Patent ID: 7912842
Filing Date: 2011-03-22
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for linking a plurality of entity references to at least one entity stored in a computer comprising the steps of: evaluating, using a computing matrix, a probability of a match between a first entity reference and a second entity reference based at least in part on a statistical significance of a combination of a plurality of field values common to both the first entity reference and the second entity reference, wherein the statistical significance is inversely related to a number of entity references having the combination of plurality of field values from among some or all entity references, wherein the first entity reference is a member of the at least one entity stored in the computer; determining, during the evaluating of the probability of a match between the first entity reference and the second entity reference, whether a field value of one of the two entity references is a probable synonym of a field value of the other entity reference; substituting the probable synonym into the field value of the other entity reference and repeating the evaluating of the probability of a match, upon determining that the field value of one of the two entity references is a probable synonym of the field value of the other entity reference; and linking, using the computing matrix, the first entity reference with the second entity reference when the probability is greater than or equal to a match threshold.