Natural Language Query Interface (epo) Patents (Class 707/E17.015)
  • Publication number: 20090216752
    Abstract: A search system can include a server, a token assignment unit for assigning types of tokens based on different kinds of character string analysis methods, an index generating unit for generating an index list that associates the tokens assigned with the token assignment unit, a type identification value for identifying a type of the character string analysis, and information, a search unit that receives a search word for referencing the information to combine types of search tokens generated from the search word to generate a single search command for parallel inquiry of the information to search for the information, and a search result generating unit for displaying information extracted in relation to the search word through parallel inquiry with the search unit and search tokens so as to identify the tokens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: FUMIHIKO TERUI, SEIJI HAMADA
  • Publication number: 20090210411
    Abstract: A user speech analyzing component poses, to a user, question sentences for respective ones of a plurality of attributes, and analyzes an attribute value for each of the attributes from an answer sentence from the user to the sentence question. A user data holding component, as a result of analysis, holds user data that allows the plurality of attributes, and respective user attribute values for the attributes to correspond to one another. A matching component, when an acquisition ratio of the attribute values from the user with respect to all of the attributes is a predetermined value or greater, selects at least one target data candidate that matches each of the attributes and each of the attribute values of the user data, from a plurality of target data. A dialogue control component outputs each of the target data candidates selected, to the user's side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiki Murata, Mihoko Kitamura, Tatsuya Sukehiro, Takeshi Yamamoto, Tadashi Fukushima, Sayori Shimohata, Atsushi Ikeno
  • Publication number: 20090210412
    Abstract: A system and method for processing a plurality of data to identify and search words contained with the plurality of data, wherein prior knowledge of the data format is unknown, is provided. The method includes identifying words within the data, wherein indentifying includes, processing the data to identify words, prior to searching. The method also includes storing the words in a predetermined manner and searching the words, wherein searching includes searching the words responsive to at least one search term to identify match results and processing the match results to at least one of save the match results to a file and display the match results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Brian Oliver, Shawn Terry
  • Publication number: 20090204605
    Abstract: A method and system for searching for information contained in a database of documents each includes an offline part and an online part. The offline part includes predicting, in a first computer process, semantic data for sentences of the documents contained in the database and storing this data in a database. The online part includes querying the database for information with a semantically-sensitive query, predicting, in a real time computer process, semantic data for the query, and determining, in a second computer process, a matching score against all the documents in the database, which incorporates the semantic data for the sentences and the query.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: NEC LABORATORIES AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Bing Bai, Jason Weston, Ronan Collobert
  • Publication number: 20090193003
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which a cross-language search can be performed. A search query is received in a first language. A translated search query of the search query is obtained and evaluated to determine whether it is a candidate for cross-language searching. Upon identifying a candidate, a search can be performed using the translated search query to generate search results relevant to the translated search query.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Maureen Heymans, Alexandre Kojoukhov, Hui Tan, Sha-Mayn Teh, Jeffrey Chin
  • Publication number: 20090193022
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of realizing an associative memory capable of storing a set of documents and retrieving one or more stored documents similar to an inputted query document, said method comprising: coding each document or a part of it through a corresponding feature vector consisting of a series of bits which respectively code for the presence or absence of certain features in said document; arranging the feature vectors in a matrix; generating a query feature vector based on the query document and, according to the rules used for generating the feature vectors corresponding to the stored documents such that the query vector corresponds in its length to the width of the matrix; storing the matrix column-wise; for those columns of the matrix where the query vector indicates the presence of a feature, bitwise performing one or more of preferably hardware supported logical operations between the columns of the matrix to obtain one or more, additional result columns coding for a similarity measure bet
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: BDGB ENTERPRISE SOFTWARE S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Grannady Lapir, Harry Urbshat
  • Publication number: 20090187425
    Abstract: The International market is a vital horizon for todays and future strategies since it provides a robust and competitive arena for expanding business. The focus of the forgoing is to deploy a suite of decision search tools which will live on the phone network and the internet. The prime focus is to mainstream an electronic data record and medical diagnostic application [telephone/internet deployment architecture] which will address one of the most threatening problems in America “Mainstreaming of remote Health Care Services Access”. These tools will primarily be used to determine the severity of health condition providing Doctor Collaboration and health services routing. We spend 1.6 trillion dollars in health care cost and have not realized full efficiency primarily based on access, infrastructure, doctor shortage, rising prices and technology issues. The theme here involves deploying a health care international alliance which will not only address national but international health care needs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventor: Arthur Solomon Thompson
  • Publication number: 20090182551
    Abstract: A system that automatically discerning the best combinations of a user query's geographical origin and language, retrieving and displaying search results accordingly. A record on the system are associated with a geographic location and a language. A record could be composed of two or more records, each of which associates with a location and a language. A record could be in rich media format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: PLATFORMATION, INC.
