Systems, methods and computer products for name disambiguation by using private/global directories, and communication contexts

Abstract

Name disambiguation by using private / global directories and communication contexts. Exemplary embodiments include a name disambiguation method, including identifying a plurality of names of persons in text received in the computer system, each of the plurality of names including a start and an end position, a family name and a given name, for each of the plurality of names of persons in the text, retrieving personal identification information from a global directory as a candidate for a name match, retrieving personal identification information from a private directory as a candidate for the name match, comparing the private directory personal identification information with the global directory personal identification information, eliminating the personal identification information from the private directory, retrieving frequencies of communications associated with the personal identification information from the private directory and displaying related information for each of the plurality of names of persons in the text.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 958,868, filed Dec. 18, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.TRADEMARKS[0002]IBM® is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y., U.S.A. Other names used herein may be registered trademarks, trademarks or product names of International Business Machines Corporation or other companies.BACKGROUND[0003]This invention relates to name disambiguation, and particularly to systems, methods and computer products for name disambiguation by using private / global directories and communication contexts.[0004]Online communication tools, such as e-mails, instant messaging, electronic bulletin boards, and blogs, are commonly used in enterprises for daily works. Even though such communications includes rich information for relationships among persons and knowledge about persons, there are few functio...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a method for identifying multiple names in text and retrieving personal information from global and private directories to compare and eliminate ambiguous names. The system can also display related information for each name. This solution helps to keep private information secure and private while still disambiguating names in online communication tools commonly used in business environments.

Problems solved by technology

Even though such communications includes rich information for relationships among persons and knowledge about persons, there are few functions in such tools using results of social network analysis and text analysis.

However, the techniques do not disambiguate names by using plural persons included in the body of the same mail, and assume that global mail archives (not a private mail box) are available, which are very difficult to get because of security and privacy matters.

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