Name Variant Extraction from Individual Handle Identifiers

摘要

A method and apparatus for name variant extraction from individual handle identifiers uses a sequential extraction process to construct contextual information. Last name data, first/middle name data, initials, nicknames, and vanity names, along with numerical information indicating dates, may all be captured in extracting information about an individual associated with a particular handle. When multiple possible interpretations result from the analysis, those interpretations are ranked using optimality rules. The resulting data may be used to look up additional information in a consumer database in order to structure a targeted marketing message to the individual associated with the handle.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method for extracting information about an individual from a handle, comprising the steps of:
a. receiving the handle at a processor; b. marking name phrase types in the handle to create a collection of name phrase types; c. extracting one or more name phrase types from the marked collection of name phrase types to produce one or more handle interpretations; d. filtering the one or more handle interpretations to eliminate any redundant handle interpretations according to a set of filtering rules; and e. ranking the one or more handle interpretations utilizing a set of optimality rules.