Patents by Inventor Christopher S. Alkov

Christopher S. Alkov has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11533285
    Abstract: A mechanism for determining a chat distance associated with an environmental chat based on the chat amount within an area of a virtual universe associated with the environmental chat. An environmental chat distance may be determined based on the number of words or characters in a text chat or voice chat between avatars within the area of the virtual universe. The environmental chat distance may be inversely proportional to the detected words or characters in the environmental chat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher S. Alkov, Travis M. Grigsby, Lisa Seacat DeLuca
  • Patent number: 10956472
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for performing load balancing of question processing in a Question and Answer (QA) system, implemented by the data processing system, having a plurality of QA system pipelines. The mechanisms receive an input question for processing by the QA system and determine a predicted question difficulty of the input question. The mechanisms select a QA system pipeline from the plurality of QA system pipelines based on the predicted question difficulty and route the input question to the selected QA system pipeline for processing. In addition, the mechanisms process the input question with the selected QA system pipeline to generate an answer for the input question.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher S. Alkov, Suzanne L. Estrada, Peter F. Haggar, Kevin B. Haverlock
  • Patent number: 10650034
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for performing an operation based on an identification of similar lines of questioning by input question sources. Question information identifying extracted features of an input question and a first source of the input question is obtained. A clustering operation is performed to cluster the input question with one or more other questions of a cluster based on a similarity of the extracted features of the input question to features of the one or more other questions. An operation is performed based on results of the clustering of the input question with the one or more other questions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher S. Alkov, Suzanne L. Estrada, Peter F. Haggar, Kevin B. Haverlock
  • Publication number: 20190005127
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for performing an operation based on an identification of similar lines of questioning by input question sources. Question information identifying extracted features of an input question and a first source of the input question is obtained. A clustering operation is performed to cluster the input question with one or more other questions of a cluster based on a similarity of the extracted features of the input question to features of the one or more other questions. An operation is performed based on results of the clustering of the input question with the one or more other questions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher S. Alkov, Suzanne L. Estrada, Peter F. Haggar, Kevin B. Haverlock
  • Patent number: 10169482
    Abstract: A device for providing spatially-oriented traversal animations during web navigation. The device is configured to perform operations that include receiving a destination Internet address for a destination web page into a graphical web browser that is displaying a current web page having a current Internet address on an electronic display. The operations can further include determining, via electronic analysis of the destination Internet address and the current Internet address, a relationship between the destination Internet address and the current Internet address. The operations can further include determining a spatially-oriented traversal animation based on the relationship. The spatially-oriented traversal animation is from a plurality of different types of animations associated with different hierarchical relationships between Internet pages within the Internet domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher S. Alkov, Denise A. Bell, Brian Farrell, Travis M. Grigsby, Jana H. Jenkins
  • Publication number: 20180343221
    Abstract: A mechanism for determining a chat distance associated with an environmental chat based on the chat amount within an area of a virtual universe associated with the environmental chat. An environmental chat distance may be determined based on the number of words or characters in a text chat or voice chat between avatars within the area of the virtual universe. The environmental chat distance may be inversely proportional to the detected words or characters in the environmental chat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher S. Alkov, Travis M. Grigsby, Lisa Seacat DeLuca
  • Patent number: 10055488
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for performing an operation based on an identification of similar lines of questioning by input question sources. Question information identifying extracted features of an input question and a first source of the input question is obtained. A clustering operation is performed to cluster the input question with one or more other questions of a cluster based on a similarity of the extracted features of the input question to features of the one or more other questions. An operation is performed based on results of the clustering of the input question with the one or more other questions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher S. Alkov, Suzanne L. Estrada, Peter F. Haggar, Kevin B. Haverlock
  • Patent number: 10050920
    Abstract: A mechanism for determining a chat distance associated with an environmental chat based on the chat amount within an area of a virtual universe associated with the environmental chat. An environmental chat distance may be determined based on the number of words or characters in a text chat or voice chat between avatars within the area of the virtual universe. The environmental chat distance may be inversely proportional to the detected words or characters in the environmental chat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher S. Alkov, Travis M. Grigsby, Lisa Seacat DeLuca
  • Patent number: 9900273
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to deep tagging of media content and provide a method, system and computer program product for coordinating deep tagging of media content with chat postings. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for coordinating deep tagging of media content with chat postings can be provided. The method can include monitoring a group chat of participants co-browsing media content, identifying a token in the group chat appearing a threshold number of times within a temporal window, and creating a deep tag in the media content in association with a portion of the media content played back concurrently with the temporal window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher S. Alkov, Travis M. Grigsby, Ruthie D. Lyle, Lisa Seacat DeLuca
  • Publication number: 20170132317
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for performing an operation based on an identification of similar lines of questioning by input question sources. Question information identifying extracted features of an input question and a first source of the input question is obtained. A clustering operation is performed to cluster the input question with one or more other questions of a cluster based on a similarity of the extracted features of the input question to features of the one or more other questions. An operation is performed based on results of the clustering of the input question with the one or more other questions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher S. Alkov, Suzanne L. Estrada, Peter F. Haggar, Kevin B. Haverlock
  • Patent number: 9589047
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for performing an operation based on an identification of similar lines of questioning by input question sources. Question information identifying extracted features of an input question and a first source of the input question is obtained. A clustering operation is performed to cluster the input question with one or more other questions of a cluster based on a similarity of the extracted features of the input question to features of the one or more other questions. An operation is performed based on results of the clustering of the input question with the one or more other questions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher S. Alkov, Suzanne L. Estrada, Peter F. Haggar, Kevin B. Haverlock
