Methods and apparatus for complementing user entries associated with events of interest through context

Abstract

Data validation techniques are provided. For example, such techniques complement user entries associated with events of interest through context. In one aspect of the invention, a technique for processing one or more user entries associated with one or more events of interest includes the following steps/operations. Context associated with the one or more events of interest is obtained. At least a portion of the obtained context is associated with one or more user entries representing events of interest. At least a portion of the one or more user entries is evaluated, responsive to at least a portion of the context. An indication of the one or more events of interest is provided, responsive to the evaluation.

1 . A method of processing one or more user entries associated with one or more events of interest, comprising the steps of: 
 obtaining context associated with the one or more events of interest;    associating at least a portion of the obtained context with one or more user entries representing events of interest;    evaluating at least a portion of the one or more user entries responsive to at least a portion of the context; and    providing an indication of the one or more events of interest responsive to the evaluation.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of obtaining a specification of context associated with one or more events of interest.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of specifying the one or more events of interest.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of obtaining a specification of context comprises obtaining at least one of a location, a time at location, a proximity to a location, a proximity to a person, a proximity to a device, a proximity to a person satisfying a condition, a proximity to a location during a specified time interval, an application invocation, a duration of an application invocation, a duration of an application focus on a particular subject, an application invocation during a specified time interval, a user input, a duration of a user input session, a proximity to multiple persons and a location, a calendar, a work assignment, and a workflow stage.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein obtaining a location comprises obtaining a physical location.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the step of mapping a physical location onto a logical location.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the proximities is determined in accordance with an identification device.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein context is obtained through at least one of a computer program, a file transfer, a batch mode, a communications network, a communications-enabled device, and a polling mechanism.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein context is obtained from one or more sources.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein context is obtained from at least one of a calendar, a global positioning system, user entry, a video, a sensor associated with a person, a sensor not associated with a person, and a proximity to a wireless access point.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of associating context is responsive to at least one of a time of day, a time of event of interest, a location of event of interest, a location of entity, a source of context, and an entity associated with context.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein evaluating the one or more user entries responsive to context comprises at least one of a determination of validity, a determination of a likelihood of validity, a determination of a missing entry, and a determination of a missing element of an entry.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a workflow exists and at least one of the determinations comprises determining at least one workflow stage, the at least one workflow stage being associated with at least one context.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing an indication comprises at least one of providing a log, an error message, a warning, a default entry, an amended entry, a new entry, a deleted entry, a workflow, an e-mail, and a notification.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the evaluating step comprises the step of, responsive to at least two sources of context, creating a composed source of context.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the composed source is created through a calculation.  
     
     
         17 . A method of validating one or more expenses based on context data, comprising the steps of: 
 obtaining context data in the form of a location history for at least one user;    responsive to user entry of one or more expenses incurred, determining a location associated with an expense;    reconciling the user location history with the location associated with the expense;    providing an indication of the reconciliation.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of obtaining location history for at least one device.  
     
     
         19 . A method of validating a charge based on context data, comprising the steps of: 
 obtaining context data in the form of a charge history for at least one client; and    comparing one or more current charges for the client to one or more previous charges for the client.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of comparing the one or more current charges for the client to previous, similar charges for other clients.  
     
     
         21 . A method of validating a charge based on context data, comprising the steps of: 
 obtaining context data in the form of a charge history for at least one employee;    comparing a current charge for a client of the employee to one or more previous charges originating from the employee for the client; and    comparing the current charge for the client of the employee to the previous charges originating from the employee for all clients.    
     
     
         22 . Apparatus for processing one or more user entries associated with one or more events of interest, comprising: 
 a memory; and    at least one processor coupled to the memory and operative to: (i) obtain context associated with the one or more events of interest; (ii) associate at least a portion of the obtained context with one or more user entries representing events of interest; (iii) evaluate at least a portion of the one or more user entries responsive to at least a portion of the context; and (iv) provide an indication of the one or more events of interest responsive to the evaluation.    
     
     
         23 . An article of manufacture processing one or more user entries associated with one or more events of interest, comprising a machine readable medium containing one or more programs which when executed implement the steps of: 
 obtaining context associated with the one or more events of interest;    associating at least a portion of the obtained context with one or more user entries representing events of interest;    evaluating at least a portion of the one or more user entries responsive to at least a portion of the context; and    providing an indication of the one or more events of interest responsive to the evaluation.    
     
     
         24 . A method of providing a service for validating one or more user entries associated with one or more events of interest, comprising the steps of: 
 a service provider providing a service to a customer which comprises obtaining context associated with the one or more events of interest, associating at least a portion of the obtained context with one or more user entries representing events of interest, evaluating at least a portion of the one or more user entries responsive to at least a portion of the context, and providing an indication of the one or more events of interest responsive to the evaluation.