Miika Nurminen

ExtMiner: combining multiple ranking and clustering algorithms for structured document retrieval

This paper introduces ExtMiner, a platform and potential tool for information management in SMEs (small & medium-size enterprise), or for organizational workgroups. ExtMiner supports interactive and iterative clustering of documents. It provides users with a visual cluster and list views at the same time, supporting iterative search process. ExtMiner may also be applied as a platform for research on retrieval fusion, since it combines search, clustering and visualization algorithms. ExtMiner was evaluated with three document collections. Although the findings were encouraging the user interface and performance with large document repositories need further development.

ProcMiner: Advancing Process Analysis and Management

This paper contributes both to research and practice on process mining. Previous research on process mining has focused on mining patterns from event log files to generate process models. The process mining approach adopted in this paper is focused on producing patterns about process models, not the models themselves. The approach is demonstrated by ProcMiner -an explorative research prototype for management, consolidating, publishing, retrieving, and analyzing process models. Content-based document clustering is applied to process models represented as XML database in order to find topical groups from models. In practice, organizations face numerous challenges in managing their process models. The models may be heterogeneous or ambiguous. The modeling software may change over time or due to differences in departmental purchases. ProcMiner was used in quality system development initiative at the University of Jyvaskyla The findings support previous model engineering research, showing that multiple actions are needed to ensure consistency of process models, and to make them efficiently manageable.

Modelling Contexts in Cross-Cultural Communication Environments

In our research, context is defined as a situation a user has at hand. The focus in our study is on modelling contexts in cross-cultural communication environments. These environments can be physical, virtual or hybrid. Cross-cultural communication environment --user --situation is the key triplet in our context research. In our paper we discuss context as a key to situation-specific computing. We introduce our cross-cultural communication context tree and context flow architecture and an example of implementation i.e. Context-Based e-Assistant for Cross-Cultural Communication (CeACCC).

Representation and retrieval of uncertain temporal information in museum databases

An implementation-oriented model to represent uncertain temporal information in databases is proposed. Temporal information is presented to the user as anchored time intervals with optional beginning and end dates. The model accounts for both instants and intervals, and can be applied to uncertain dates by leaving days and months optional, or by using symbolic constraints that present additional time granularities. The model is defined using conventional relational database structures to support ease of deployment and integration to legacy systems with efficient query capabilities. The model is based on experiences with an existing museum database and highlights challenges related to temporal representation of cultural-historical data in practice. The model is compared with temporal representations used in other museum information systems and collections management standards. Possible opportunities to extend the model in the future research include defining a formal algebraic presentation or utilizing an explicit time ontology.