored information item.   
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the neighborhood comprises an equal number of the reference electronically stored information items associated with each of the classification codes. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 2 , the steps further comprising:
 using a distance metric to determine a distance between each of the uncoded electronically stored information items in one of the one or more clusters and each of the reference electronically stored information items in that cluster, wherein the distance is used for the generation of the neighborhood.   
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 2 , the steps further comprising at least one of:
 identify the reference electronically stored information item in the neighborhood of one of the electronically stored information items with the closest distance to that uncoded electronically stored information item and assign the classification code of the reference electronically stored information item with the closest distance as the suggested classification code for that uncoded electronically stored information item;   calculate an average of the distances between one of the uncoded electronically stored information items and the reference electronically stored information items in the neighborhood of that electronically stored information item that are associated with each of the classification codes and assign the classification code with the closest average distance as the suggested classification code for that uncoded electronically stored information item; and   count in the neighborhood for one of the uncoded electronically stored information items the reference electronically stored information items for each of the classification codes, weighing each count based on the distance between the reference electronically stored items with the classification code and that uncoded electronically stored information item, and assign the classification code with the highest weighted count as the suggested classification code for that uncoded electronically stored information item.   
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , the steps further comprising:
 organize the clusters along a plurality of spines and displaying the spines on a display, wherein the spines are positioned in relation to each other based on a theme shared by one or more of the spines.   
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 6 , the steps further comprising:
 receive a user selection of one of the clusters in one of the displayed spines; and   display a number of the reference electronically stored information items and the uncoded electronically stored information items within the selected cluster.   
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 6 , the steps further comprising:
 receive a user query comprising a search term; and   display a number of the reference electronically stored information items and the uncoded electronically stored information items that comprise the search results.   
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 6 , the steps further comprising:
 provide a compass within which one or more of the clusters organized along the spines are displayed on a display; and   display different one or more of the clusters in the compass upon receiving a user command,   wherein the clusters are emphasized when displayed within the compass and deemphasized when displayed outside of the compass.   
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , the steps further comprising:
 provide a confidence level for each of the suggestions.   
     
     
         11 . A method for providing inclusion-based electronically stored information item classification suggestions with the aid of a digital computer, comprising the steps of:
 designating a set of reference electronically stored information items each associated with one of a plurality of classification codes and a visual representation of that classification code;   obtaining a set of uncoded electronically stored information items;   combining one or more of the reference electronically stored information items with the set of the uncoded electronically stored information items;   generating a score vector for each of the combined uncoded and reference electronically stored information items;   grouping the combined uncoded electronically stored information items into a plurality of clusters using the score vectors;   using the score vectors of one or more of the uncoded electronically stored information items in one or more of the clusters and the reference electronically stored information items in those clusters to generate and provide to user a suggestion for assigning one of the classification codes to the one or more of the uncoded electronically stored information items in the one or more of the clusters;   displaying the visual representations of each of the classification codes of the reference electronically stored information items in the one or more clusters as a further suggestion for assigning one of the classification codes to each of the uncoded electronically stored information items in the one or more of the clusters; and   receiving an assignment of one of the classification codes for one or more of the uncoded electronically stored information items for which the suggestion was provided and the further suggestions was displayed,   wherein the steps are performed on a suitably-programmed computer.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 generating a neighborhood of reference electronically stored information items for each of the uncoded electronically stored information items in the one or more clusters, wherein the neighborhood is used for generating the suggestion for that uncoded electronically stored information item.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the neighborhood comprises an equal number of the reference electronically stored information items associated with each of the classification codes. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 using a distance metric to determine a distance between each of the uncoded electronically stored information items in one of the one or more clusters and each of the reference electronically stored information items in that cluster, wherein the distance is used for the generation of the neighborhood.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising at least one of:
 identifying the reference electronically stored information item in the neighborhood of one of the electronically stored information items with the closest distance to that uncoded electronically stored information item and assigning the classification code of the reference electronically stored information item with the closest distance as the suggested classification code for that uncoded electronically stored information item;   calculating an average of the distances between one of the uncoded electronically stored information items and the reference electronically stored information items in the neighborhood of that electronically stored information item that are associated with each of the classification codes and assigning the classification code with the closest average distance as the suggested classification code for that uncoded electronically stored information item; and   counting in the neighborhood for one of the uncoded electronically stored information items the reference electronically stored information items for each of the classification codes, weighing each count based on the distance between the reference electronically stored items with the classification code and that uncoded electronically stored information item, and assigning the classification code with the highest weighted count as the suggested classification code for that uncoded electronically stored information item.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 organizing the clusters along a plurality of spines and displaying the spines on a display, wherein the spines are positioned in relation to each other based on a theme shared by one or more of the spines.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 receiving a user selection of one of the clusters in one of the displayed spines;   displaying a number of the reference electronically stored information items and the uncoded electronically stored information items within the selected cluster.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 receiving a user query comprising a search term; and   displaying a number of the reference electronically stored information items and the uncoded electronically stored information items that comprise the search results.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 providing a compass within which one or more of the clusters organized along the spines are displayed on a display; and   displaying different one or more of the clusters in the compass upon receiving a user command,   wherein the clusters are emphasized when displayed within the compass and deemphasized when displayed outside of the compass.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 providing a confidence level for each of the suggestions.