Abstract: A mechanism is provided, in a question answering (QA) system, for performing persona-based question answering is provided. An identification of a requested persona is received from a user along with a natural language question input specifying an input question to be answered by the QA system. Responsive to receiving the requested persona, components of the QA system are customized to answer questions from a viewpoint of the requested persona. An answer to the input question is generated from the viewpoint of the requested persona based on the customization of the components of the QA system. The answer to the input question is output in a form representative of the requested persona.

Abstract: A knowledgebase of an expert system is populated with rules inferred from a set of business processes that govern the manner in which the business interacts with users. Each business process contains an input, an output, an action, and a set of dependency relationships that relate pairs of the input, the output, and the action. Each process's input, output, action, and dependency relationships are translated, respectively, into a subject, an object, a predicate, and a set of dependency relationships among the subject, object, and predicate, of a natural-language rule. Each rule is stored in the expert system's knowledgebase as a directed graph, and nodes representing each stored subject, object, and predicate are assigned domain classifications as a function of characteristics of the business rule. These domain classifications are represented within the knowledgebase as a set of domain classifications determined as a further function of characteristics of the business rule.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for supporting combinations of intents in a conversation service. In one embodiment, the computer-implemented method provides a conversation service using a set of conversation trees. Each conversation tree within the set of conversation trees comprises a list of intents that define how to answer to a certain type of user input. The computer-implemented method creates an intent graph using the list of intents of each conversation tree within the set of conversation trees. The computer-implemented method adds composite intents to the set of conversation trees using the intent graph to generate a set of updated conversation trees. The computer-implemented method configures the conversation service to use the set of updated conversation trees that comprises composite intents for supporting combinations of intents.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for tailoring question answering system output based on user expertise. The mechanism receives an input question from a questioning user and determines a set of features associated with text of the input question. The mechanism determines an expertise level of the questioning user based on the set of features associated with the text of the input question using a trained expertise model. The mechanism generates one or more candidate answers for the input question and tailors output of the one or more candidate answers based on the expertise level of the questioning user.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system for receiving, by a computing device, a question from a user. A first answer provided by a first subject matter expert is identified. A second answer provided by a second subject matter expert is identified. It is determined that a profile of the user matches a first profile of the first subject matter expert more than a second profile of the second subject matter expert. The first answer provided by the first subject matter expert is sent to the user with a preference over the second answer provided by the second subject matter expert based upon, at least in part, determining that the profile of the user matches the first profile of the first subject matter expert more than the second profile of the second subject matter expert.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system for receiving, by a computing device, a question from a user. A first answer provided by a first subject matter expert is identified. A second answer provided by a second subject matter expert is identified. It is determined that a profile of the user matches a first profile of the first subject matter expert more than a second profile of the second subject matter expert. The first answer provided by the first subject matter expert is sent to the user with a preference over the second answer provided by the second subject matter expert based upon, at least in part, determining that the profile of the user matches the first profile of the first subject matter expert more than the second profile of the second subject matter expert.

Abstract: A knowledgebase of an expert system is populated with rules inferred from a set of business processes that govern the manner in which the business interacts with users. Each business process contains an input, an output, an action, and a set of dependency relationships that relate pairs of the input, the output, and the action. Each process's input, output, action, and dependency relationships are translated, respectively, into a subject, an object, a predicate, and a set of dependency relationships among the subject, object, and predicate, of a natural-language rule. Each rule is stored in the expert system's knowledgebase as a directed graph, and nodes representing each stored subject, object, and predicate are assigned domain classifications as a function of characteristics of the business rule. These domain classifications are represented within the knowledgebase as a set of domain classifications determined as a further function of characteristics of the business rule.

Abstract: A website navigation system has an analysis system which receives a request for an Internet web page from a client device. The analysis system receives web page data associated with the web page from the Internet and performs a data analysis process to organize the web page data for use in a virtual conversation with the user in order to present the web page in an audible format. The analysis system identifies separate elements of the web page from the web page data and extracts information from the separate elements based on the web page data. The analysis system groups the separate elements into categories based on the extracted information and sorts the groups of separate elements based on usage statistics. The analysis system then generates a prompt for being output to the user by the client device as audible output based on the sorted groups of separate elements.

Abstract: The program directs a computer processor to implement a program that selects at least one substitute ingredient for a food recipe based on a plurality of determined criteria. The program receives a food recipe comprising one or more ingredients, instructions, and preparation time. The program determines time constraints of a user. The program identifies one or more Internet of Things (IoT) enabled cooking devices that are available in a kitchen associated with the user to carry out the instructions of the food recipe. The program searches a market database in a market to identify available options for the at least one substitute ingredient found in the market database based on a similarity level of the at least one substitute ingredient compared with at least one ambiguous ingredient in the food recipe, and selects the at least one substitute ingredient according to the plurality of determined criteria.

Abstract: An approach is provided for performing an item tracking operation. The item tracking operation includes defining a knowledge model where the knowledge model correlates usage of an item away from a parked location with other locations visited by a user. The item tracking operation also includes tracking the item when the item is removed from the parked location where the tracking includes determining when the item is moved to a particular location. The item tracking operation also includes determining whether the item is returned to the parked location and notifying the user when the item was not returned to the parked location where the notifying calculates a probability that the item was left behind at the particular location.