    Inventor: Yu Cao
  • Publication number: 20090171654
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods for rendering multilingual information encoded in human-readable and machine-readable format on an output device. A typical system according to the present invention can include a system data store (SDS) and a system processor in communication with the SDS. A search term is entered, typically by a user. A database of multilingual information in the SDS is accessed based upon the entered search term to retrieve context specific translation information. In some instance, a selection is made among multiple potential translations within the translation information. At least a portion of the translation information is provided in a format compatible with a selected output device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventor: Wanda Hudgins Spain
  • Publication number: 20090171912
    Abstract: The invention compares a user-generated inquiry to a known data source in order to present a user with a choice of valid natural language inquiries. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Patrick Nash, Ryan Scott Breidenbach, Roderick F. Coffin, III, Kelly Christopher Fox, Ben Rady, Daniel L. James, Paul Randolph Holser, JR., Ruby Bailey, Craig Walls, Ravi Varanasi
  • Publication number: 20090171923
    Abstract: The invention defines a domain specific concept model that is flexible, intuitive, and which easily integrates into disparate, but similarly architected, domain-specific databases. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Patrick Nash, Ryan Scott Breidenbach, Roderick F. Coffin, III, Kelly Christopher Fox, Ben Rady, Daniel L. James, Paul Randolph Holser, JR., Ruby Bailey, Craig Walls
  • Publication number: 20090171924
    Abstract: The invention builds a natural-language query by associating a auto-complete menu system with a domain-specific concept model, generating a command displayed in a list of proper commands, in a auto-complete fashion to the user (the list of proper commands comprising all elements of a set of proper commands), detecting a command choice of the user, and displaying the command choice in the entry area upon determining that the command choice is a proper command, and generating a target concept in a similar manner. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Patrick Nash, Ryan Scott Breidenbach, Roderick F. Coffin, III, Kelly Christopher Fox, Ben Rady, Daniel L. James, Paul Randolph Holser, JR., Ruby Bailey, Craig Walls
  • Publication number: 20090171908
    Abstract: The invention utilizes a known syntax and concept model to enable a user to make a reliable and accurate database query with words that more closely resemble the user's natural language and less like a structured database query. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Patrick Nash, Ryan Scott Breidenbach, Roderick F. Coffin, III, Kelly Christopher Fox, Ben Rady, Daniel L. James, Paul Randolph Holser, JR., Ruby Bailey, Craig Walls
  • Publication number: 20090157672
    Abstract: In a method for memory augmentation, a contextual factor is detected for a user, a query is selected for a database based upon the contextual factor, a query result is received with one or more reminders relevant to the user and a reminder has information relevant to at least one of recalling and reinforcing a memory, any number of reminders are selected from the query result based upon an estimation of information beneficial for the user to receive, and sending information from the selected reminders for presentation on a communication channel with at least one of the information for presentation and the communication channel is selected based upon at least one of a situation and a state for the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventor: Sunil Vemuri
  • Publication number: 20090157669
    Abstract: Facilitating a user determination of an exclusion keyword in order to specify an efficient exclusion of an unwanted piece of data when the user narrows searching objects. Exclusion is accomplished in a system having a searching object data storage for storing pieces of searching object data, a searcher for performing a primary narrowing of the search, a common keyword extractor for extracting the common keywords associated with a piece of data, an input/output device for passing a selected keyword selected the extracted common keywords while receiving and displaying a result from an exclusion efficiency calculator. The exclusion efficiency calculator calculates exclusion efficiency and indicates a level of exclusion efficiency of data that is not associated with a selected keyword for an individual common keyword.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasutomo NAKAYAMA, Shinkichi Hamada, Yuko Ito
  • Publication number: 20090157642
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating search results including searching by subdomain and providing sponsored results by subdomain is provided. A search system according to embodiments of the present invention analyzes search queries to determine if they are to be routed to subdomains and presents results include sponsored hits sponsored on a subdomain by subdomain basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Ali Diab, Scott A. Gatz, Shyam Kapur, David Ku, Chuck Kung, Phu Hoang, Qi Lu, Lynne Pogue, Yuan Kui Shen, Norman Shi, Thai Tran, Eckart Walther, Jeff Weiner
  • Publication number: 20090148047
