Unsupervised Relationship Extraction via Joint Inference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current information extraction systems rely on supervised methods that require time-consuming and expensive hand-labeled data, limiting their real-world application and missing implicit relationships due to separate decoding and inference processes.

Innovation Solution

An unsupervised information extraction system integrating probabilistic graphical models and first-order logic for statistical relational learning, enabling joint inference to extract implicit relationships between entities without labeled data, leveraging relational autocorrelation and exploiting correlations between entities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If supervised methods with hand-labeled data are used for information extraction, then relationship extraction accuracy is improved, but time consumption and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverelationship extraction accuracyVSAvoidtime consumption for labeling
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-labeling by automatically learning relationships from unlabeled data through statistical relational learning. The probabilistic graphical model and first-order logic work together to infer relationships without human intervention, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for expensive manual labeling while maintaining extraction accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces probabilistic graphical models as an intermediary between raw text and relationship extraction. This intermediary layer enables the system to handle uncertainty and perform statistical inference, allowing accurate relationship extraction from unlabeled data without requiring manual annotations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If separate decoding and inference processes are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but implicit relationships are missed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem structure simplicityVSAvoidimplicit relationships
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges decoding and inference into a unified joint inference process. By combining the probabilistic graphical model with first-order logic, the system simultaneously performs both decoding and inference, capturing implicit relationships that would be missed by separate processes while maintaining reasonable system complexity through integrated architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If supervised systems are used for information extraction, then relationship labeling accuracy is improved, but real-world application capability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverelationship labeling accuracyVSAvoidreal-world application capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system achieves universality by being able to process both labeled and unlabeled data through the same probabilistic graphical model framework. This multi-functional capability allows the system to adapt to different real-world scenarios where labeled data may or may not be available, significantly expanding its applicability beyond controlled environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter from requiring labeled data to working with unlabeled data by adjusting the inference mechanism. The probabilistic graphical model allows the system to operate in different data conditions by changing how relationships are inferred, enabling deployment in diverse real-world contexts without retraining on labeled data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10643145B2Relationship extraction
Publication Date: 2020.05.05 MICRO FOCUS LLC
  • US10643145B2 patent drawing
  • US10643145B2 patent drawing
  • US10643145B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Relationship extraction can include applying unsupervised relationship learning to a logic knowledge base and a plurality of entity groups recognized from a document to provide a probabilistic model. Relationship extraction can include performing joint inference on the probabilistic model to make simultaneous statistical judgments about a respective relationship between at least two entities in one of the plurality of entity groups. Relationship extraction can include extracting a relationship between at least two entities in one of the plurality of entity groups based on the joint inference.