  • Patent number: 9563688
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for performing an operation based on an identification of similar lines of questioning by input question sources. Question information identifying extracted features of an input question and a first source of the input question is obtained. A clustering operation is performed to cluster the input question with one or more other questions of a cluster based on a similarity of the extracted features of the input question to features of the one or more other questions. An operation is performed based on results of the clustering of the input question with the one or more other questions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher S. Alkov, Suzanne L. Estrada, Peter F. Haggar, Kevin B. Haverlock
  • Publication number: 20160364499
    Abstract: A device for providing spatially-oriented traversal animations during web navigation. The device is configured to perform operations that include receiving a destination Internet address for a destination web page into a graphical web browser that is displaying a current web page having a current Internet address on an electronic display. The operations can further include determining, via electronic analysis of the destination Internet address and the current Internet address, a relationship between the destination Internet address and the current Internet address. The operations can further include determining a spatially-oriented traversal animation based on the relationship. The spatially-oriented traversal animation is from a plurality of different types of animations associated with different hierarchical relationships between Internet pages within the Internet domain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher S. Alkov, Denise A. Bell, Brian Farrell, Travis M. Grigsby, Jana H. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 9517418
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to virtual world management and provide a method, data processing system and computer program product for conversation detection in a virtual world. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for conversation management in a virtual world data processing system can include detecting a sequence of statements from at least two avatars in a virtual world, and locating the avatars in the virtual world, computing a temporal proximity of the statements. The statements can be grouped in the virtual world if the avatars are geographically proximate to one another in the virtual world and if the statements have occurred within a threshold temporal proximity of one another. Thereafter, the grouped statements can be persisted in the virtual world as a conversation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher S. Alkov, Travis M. Grigsby, Ruthie D. Lyle, Lisa A. Seacat
  • Publication number: 20160315895
    Abstract: A mechanism for determining a chat distance associated with an environmental chat based on the chat amount within an area of a virtual universe associated with the environmental chat. An environmental chat distance may be determined based on the number of words or characters in a text chat or voice chat between avatars within the area of the virtual universe. The environmental chat distance may be inversely proportional to the detected words or characters in the environmental chat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher S. Alkov, Travis M. Grigsby, Lisa Seacat DeLuca
  • Publication number: 20160308802
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to deep tagging of media content and provide a method, system and computer program product for coordinating deep tagging of media content with chat postings. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for coordinating deep tagging of media content with chat postings can be provided. The method can include monitoring a group chat of participants co-browsing media content, identifying a token in the group chat appearing a threshold number of times within a temporal window, and creating a deep tag in the media content in association with a portion of the media content played back concurrently with the temporal window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher S. Alkov, Travis M. Grigsby, Ruthie D. Lyle, Lisa Seacat DeLuca
  • Patent number: 9430118
    Abstract: Embodiments include a method that includes receiving a destination Internet address for a destination web page into a graphical web browser that is displaying a current web page having a current Internet address on a display. The method includes determining a relationship between the destination Internet address and the current Internet address. The relationship is determined by determining differences between the current Internet address and the destination Internet address. The method also includes determining a spatially-oriented traversal animation based, at least in part, on the relationship between the destination Internet address and the current Internet address. The method includes animating bringing the destination web page onto the display using the spatially-oriented traversal animation. The method also includes displaying the destination web page after the spatially-oriented traversal animation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher S. Alkov, Denise A. Bell, Brian Farrell, Travis M. Grigsby, Jana H. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 9397970
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to deep tagging of media content and provide a method, system and computer program product for coordinating deep tagging of media content with chat postings. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for coordinating deep tagging of media content with chat postings can be provided. The method can include monitoring a group chat of participants co-browsing media content, identifying a token in the group chat appearing a threshold number of times within a temporal window, and creating a deep tag in the media content in association with a portion of the media content played back concurrently with the temporal window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher S. Alkov, Travis M. Grigsby, Ruthie D. Lyle, Lisa Seacat DeLuca
  • Patent number: 9384469
    Abstract: A mechanism for modifying a chat distance associated with an environmental chat based on the avatar population density of an area of a virtual universe associated with the environmental chat. An initial environmental chat distance may be determined based on the avatar population density, i.e., the number of avatars, in the area of the virtual universe associated with the environmental chat. The environmental chat distance may be modified in response to a change in the number of avatars in the area of the virtual universe associated with the environmental chat. The environmental chat distance may be modified such that the environmental chat distance is inversely proportional to the detected number of avatars in the virtual universe area associated with the environmental chat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher S. Alkov, Travis M. Grigsby, Lisa Seacat DeLuca
  • Publication number: 20160179928
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for performing an operation based on an identification of similar lines of questioning by input question sources. Question information identifying extracted features of an input question and a first source of the input question is obtained. A clustering operation is performed to cluster the input question with one or more other questions of a cluster based on a similarity of the extracted features of the input question to features of the one or more other questions. An operation is performed based on results of the clustering of the input question with the one or more other questions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher S. Alkov, Suzanne L. Estrada, Peter F. Haggar, Kevin B. Haverlock