Data enrichment and matching

Abstract

In an embodiment, a process for data enrichment and matching includes obtaining a first dataset associated with a first user from a first data source, where the first dataset includes records from a structured data source, and obtaining a corresponding second dataset associated with a second user. The process includes enriching at least one of the first dataset and the second dataset. The process includes merging the first dataset and the second dataset including by matching a set of attributes based at least in part on matching corresponding attributes, wherein at least one of the first dataset and the second dataset has been enriched. The process includes outputting the merged data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a communication interface configured to:
 obtain a first dataset associated with a first user from a first data source, wherein the first dataset includes records from a structured data source; and 
 obtain a corresponding second dataset associated with a second user; 
   a processor coupled to the communication interface and configured to:
 enrich at least one of the first dataset and the second dataset; 
 create an intermediate dataset based at least in part on the enriched at least one of the first dataset and the second dataset, wherein the intermediate dataset includes unstructured data; 
 merge the first dataset and the second dataset including by matching a set of attributes based at least in part on matching corresponding attributes based at least in part on the intermediate dataset; and 
 output the merged dataset, wherein the merged dataset includes structured data. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the structured data source includes a customer relationship management system. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine first filtered data associated with the first user and second filtered data associated with the second user, wherein the first filtered data and the second filtered data match filter criteria associated with the first dataset and the corresponding second dataset.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the filter criteria is specified by at least one of the first user and the second user. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the filter criteria is pre-defined based at least in part on a security policy. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the obtained first dataset includes fields specified by the first user to be exposed to other users such that only those fields specified by the first users are displayable to other users. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein outputting the merged dataset includes displaying matching records or common customers that neither the first user nor the second user has. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the fields include a subset of columns in the first dataset. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein enriching at least one of the first dataset and the second dataset includes augmenting at least one of the first dataset and the second dataset with data from another source. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein enriching at least one of the first dataset and the second dataset includes at least one of: filling in missing information and correcting errors. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein enriching at least one of the first dataset and the second dataset is performed for at least one row in at least one of the first dataset and the second dataset. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein enriching at least one of the first dataset and the second dataset is performed for at least one attribute in data of at least one of the first dataset and the second dataset. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein enriching at least one of the first dataset and the second dataset includes normalizing data. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein merging the first data set and the second dataset includes:
 combining the first data set and the second dataset;   comparing the first data set to the second dataset; and   generating metadata based on the comparison of the first data set to the second dataset.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the metadata includes information about at least one of: commonalities and distinctions in the first data set and the second dataset. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein outputting the merged dataset includes displaying the merged dataset on a graphical user interface. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive user input on the merged data;   update the merged data based on the received user input; and   store the updated merged data in a structured data store.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first user is associated with a first organization and the second user is associated with a second organization different from the first organization. 
     
     
         19 . A method, comprising:
 obtaining a first dataset associated with a first user from a first data source, wherein the first dataset includes records from a structured data source;   obtaining a corresponding second dataset associated with a second user;   enriching at least one of the first dataset and the second dataset;   creating an intermediate dataset based at least in part on the enriched at least one of the first dataset and the second dataset, wherein the intermediate dataset includes unstructured data;   merging the first dataset and the second dataset including by matching a set of attributes based at least in part on matching corresponding attributes based at least in part on the intermediate dataset; and   outputting the merged dataset, wherein the merged dataset includes structured data.   
     
     
         20 . A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:
 obtaining a first dataset associated with a first user from a first data source, wherein the first dataset includes records from a structured data source;   obtaining a corresponding second dataset associated with a second user;   enriching at least one of the first dataset and the second dataset;   creating an intermediate dataset based at least in part on the enriched at least one of the first dataset and the second dataset, wherein the intermediate dataset includes unstructured data;   merging the first dataset and the second dataset including by matching a set of attributes based at least in part on matching corresponding attributes based at least in part on the intermediate dataset; and   outputting the merged dataset, wherein the merged dataset includes structured data.