Patents by Inventor Lawrence A. Birnbaum

Lawrence A. Birnbaum 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: 9348872
    Abstract: An information retrieval system for automatically retrieving information related to the context of an active task being manipulated by a user. The system observes the operation of the active task and user interactions, and utilizes predetermined criteria to generate context representation of the active task that are relevant to the context of the active task. The information retrieval system then processes the context representation to generate queries or search terms for conducting an information search. The information retrieval system determines the relevance of a word to the context by utilizing an adaptive weighting system. The information retrieval system assigns varying weights to different attributes of a word and calculates an accumulated weight of the word by accumulating all weights assigned to the word. The attributes may include word size, style, location of the word, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Kristian Hammond, Jerome Budzik, Lawrence Birnbaum
  • Publication number: 20160086084
    Abstract: Artificial intelligence methods and systems for triggering the generation of narratives are disclosed. Specific embodiments relate to real-time evaluation and automated generation of narrative stories based on received data. For example, data can be tested against data representative of a plurality of story angles to determine whether a narrative story incorporating one or more such story angles is to be automatically generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Nathan Nichols, Michael Justin Smathers, Lawrence Birnbaum, Kristian Hammond, Lawrence E. Adams
  • Patent number: 9251134
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically generating a narrative story receives data and information pertaining to a domain event. The received data and information and/or one or more derived features are then used to identify a plurality of angles for the narrative story. The plurality of angles is then filtered, for example through use of parameters that specify a focus for the narrative story, length of the narrative story, etc. Points associated with the filtered plurality of angles are then assembled and the narrative story is rendered using the filtered plurality of angles and the assembled points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Narrative Science Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Birnbaum, Kristian J. Hammond, Nicholas D. Allen, John R. Templon
  • Publication number: 20150356090
    Abstract: A system and method can automatically and dynamically construct scripts for live theatrical experiences from online content by automatically forming and managing queries and filters to retrieve and select appropriate content from a variety of online sources, and assembling the content so identified in order to produce interesting theatrical experiences. The resulting scripts can be relayed dynamically to actors for presentation in live theatrical performances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Lawrence Birnbaum, Kristian John Hammond, Patrick McNally, Jason Cohn, Rachel Birnbaum
  • Patent number: 9208147
    Abstract: Artificial intelligence methods and systems for triggering the generation of narratives are disclosed. Specific embodiments relate to real-time evaluation and automated generation of narrative stories based on received data. For example, data can be tested against data representative of a plurality of story angles to determine whether a narrative story incorporating one or more such story angles is to be automatically generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Narrative Science Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Nichols, Michael Justin Smathers, Lawrence Birnbaum, Kristian Hammond, Lawrence E. Adams
  • Patent number: 9201880
    Abstract: Associating a content item with an event is disclosed. A location associated with a received content item is determined. The received content item is associated with an event, at least in part based on an indicia of relatedness, other than the determined location, between the received content item and the event. A criterion that the indicia of relatedness is required to satisfy for the content item to be determined to be associated with the event has a lower value if the determined location associated with the received content item has a first degree of correspondence to a location associated with the event than if the determined location associated with the received content item has a second, lower degree of correspondence to the location associated with the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: ALLVOICES, INC.