    Abstract: [Problem] To reduce omission of searched results and improve search efficiency in indexing by means of telop and another text information attached to a video. [Solving Means] A video indexing system has an index generating unit which generate an index, an index accumulating unit which accumulates the index together with attached information such as an index position, an image feature generating unit which generates an image feature, an image feature accumulating unit which accumulates the image feature together with the attached information such as the position, and an image feature checking unit which compares the image feature with past image features, and, when matched, outputs the index at the time of outputting the corresponding past image feature as a current index.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Noboru Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20090150388
    Abstract: Methods, techniques, and systems for using natural language processing to recommend related content to an associated text segment or document. Example embodiments provide a NLP-based content recommender (“NCR”) which uses NLP-based search techniques, potentially in conjunction with context or other related information, to locate and provide content related to entities that are recognized in the associated material. NCRs may be embedded as widgets, for example on Web pages to assist users in their perusal and search for information, provided by means of browser plug-ins or other application plug-ins, provided in libraries or in standalone environments, or otherwise integrated into other code, programs, or devices. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Neil Roseman, Jisheng Liang, Krzysztof Koperski, Korina J. Stark, Navdeep S. Dhillon, Diana J. Schwend, Jose Hernando
  • Publication number: 20090144271
    Abstract: A system for guiding a search for information is presented. The system comprises a user interface that accepts a phrase and receives at least one suggestion based at least in part on the phrase. The system also includes a phrase suggestion engine that matches the phrase with the at least one suggestion. Methods of using the system are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: MATTHEW R. RICHARDSON, Robert J. Ragno
  • Publication number: 20090138454
    Abstract: Technologies are described herein for generating a semantic translation rule to support natural language search. In one method, a first expression and a second expression are received. A first representation is generated based on the first expression, and a second representation is generated based on the second expression. Aligned pairs of a first term in the first representation and a second term in the second representation are determined. For each aligned pair, the first term and the second term are replaced with a variable associated with the aligned pair. Word facts that occur in both the first representation and the second representation are removed from the first representation and the second representation. The remaining word facts in the first representation are replaced with a broader representation of the word facts. The translation rule including the first representation, an operator, and the second semantic representation is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: POWERSET, INC.
    Inventors: Emmanuel Rayner, Richard Crouch, Hannah Copperman, Giovanni Lorenzo Thione, Martin Henk Van den Berg
  • Publication number: 20090132506
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for integrating a visual query interface and a natural language interface. The disclosed interface embeds a first of the visual query interface and the natural language interface into a second of the visual query interface and the natural language interface. The disclosed interface can also receives one or more natural language expressions in the natural language interface and one or more visual query expressions in the visual query interface in a same search turn. The disclosed interface can also receive a first query comprised of a first of a natural language query and a visual query; process the first query; and creates a substantially equivalent query to the first query in a second of the natural language query and the visual query The disclosed interface can process a natural language query to determine if a portion of the natural language query is not understood; and convert at least a portion of the natural language query to a visual query.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Keith C. Houck, Peter Kissa, Shimei Pan, Michelle X. Zhou
  • Publication number: 20090132521
    Abstract: A role tree having nodes corresponding to semantic roles in a hierarchy is defined. A posting list is generated for each association of a term and a semantic role in the hierarchy. The posting lists are stored contiguously on a physical storage medium such that a subtree of the hierarchy of semantic roles can be loaded from the storage medium as a single contiguous block. The posting lists for a subtree of the hierarchy are retrieved by obtaining data identifying the beginning location on the physical storage medium of the posting lists for the term at the top of a desired subtree of the hierarchy and data identifying the length of the posting lists of the desired subtree of the hierarchy. A single contiguous block that includes the posting lists for the desired subtree of the hierarchy is then retrieved from the beginning location through the specified length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: POWERSET, INC.
