A device for managing a reference list. The device includes one or more processors, which alone or in combination are configured to facilitate performing: (a) running one or more applications; (b) selecting the reference list; (c) monitoring activities in the one or more applications to identify citable processes; (d) receiving citable information from the one or more applications based on the citable processes; (e) determining a type of citable information received; and (f) modifying the reference list based on the type of citable information received.

A method and system for determining a location of origin and a time period in which a document was written is disclosed. A text is received and a set of linguistic characteristics for the text are identified. A set of possible locations and time periods for the text are determined based on the set of linguistic characteristics. A set of reference documents are used to determine a proximity rating for the text based upon a determination of how close the text is to the reference documents. The potential locations and time periods are ranked and returned for presentation.

According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for extracting text from unstructured documents. The method includes creating a spatial index for storing information about words on a page of a document to be analyzed; using the spatial index to detect white space that indicates boundaries of columns within the page, aggregate words into lines, identify lines that are part of a header or footer of the page, and identify lines that are part of a table or a figures within the page; and joining lines together to generate continuous text flows. In one embodiment, the continuous text is divided into sections. In one embodiment, references within the document are identified. In one embodiment, inline citations within the document body are replaced with the corresponding reference information, or portions thereof.

Systems and methods of the present technology generally provide computer implemented assistance for data summary, including organizing and generating a summary of data selected form source documents. A data set of user-identified information from one or more source documents and custom information may be received and processed by a data summary system. The system may analyze and prioritize the user-identified information and any custom information, and generate a formatted summary that includes the user-identified information and the custom information. The system server may then provide the summary via a communication link to a client device.

Mechanisms are provided to implement a natural language request processing engine (NLRPE). The NRLPE performs natural language processing on a portion of unstructured text in an electronic data structure to generate textual characteristics of the portion of unstructured text. The NRLPE annotates at least one phrase in the portion of unstructured text at least by linking the at least one phrase to one or more concepts specified in at least one ontological data structure based on the textual characteristics of the portion of unstructured text. The NRLPE generates a model of the portion of unstructured text based on the one or more concepts linked to the at least one phrase. The NRLPE processes a request for information specifying a concept of interest based on the model of the portion of unstructured text by retrieving the at least one phrase or the at least one merged phrase as a response.

Mechanisms are provided to implement a natural language request processing engine (NLRPE). The NRLPE performs natural language processing on a portion of unstructured text in an electronic data structure to generate textual characteristics of the portion of unstructured text. The NRLPE annotates at least one phrase in the portion of unstructured text at least by linking the at least one phrase to one or more concepts specified in at least one ontological data structure based on the textual characteristics of the portion of unstructured text. The NRLPE generates a model of the portion of unstructured text based on the one or more concepts linked to the at least one phrase. The NRLPE processes a request for information specifying a concept of interest based on the model of the portion of unstructured text by retrieving the at least one phrase as a response.

Systems and methods of the present technology generally provide computer implemented assistance for data summary, including organizing and generating a summary of data selected form source documents. In accordance with the present technology, a user identifies a subset of information from one or more source documents, assigns an identifier to the user-identified information, and may add custom information. The user can repeat the identification and assignment steps using multiple source documents, as many times as desired. The system then analyzes and prioritizes the user-identified information and any custom information, and generates a formatted summary.

A method and system provide a research assistance system that includes a research assistance application. The research assistance application assists users to generate research documents. The research assistance application assists users to retrieve reference material from reference sources and to incorporate the reference material into the research document. The research assistance application automatically handles citations and generates an accurate bibliography based on the reference materials.

A method and system for determining a location of origin and a time period in which a document was written is disclosed. A text is received and a set of linguistic characteristics for the text are identified. A set of possible locations and time periods for the text are determined based on the set of linguistic characteristics. A set of reference documents are used to determine a proximity rating for the text based upon a determination of how close the text is to the reference documents. The potential locations and time periods are ranked and returned for presentation.

Search may be provided using a database storing a plurality of documents comprising a first set of documents and a second set of documents, a set of vetting values and a computer readable medium. In such a system, for each document in the second set of documents, the first set of documents comprises a document for which that document from the second set of documents is identified as a subsequent related document. Additionally, the set of vetting values may comprise, for each document from the second set of documents, a vetting value for the document from the first set of documents for which that document from the second set of documents is identified as the subsequent related document. Additionally, the medium may store instructions to respond to a query by determining, based on the set of vetting values, a search result set comprising documents from the first set of documents.