Abstract: One implementation provides a method for analyzing the validity of a proposed change to an electronic entity. The method includes receiving the proposed changes to an electronic entity from an external device, and calculating a validity index based on a set of definable rules. The inputs to the calculation include quantified values that represent either contextual information about the proposed change or information about a user proposing the change, or some combination thereof. After the calculation of the validity index, the method includes deciding, based on the calculated validity index, whether to proceed further in applying the proposed change to the electronic entity.

Abstract: One implementation provides a method for modifying a knowledge base on a client device. The method includes receiving input from a user of the client device specifying a first proposed modification to the knowledge base, modifying the knowledge base as specified by the first proposed modification, and subsequently receiving electronic information from a host server specifying a second proposed modification to the knowledge base. The method further includes comparing the second proposed modification to the first proposed modification previously made to the knowledge base and, upon comparison, determining whether to modify the knowledge base as specified by the second proposed modification.

Abstract: One implementation provides a method for analyzing the validity of a proposed change to an electronic entity. The method includes receiving the proposed changes to an electronic entity from an external device, and calculating a validity index based on a set of definable rules. The inputs to the calculation include quantified values that represent either contextual information about the proposed change or information about a user proposing the change, or some combination thereof. After the calculation of the validity index, the method includes deciding, based on the calculated validity index, whether to proceed further in applying the proposed change to the electronic entity.

Abstract: One implementation provides a method for modifying a knowledge base on a client device. The method includes receiving input from a user of the client device specifying a first proposed modification to the knowledge base, modifying the knowledge base as specified by the first proposed modification, and subsequently receiving electronic information from a host server specifying a second proposed modification to the knowledge base. The method further includes comparing the second proposed modification to the first proposed modification previously made to the knowledge base and, upon comparison, determining whether to modify the knowledge base as specified by the second proposed modification.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides a computer-implemented method for retrieving information from a knowledge base. In this embodiment, the method includes building a search request that contains a search query and a pattern having a set of attributes. The method further includes using the search request to retrieve information from the knowledge base. The retrieved information contains information associated with the search query. In addition, the retrieved information is associated with the set of attributes contained in the pattern.