    Inventors: Chad Walters, Giovanni Lorenzo Thione, Barney Pell, Lukas Biewald, Brendan O'Connor
  • Publication number: 20090132528
    Abstract: Semantic Web attributes are transmitted via an electronic message such as an email message. The attributes are extracted from the message by a program agent according to a predetermined plan. The extracted attributes are saved in storage wherein the storage is optionally an annotation store.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Jordi A. Albornoz, Sean J. Martin, Benjamin H. Szekely
  • Publication number: 20090125497
    Abstract: Multi-lingual information retrieval methods and systems are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: EIJ GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Johnson Jiang, Diane Chan
  • Publication number: 20090119268
    Abstract: A method and system for crawling multiple websites containing one or more web pages having information relevant to a particular domain of interest, such as details about local restaurants, extracting content from such websites, such as hours, location and phone number as well as reviews, review dates and other business specific information, and associating the extracted content with a specific business entity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Nagaraju Bandaru, Eric D. Moyer, Shrisha Radhakrishna
  • Publication number: 20090112796
    Abstract: The invention answers a user's information request, stated in the user's natural language, by dynamically retrieving and merging facts and information from disparate and possibly geographically dispersed databases and presenting a single answer to the user. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventor: Marvin Elder
  • Publication number: 20090112720
    Abstract: In a computerized method of identifying and displaying messages containing an identifier, where the messages are privately stored for restricted access by a user, the identifier of a document displayed in a navigation area result window is identified. In addition, the message store is scanned to identify messages containing the identifier and the messages identified as containing the identifier are displayed in a messaging area window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Tyler Close, John Recker, Craig Sayers, Ian R. Robinson
  • Publication number: 20090100056
    Abstract: A method for extracting web information includes: selecting a number of Hypertext Markup Language, HTML, tags as tag ruler elements to generate a tag ruler from an HTML text of a web page according to sequence of the HTML text; matching the HTML text with the tag ruler elements in the tag ruler according to the sequence of the tag ruler elements in the tag ruler, segmenting web information according to matched HTML tags and saving web information segments and location information of HTML tags enclosing the web information segments in the HTML text; and determining location of HTML tags containing web information needed by a user in the HTML text, extracting web information segments corresponding to the web information needed by the user from the saved web information segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Kai Cheng
  • Publication number: 20090094020
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a set of target search terms for a search is received. Candidate terms are selected, where a candidate term is selected to reduce an ontology space of the search. The candidate terms are to a computer to recommend the candidate terms as search terms. In another embodiment, a document stored in one or more tangible media is accessed. A set of target tags for the document is received. Terms are selected, where a term is selected to reduce an ontology space of the document. The terms are sent to a computer to recommend the terms as tags.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: David L. Marvit, Jawahar Jain, Stergios Stergiou, Alex Gilman, B. Thomas Adler, John J. Sidorowich, Albert Reinhardt, Yannis Labrou
  • Publication number: 20090077047
    Abstract: Linguistic analysis is used to identify queries that use different natural language formations to request similar information. Common intent categories are identified for the queries requesting similar information. Intent responses can then be provided that are associated with the identified intent categories. An intent management tool can be used for identifying new intent categories, identifying obsolete intent categories, or refining existing intent categories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: Inquira, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin Riley Cooper, Michael Peter Dukes, Gann Alexander Bierner, Filippo Ferdinando Paulo Beghelli
  • Publication number: 20090077071
    Abstract: Provided is a system and method for context based searching. A participating website may be provided with an interface which allows users to perform searches by indicating keywords to be searched. A search services provider performs a search based on the keywords as well as the context of the participating website. In a further development, the context of the participating website may be determined by deriving one or more context words from the text of the participating website. In a second aspect, a system and method are provided which allow a user to move results in a list of results provided in response to search request. These actions of the user are recorded and saved. The rankings of subsequent searches are based on these recorded actions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: Mainstream Advertising , Inc.
