Learning Roadmap Generation from Unstructured Text via Graph Ordering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Individuals face challenges in learning new topics from unstructured information due to the lack of a structured learning path, leading to inefficiencies and demotivation as they often lack understanding of prerequisite topics and struggle to determine the ideal order for learning related subjects.

Innovation Solution

A method for generating learning roadmaps by building a co-occurrence graph, determining basic-ness and advanced-ness scores for named entities, and ordering them to create a structured learning path from unstructured information, using techniques like Hyperlink-Induced Topic Search (HITS) to compute hub and authority scores within a k-hop neighborhood of a target topic.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If learners browse through unstructured content to learn new topics, then they can access vast information, but they spend excessive time and effort on unnecessary topics without a clear learning path

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveamount of information accessibleVSAvoidtime spent on unnecessary topics
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the unstructured information corpus into discrete named entities and organizes them into a structured hierarchy using graph theory. Each named entity becomes a node in the graph, and relationships between entities are represented as edges, creating a segmented view of the information space that can be systematically navigated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-processing the unstructured corpus to extract named entities, build the knowledge graph, and compute basic-ness scores for all entities in advance. This preprocessing creates a ready-to-use structured representation that enables rapid roadmap generation without requiring real-time analysis during the learning process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If learners attempt to understand complex topics without prerequisite knowledge, then they can access advanced information, but their understanding and motivation decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to advanced informationVSAvoidunderstanding and motivation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a parameter transformation approach by computing basic-ness scores for each named entity based on its position and connectivity in the knowledge graph. These scores serve as a quantitative measure of topic fundamentality, allowing the system to dynamically adjust the learning roadmap to ensure prerequisite topics are covered before advanced topics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by using the computed basic-ness scores to continuously evaluate and adjust the learning path. The roadmap generation process incorporates feedback from the graph structure and entity relationships to ensure that topics are presented in an optimal sequence that builds understanding progressively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If structured learning paths are created manually, then learning sequences are logical and organized, but the process is time-consuming and labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelogical organization of learning sequenceVSAvoidtime to create learning path
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by enabling the system to automatically generate learning roadmaps without human intervention. The automated pipeline extracts named entities from unstructured text, constructs the knowledge graph, computes basic-ness scores using graph algorithms, and generates the final learning sequence autonomously, eliminating the need for manual curriculum design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the mechanical process of manual learning path creation with an automated computational system. Instead of human experts manually analyzing and organizing content, the patent uses natural language processing, graph theory, and algorithmic scoring to automatically structure the learning path, substituting human cognitive labor with computational processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11366967B2Learning roadmaps from unstructured text
Publication Date: 2022.06.21 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION
  • US11366967B2 patent drawing
  • US11366967B2 patent drawing
  • US11366967B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems and methods are described for generating learning roadmaps from unstructured information. The systems and methods may provide for extracting a plurality of named entities from one or more corpora of information, constructing a graph based on the named entities, inducing a subgraph from the graph based on a target named entity, wherein the subgraph includes a subset of the named entities, ordering the subset of the named entities based on the subgraph, and generating a learning roadmap for the target named entity based on the ordering.