    Inventors: Amra Q. Tareen, Sanjay C. Sood, Lawrence A. Birnbaum, Kristian J. Hammond, Erik Sundelof
  • Publication number: 20150178350
    Abstract: An information retrieval system for automatically retrieving information related to the context of an active task being manipulated by a user. The system observes the operation of the active task and user interactions, and utilizes predetermined criteria to generate a context representation of the active task that are relevant to the context of the active task. The information retrieval system then processes the context representation to generate queries or search terms for conducting an information search. The information retrieval system reorders the terms in a query so that they occur in a meaningful order as they naturally occur in a document or active task being manipulated by the user. Furthermore, the information retrieval system may access a user profile to retrieve information related to the user, and the select information sources or transform search terms based on attributes related to the user, such as the user's occupation, position in a company, major in school, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Kristian Hammond, Jerome Budzik, Lawrence Birnbaum
  • Patent number: 8978033
    Abstract: An information retrieval system for automatically retrieving information related to the context of an active task being manipulated by a user. The system observes the operation of the active task and user interactions, and utilizes predetermined criteria to generate a context representation of the active task that are relevant to the context of the active task. The information retrieval system then processes the context representation to generate queries or search terms for conducting an information search. The information retrieval system reorders the terms in a query so that they occur in a meaningful order as they naturally occur in a document or active task being manipulated by the user. Furthermore, the information retrieval system may access a user profile to retrieve information related to the user, and the select information sources or transform search terms based on attributes related to the user, such as the user's occupation, position in a company, major in school, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Kristian Hammond, Jerome Budzik, Lawrence Birnbaum
  • Patent number: 8892417
    Abstract: Artificial intelligence methods and systems for triggering the generation of narratives are disclosed. Specific embodiments relate to real-time evaluation and automated generation of narrative stories based on received data. For example, data can be tested against data representative of a plurality of story angles to determine whether a narrative story incorporating one or more such story angles is to be automatically generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Narrative Science, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Nichols, Michael Justin Smathers, Lawrence Birnbaum, Kristian Hammond, Lawrence E. Adams
  • Patent number: 8886520
    Abstract: Artificial intelligence methods and systems for triggering the generation of narratives are disclosed. Specific embodiments relate to real-time evaluation and automated generation of narrative stories based on received data. For example, data can be tested against data representative of a plurality of story angles to determine whether a narrative story incorporating one or more such story angles is to be automatically generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Narrative Science Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Nichols, Michael Justin Smathers, Lawrence Birnbaum, Kristian Hammond, Lawrence E. Adams
  • Patent number: 8843363
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically generating a narrative story receives data and information pertaining to a domain event. The received data and information and/or one or more derived features are then used to identify a plurality of angles for the narrative story. The plurality of angles is then filtered, for example through use of parameters that specify a focus for the narrative story, length of the narrative story, etc. Points associated with the filtered plurality of angles are then assembled and the narrative story is rendered using the filtered plurality of angles and the assembled points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Narrative Science Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Birnbaum, Kristian J. Hammond, Nicholas D. Allen, John R. Templon
  • Publication number: 20140257795
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods and computer readable storage media for determining tags or labels from natural language expressions expressing a preference or choice, determining attributes from natural language expressions and other data, and predicting preferences from natural language expressions and other data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Birnbaum, Shawn O'Banion
  • Publication number: 20140222796
    Abstract: An information retrieval system for automatically retrieving information related to the context of an active task being manipulated by a user. The system observes the operation of the active task and user interactions, and utilizes predetermined criteria to generate context representation of the active task that are relevant to the context of the active task. The information retrieval system then processes the context representation to generate queries or search terms for conducting an information search. The information retrieval system determines the relevance of a word to the context by utilizing an adaptive weighting system. The information retrieval system assigns varying weights to different attributes of a word and calculates an accumulated weight of the word by accumulating all weights assigned to the word. The attributes may include word size, style, location of the word, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Kristian Hammond, Jerome Budzik, Lawrence Birnbaum
  • Publication number: 20140222795