    Inventors: Shahla MISHKANIAN, Nathan Khoshnood, Daniel Kay
  • Publication number: 20090070327
    Abstract: A method for automatically generating regular expressions for relaxed matching of text patterns. A received input phrase expressed in a natural language is determined to be a plain text pattern. The plain text pattern is automatically tokenized, thereby generating a first token list. Rules loaded from a predefined rule set are automatically applied to the first token list in an order specified by the predefined rule set to automatically modify a token list by applying a replace word, split-at-character or whitespace operator. The modified token list is automatically converted into a regular expression that matches the plain text pattern and one or more variations of the plain text pattern. A utilization of the regular expression for an information extraction facilitates a recall and a precision of the information extraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Alexander Stephan Loeser, Sriram Raghavan, Shivakumar Vaithyanathan
  • Publication number: 20090070326
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for implementing searches using contextual information associated with a Web page (or other document) that a user is viewing when a query is entered. The page includes a contextual search interface that has an associated context vector representing content of the page. When the user submits a search query via the contextual search interface, the query and the context vector are both provided to the query processor and used in responding to the query.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventor: Reiner Kraft
  • Publication number: 20090070311
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods, and computer readable media for answers to natural language questions. The method embodiment comprises training a lexical association model between a question and a first set of one or more possible answers, training a semantic association model between a question and a second set of one or more possible answers, receiving a user question containing at least one query word, parsing the user question syntactically and semantically, formulating a query from the parsed user question containing at least one query word, expanding the query based on the lexical association model and the semantic association model, weighting the at least one query word according to its importance when answering the user question, and returning an answer based on the weighted at least one query word, the lexical association model, and the semantic association model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: AT&T Corp.
    Inventor: Junlan Feng
  • Publication number: 20090070328
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically generating regular expressions for relaxed matching of text patterns. A received input phrase expressed in a natural language is determined to be a plain text pattern. The plain text pattern is automatically tokenized, thereby generating a first token list. Rules loaded from a predefined rule set are automatically applied to the first token list to automatically generate a modified token list. The order of the rules being applied to the first token list is specified by the rule set. The modified token list is automatically converted into a regular expression that matches the plain text pattern and one or more variations of the plain text pattern. A utilization of the regular expression for an information extraction facilitates a recall and a precision of the information extraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Alexander Stephan Loeser, Sriram Raghavan, Shivakumar Vaithyanathan
  • Publication number: 20090070320
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus include presenting an initial set of names to a user. The user selects a set of names from those presented. An Interactive Evolutionary Algorithm (IEA) extracts features of each selected name from a database of names and features to form a feature set. The IEA forms a set of match features that are chosen from the feature set according to a priority function and/or weighting of the features, either of which may vary in succeeding iterations. The IEA searches the database to obtain a candidate set of names, where each name has features matching the match features. One or more names is chosen from the candidate set and added into a presentation set of names. The IEA may repeat the formation of the match features, candidate set, and selection of one or more names from the candidate set until the new presentation set is complete.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: Icosystem Corporation
    Inventors: Julien Budynek, Una-May O'Reilly, Daphna Buchsbaum, Pablo Funes, Eric Bonabeau, Siegfried Martens
  • Publication number: 20090070298
    Abstract: Tools and techniques are described that relate to iterators for applying term occurrence-level constraints in natural language searching. These tools may receive a natural language input query, and define term occurrence-level constraints applicable to the input query. The methods may also identify facts requested in the input query, and may instantiate an iterator to traverse a fact index to identify candidate facts responsive to the input query. This iterator may traverse through at least a portion of the fact index. The methods may receive candidate facts from this iterator, with these candidate facts including terms, referred to as term-level occurrences. The methods may apply the term occurrence-level constraints to the term-level occurrences. The methods may select the candidate fact for inclusion in search results for the input query, based at least in part on applying the term occurrence-level constraint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: POWERSET, INC.
