Temporal document verifier and method

摘要

Temporal qualities of electronic documents are verified using a variety of techniques, including automated and human based feedback. The invention can be used in environments such as automated news aggregators, search engines, and other electronic systems which compile information having temporal qualities.

主权项

1. A method of automatically verifying temporal characteristics of electronic documents with a computing system comprising:
a. identifying at least a first event having first content embodied in a first electronic document with the computing system;
wherein said first electronic document is associated with a first source; b. analyzing said first electronic document with the computing system to identify first temporal components;
wherein said first temporal components relate to a state of said first event, and wherein said first temporal component is other than a creation time and/or a publication time associated with said first electronic document; c. calculating a temporal value for said first electronic document with the computing system, which temporal value relates to an absolute time characteristic of said event; d. automatically verifying said temporal value of said first electronic document with the computing system by querying sources separate from said first source;
wherein said temporal value is only tentatively assigned until it can be confirmed with a desired confidence level.