Abstract: Electronic natural language processing in a natural language processing (NLP) system, such as a Question-Answering (QA) system. A receives electronic text input, in question form, and determines a readability level indicator in the question. The readability level indicator includes at least a grammatical error, a slang term, and a misspelling type. The computer determines a readability level for the electronic text input based on the readability level indicator, and retrieves candidate answers based on the readability level.

Abstract: A method, system and computer-usable medium for training an information processing system to utilize personalized audio selection to facilitate achieving a target state comprising: identifying target states for a plurality of users; identifying a type of user for each of the plurality of users; identifying a plurality of sets of audio selections for each of the plurality of users; monitoring reactions by each of the plurality of users to each of the plurality of sets of audio selections; and, associating a set of audio selections from the plurality of sets of audio selections with a type of a user based upon the reactions by the plurality of users to the set of audio selections.

Abstract: Answer effectiveness evaluations include providing, by a computing device, an answer to a search query received from a user, and in response to receiving a subsequent search query from the user, determining by the computing device a level of effectiveness of the answer to the search query with respect to the user. The determination includes comparing aspects of the search query to aspects of the subsequent search query, calculating, based on the comparing, a relevance score that indicates a measure of similarity between the aspects of the search query and the aspects of the subsequent search query, and determining that the answer effectively answers the search query when the relevance score exceeds a threshold value.

Abstract: The program directs a computer processor to implement a method that dynamically operates one or more appliances. The method estimates a time period for a user to arrive at a location, wherein the estimated time period is based on one or more time constraints, and identifies one or more appliances needed based on at least an instruction set. The method further generates and sends one or more operating commands to the identified one or more appliances based on the estimated time period, updates the estimated time period based on a change in the one or more time constraints, and generates and sends one or more updated operating commands to the identified one or more appliances, based on the updated estimated time period. The method may further detect a current location of the user and receive travel data that corresponds to the one or more time constraints.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for performing an analysis of content based on a flow of property between entities. The mechanisms analyze a corpus of unstructured documents to identify one or more asset transfer flow relationships between entities. The mechanisms generate an asset transfer flow model defining a flow of an asset between entities based on the one or more asset transfer flow relationships between entities. The mechanisms input the asset transfer flow model into an analysis engine for use in analyzing content. The mechanisms analyze the content using the asset transfer flow model to generate results of the analysis and output the results of the analysis based on the asset transfer flow model.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for generating a mixture of olfactory compounds to diffuse based on a flavor signature delta measured between samples prepared according to a recipe. An application obtains a flavor signature for a canonical sample prepared according to the recipe and a flavor signature for a sample subsequently prepared according to the recipe. The application generates a flavor signature delta from the flavor signatures of the samples. The flavor signature delta indicates a difference in the measure of each of the olfactory compounds in the samples. The application identifies a mixture of olfactory compounds in the flavor signature delta based on the difference. The application then directs an aroma diffusing device to diffuse the identified mixture of olfactory compounds.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing suggestions based on a flavor signature delta measured between samples prepared according to a recipe. An application obtains a flavor signature for a canonical sample prepared according to the recipe and a flavor signature for a sample subsequently prepared according to the recipe. The application generates a flavor signature delta from the flavor signatures of the samples. The flavor signature delta indicates a difference in the measure of each of the olfactory compounds in the samples. The application identifies one or more ingredients, each ingredient identified from at least one of the olfactory compounds present in the flavor signature delta. The application then generates one or more suggestions for preparing a sample based on the identified ingredients.

Abstract: A method, computer system, and a computer program product for a cognitive-based meeting format recommendation is provided. The present invention may include receiving an input. The present invention may also include determining a preferred mode of user communication based on analyzing the received input. The present invention may then include analyzing an upcoming meeting based on the determined preferred mode of user communication. The present invention may further include analyzing a plurality of technical equipment available based on the analyzed upcoming meeting. The present invention may also include providing a recommendation to a user based on the group of analyses consisting of the preferred mode of user communication, the upcoming meeting and the plurality of technical equipment available. The present invention may then include analyzing the provided recommendation. The present invention may further include adjusting a recommendation model based on the analyzed recommendation.

Abstract: Aspects include creating a profile for a user from user account data and a user activity log, searching an indexed repository for keywords matching elements from the user account data and the user activity log, and retrieving documents from the indexed repository that are identified based on the searching. Aspects further include creating a custom portal for the user that includes the documents.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided to implement a cognitive system collaboration identification and recommendation system (CSCIRS). The CSCIRS stores, in a cognitive system database, entries corresponding to a plurality of cognitive system instances. Each entry identifies operational characteristics of a corresponding cognitive system instance. The CSCIRS receives, from a requestor, a request to identify a potential collaborative cognitive system instance and identifies, based on the request and the cognitive system database, a candidate collaborative cognitive system instance. The CSCIRS generates a collaboration recommendation based on the identification and outputs an output corresponding to the collaboration recommendation.