    Inventors: Giovanni Lorenzo Thione, Barney Pell, Chad Walters, Richard Crouch
  • Publication number: 20090063473
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer readable media for finding documents in a data store that match a natural language query submitted by a user are provided. The documents and queries are matched by determining that words within the query have the same relationship to each other as the same words in the document. Documents are semantically analyzed and words in the document are indexed along with the role the word plays in a sentence. The initial semantic role may be generalized using a role hierarchy and stored in the index along with the original role. A similar analysis may be used with the search query to find words used in the same role in both the query and the document.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Powerset, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin HENK VAN DEN BERG, Richard S. CROUCH, Giovanni L. THIONE, Chad P. WALTERS
  • Publication number: 20090063440
    Abstract: A computer command panel and database system that is capable of receiving input in natural language either through commands or questions and returning the user's request. Input is separated into sequences of word groups to derive the data location, action and subjects where instruction sets are created and put through a command interpreter to deliver the user's request. Data is stored in a hierarchical data model that supports natural language querying. Network communication is possible to a remote server making extended data resources available via the Internet allowing a method to store as well as retrieve data. The invention supports a visual interface and keyboard, mouse, touch and microphone navigation to view data and to activate applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: ATC Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Chacon
  • Publication number: 20090055381
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, to identify topic words in a document corpus that includes topic documents related to a topic are disclosed. A reference topic word divergence value based on the document corpus and the topic document corpus is determined. A candidate topic word divergence value for a candidate topic word is determined based on the document corpus and the topic document corpus. The candidate topic word is determined to be a topic word if the candidate topic word divergence value is greater than the reference topic word divergence value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Jun Wu, Tang Xi Liu, Feng Hong, Yonggang Wang, Bo Yang, Lei Zhang
  • Publication number: 20090052635
    Abstract: A method for providing access to data via a voice interface. In one embodiment, the system includes a voice recognition unit and a speech processing server that work together to enable users to interact with the system using voice commands guided by navigation context sensitive voice prompts, and provide user-requested data in a verbalized format back to the users. Digitized voice waveform data are processed to determine the voice commands of the user. The system also uses a “grammar” that enables users to retrieve data using intuitive natural language speech queries. In response to such a query, a corresponding data query is generated by the system to retrieve one or more data sets corresponding to the query. The user is then enabled to browse the data that are returned through voice command navigation, wherein the system “reads” the data back to the user using text-to-speech (TTS) conversion and system prompts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Shannon Jones, Richard Gorman, Jesse Ambrose, Joseph Harb, Chris Haven
  • Publication number: 20090049029
    Abstract: A method and a system of detecting a keyword whose input number is rapidly increased in real time which can estimate a search number at a future point in time by reflecting an input trend of the keyword in real time at a present point in time and can immediately detect the keyword whose input number is rapidly increased according to a criterion value calculated by the estimated search number. Specifically, the method and system of detecting a keyword whose input number is rapidly increased in real time which can estimate the search number for each keyword at the future point in time in real time and can immediately detect the keyword whose input number is rapidly increased according to a criterion value calculated by the estimated search number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: Jaekeol Choi, Youngkwang Park, Minjeong Roh, Sangyong Bae
  • Publication number: 20090049040
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally related to semantic search and service metadata repositories, particularly with regards to methods and systems for performing a semantic asset search in a service metadata repository. One embodiment includes identifying service metadata assets with similar metadata, relationships, and categorizations to the service metadata assets with the most relevant keywords and identifying service metadata assets have been used in conjunction with the one or more selected service metadata assets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sharon Y. Fay, Jay A. Holmstrom, Bradley Carroll Wright
  • Publication number: 20090037403