    Abstract: An information retrieval system for automatically retrieving information related to the context of an active task being manipulated by a user. The system observes the operation of the active task and user interactions, and utilizes predetermined criteria to generate context representation of the active task that are relevant to the context of the active task. The information retrieval system then processes the context representation to generate queries or search terms for conducting an information search. The information retrieval system determines the relevance of a word to the context by utilizing an adaptive weighting system. The information retrieval system assigns varying weights to different attributes of a word and calculates an accumulated weight of the word by accumulating all weights assigned to the word. The attributes may include word size, style, location of the word, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Kristian Hammond, Jerome Budzik, Lawrence Birnbaum
  • Publication number: 20140222794
    Abstract: An information retrieval system for automatically retrieving information related to the context of an active task being manipulated by a user. The system observes the operation of the active task and user interactions, and utilizes predetermined criteria to generate context representation of the active task that are relevant to the context of the active task. The information retrieval system then processes the context representation to generate queries or search terms for conducting an information search. The information retrieval system determines the relevance of a word to the context by utilizing an adaptive weighting system. The information retrieval system assigns varying weights to different attributes of a word and calculates an accumulated weight of the word by accumulating all weights assigned to the word. The attributes may include word size, style, location of the word, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Kristian Hammond, Jerome Budzik, Lawrence Birnbaum
  • Publication number: 20140222808
    Abstract: An information retrieval system for automatically retrieving information related to the context of an active task being manipulated by a user. The system observes the operation of the active task and user interactions, and utilizes predetermined criteria to generate context representation of the active task that are relevant to the context of the active task. The information retrieval system then processes the context representation to generate queries or search terms for conducting an information search. The information retrieval system determines the relevance of a word to the context by utilizing an adaptive weighting system. The information retrieval system assigns varying weights to different attributes of a word and calculates an accumulated weight of the word by accumulating all weights assigned to the word. The attributes may include word size, style, location of the word, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Kristian Hammond, Jerome Budzik, Lawrence Birnbaum
  • Patent number: 8775161
    Abstract: Artificial intelligence methods and systems for triggering the generation of narratives are disclosed. Specific embodiments relate to real-time evaluation and automated generation of narrative stories based on received data. For example, data can be tested against data representative of a plurality of story angles to determine whether a narrative story incorporating one or more such story angles is to be automatically generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Narrative Science Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Nichols, Michael Justin Smathers, Lawrence Birnbaum, Kristian Hammond, Lawrence E. Adams
  • Patent number: 8725725
    Abstract: An information retrieval system for automatically retrieving information related to the context of an active task being manipulated by a user. The system observes the operation of the active task and user interactions, and utilizes predetermined criteria to generate context representation of the active task that are relevant to the context of the active task. The information retrieval system then processes the context representation to generate queries or search terms for conducting an information search. The information retrieval system determines the relevance of a word to the context by utilizing an adaptive weighting system. The information retrieval system assigns varying weights to different attributes of a word and calculates an accumulated weight of the word by accumulating all weights assigned to the word. The attributes may include word size, style, location of the word, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignees: Northwestern University, Perfect Market, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristian Hammond, Jerome Louis Budzik, Lawrence Birnbaum
  • Patent number: 8688434
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically generating a narrative story receives data and information pertaining to a domain event. The received data and information and/or one or more derived features are then used to identify a plurality of angles for the narrative story. The plurality of angles is then filtered, for example through use of parameters that specify a focus for the narrative story, length of the narrative story, etc. Points associated with the filtered plurality of angles are then assembled and the narrative story is rendered using the filtered plurality of angles and the assembled points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Narrative Science Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Birnbaum, Kristian J. Hammond, Nicholas D. Allen, John R. Templon
  • Publication number: 20140025690
    Abstract: A relevance of a content item to an event is determined. A user rating of the content item is received. A ranking of the content item is determined with respect to the event, relative to one or more other content items associated with the event based at least in part on the relevance and the user rating. In some embodiments, the ranking is determined based at least in part on a sentiment score associated with the content item. A ranking algorithm provides a novel method for retrieving, scoring, ranking, and presenting content related to an event based on a combination of scoring contributions such as user rating, relevance, and sentiment. Embodiments provide users with the most relevant, engaging, and informative content concerning events of interest to them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: PulsePoint, Inc.
    Inventors: Amra Q. Tareen, Erik Sundelof, Lawrence A. Birnbaum, Kristian J. Hammond, Sanjay C. Sood