    Abstract: A location identification system is described. In various embodiments, the location identification system identifies geographic location information in response to received search queries by processing geographic information to identify spatial or geometric regions, determining region intersection information that identifies spatial relationships between the geometric regions, and building an index of regions of constant attributes by associating intersecting geometric regions. In various embodiments, the location identification system can include a vector database wherein the vector database comprises geometric information including at least (a) spatial information geographically describing items and their locations and (b) textual attributes associated with the items or their locations, and an index of regions of constant attributes wherein the index associates textual attributes with items and their locations so that a proximity of two locations can be identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Joy, Tanuja Joshi, Vibhuti Sengar, Udayan Khurana
  • Publication number: 20090024612
    Abstract: The invention is a method for textual searching of text-based databases including databases of compiled internet content, scientific literature, abstracts for books and articles, newspapers, journals, and the like. Specifically, the algorithm supports searches using full-text or webpage as query and keyword searches allowing multiple entries and an information-content based ranking system (Shannon Information score) that uses p-values to represent the likelihood that a hit is due to random matches. Additionally, users can specify the parameters that determine hits and their ranking with scoring based on phrase matches and sentence similarities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: INFOVELL, INC.
    Inventors: Yuanhua Tang, Qianjin Hu, Yonghong Yang
  • Publication number: 20090024593
    Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for a query predicate generator to construct a database query predicate from received query conditions. A plurality of query conditions are received, wherein each query condition includes a comparison operator and a comparison value for a database attribute, and wherein the comparison operator is capable of comprising matching and non-matching operators. The query conditions are processed to determine at least one logical operator to include between the query conditions. A database query predicate is generated to use in a database query to apply against the database comprising the received query conditions chained using the determined logical operators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas Bradley ALLEN, Barry Mark CACERES, Keith Alan CACERES
  • Publication number: 20090024566
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates distributed processing of database operations. During operation, the system receives a database operation at a distributed command processor, wherein the database operation includes a query language command. Next, the system performs a set of non-data processing operations associated with the database operation to obtain a set of non-data processing results. The system then sends the query language command to a database, which enables the database to execute the query language command to obtain a result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daniel ManHung Wong
  • Publication number: 20090019395
    Abstract: User equipment and/or devices equipped to engage in textual communication sessions also interface to a server. The server maintains a thesaurus bank that includes a variety of different thesauri. When engaging in a textual communication or editing session, the user or the user equipment can request or may automatically receive a relevant thesaurus. As the user enters characters to create a textual entry, the selected thesaurus is searched to identify candidate completions. The user can then select one of several displayed candidate completions. In addition, the user input can also be delivered to the server and used to update the content of the thesauri.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Benny Radom, Ori Zaltzman, Oded Poncz
  • Publication number: 20090019016
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for finding information contained in email, the method including linking a plurality of email databases with a computing resource operated by a primary user, the plurality of email databases including a primary database operated by the primary user and at least one secondary database operated by at least one secondary user. The method also includes determining criteria to be searched in the email databases, requesting permission from the secondary users to search the secondary databases for the criteria, and obtaining permission from the secondary users to search the secondary databases at the discretion decision of the secondary user. The method further includes employing a universal interface adapter to search the email databases, searching for the criteria in the email databases for which the permission was obtained, finding information including the criteria via the searching, and receiving the information at the primary computing resource.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sara H. Basson, Dimitri Kanevsky, Edward E. Kelley, Clifford A. Pickover
  • Publication number: 20090019021
    Abstract: A method for creating an index of network data for a set of message data, the index being arranged for searching the set of message data. A method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes: creating a set of dialogue records, where each the dialogue record is the set of messages corresponding to a dialogue between a sender and recipient pair in a message corpus; —logging each of the set of messages in each corresponding dialogue record; and creating an index of terms from the set of messages, the index being arranged to index each term to each dialogue record in which the message comprising the respective term is logged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventor: Stephen A. Davies