Abstract: Methods and systems for syntactically indexing and searching data sets to achieve more accurate search results are provided. Example embodiments provide a Syntactic Query Engine (“SQE”) that parses, indexes, and stores a data set, as well as processes natural language queries subsequently submitted against the data set. The SQE comprises a Query Preprocessor, a Data Set Preprocessor, a Query Builder, a Data Set Indexer, an Enhanced Natural Language Parser (“ENLP”), a data set repository, and, in some embodiments, a user interface. After preprocessing the data set, the SQE parses the data set and determines the syntactic and grammatical roles of each term to generate enhanced data representations for each object in the data set. The SQE indexes and stores these enhanced data representations in the data set repository. Upon subsequently receiving a query, the SQE parses the query similarly and searches the indexed stored data set to locate data that contains similar terms used in similar grammatical roles.

Abstract: An extension of an inverse inference search engine is disclosed which provides cross language document retrieval, in which the information matrix used as input to the inverse inference engine is organized into rows of blocks corresponding to languages within a predetermined set of natural languages. The information matrix is further organized into two column-wise partitions. The first partition consists of blocks of entries representing fully translated documents, while the second partition is a matrix of blocks of entries representing documents for which translations are not available in all of the predetermined languages. Further in the second partition, entries in blocks outside the main diagonal of blocks are zero. Another disclosed extension to the inverse inference retrieval document retrieval system supports automatic, knowledge based training.

Abstract: A system for image registration and quantitative feature extraction for multiple image sets. The system includes an imaging workstation having a data processor and memory in communication with a database server in communication. The a data processor capable of inputting and outputting data and instructions to peripheral devices and operating pursuant to a software product and accepts instructions from a graphical user interface capable of interfacing with and navigating the imaging software product. The imaging software product is capable of instructing the data processor, to register images, segment images and to extract features from images and provide instructions to store and retrieve one or more registered images, segmented images, quantitative image features and quantitative image data and from the database server.

Abstract: Computer-based methods and systems for automatically determining convergence when registering image sets are provided. Example embodiments provide an Enhanced Image Registration System (EIRS), which includes an Image Comparison Module, a Transformation Optimizer, and a Convergence Calculator. When the EIRS receives two image sets to align, the Image Comparison Module compares two image sets to determine or measure how closely the image sets are aligned. The Transformation Optimizer determines an appropriate transformation to apply to one of the image sets to align it with the reference image set. The Transformation Optimizer then applies the determined transformation. The Convergence Calculator examines one or more points within the transformed image set to determine when convergence is attained.

Abstract: An information retrieval system that deals with the problems of synonymy, polysemy, and retrieval by concept by allowing for a wide margin of uncertainty in the initial choice of keywords in a query. For each input query vector and an information matrix, the disclosed system solves an optimization problem which maximizes the stability of a solution at a given level of misfit. The disclosed system may include a decomposition of the information matrix in terms of orthogonal basis functions. Each basis encodes groups of conceptually related keywords. The bases are arranged in order of decreasing statistical relevance to a query. The disclosed search engine approximates the input query with a weighted sum of the first few bases. Other commercial applications than the disclosed search engine can also be built on the disclosed techniques.

Abstract: Methods and systems for extending keyword searching techniques to syntactically and semantically annotated data are provided. Example embodiments provide a Syntactic Query Engine (“SQE”) that parses, indexes, and stores a data set as an enhanced document index with document terms as well as information pertaining to the grammatical roles of the terms and ontological and other semantic information. In one embodiment, the enhanced document index is a form of term-clause index, that indexes terms and syntactic and semantic annotations at the clause level. The enhanced document index permits the use of a traditional keyword search engine to process relationship queries as well as to process standard document level keyword searches. In one embodiment, the SQE comprises a Query Processor, a Data Set Preprocessor, a Keyword Search Engine, a Data Set Indexer, an Enhanced Natural Language Parser (“ENLP”), a data set repository, and, in some embodiments, a user interface or an application programming interface.

Abstract: A system for internet navigation using soft hyperlinks is disclosed, in connection with an illustrative information retrieval system with which it may be used. The navigation tool provides freedom to move through a collection of electronic documents independent of any hyperlink which has been inserted within an HTML page. A user can click on any term in a document page, not only those that are hyperlinked. For example, when a user clicks on an initial word within the document, the disclosed system employs a search engine in the background to retrieve a list of related terms. In an illustrative embodiment, a compass-like display appears with pointers indicating the first four terms returned by the search engine. These returned terms have the highest degree of correlation with the initial search term in a lexical knowledge base that the search engine constructs automatically.

Abstract: An extension of an inverse inference search engine is disclosed which provides cross language document retrieval, in which the information matrix used as input to the inverse inference engine is organized into rows of blocks corresponding to languages within a predetermined set of natural languages. The information matrix is further organized into two column-wise partitions. The first partition consists of blocks of entries representing fully translated documents, while the second partition is a matrix of blocks of entries representing documents for which translations are not available in all of the predetermined languages. Further in the second partition, entries in blocks outside the main diagonal of blocks are zero. Another disclosed extension to the inverse inference retrieval document retrieval system supports automatic, knowledge based training.

Abstract: Methods and systems for syntactically indexing and searching data sets to achieve more accurate search results are provided. Example embodiments provide a Syntactic Query Engine ("SQE") that parses, indexes, and stores a data set, as well as processes natural language queries subsequently submitted against the data set. The SQE comprises a Query Preprocessor, a Data Set Preprocessor, a Query Builder, a Data Set Indexer, an Enhanced Natural Language Parser ("ENLP"), a data set repository, and, in some embodiments, a user interface. After preprocessing the data set, the SQE parses the data set and determines the syntactic and grammatical roles of each term to generate enhanced data representations for each object in the data set. The SQE indexes and stores these enhanced data representations in the data set repository. Upon subsequently receiving a query, the SQE parses the query similarly and searches the indexed stored data set to locate data that contains similar terms used in similar grammatical roles.

Abstract: An extension of an inverse inference search engine is disclosed which provides cross language document retrieval, in which the information matrix used as input to the inverse inference engine is organized into rows of blocks corresponding to languages within a predetermined set of natural languages. The information matrix is further organized into two column-wise partitions. The first partition consists of blocks of entries representing fully translated documents, while the second partition is a matrix of blocks of entries representing documents for which translations are not available in all of the predetermined languages. Further in the second partition, entries in blocks outside the main diagonal of blocks are zero. Another disclosed extension to the inverse inference retrieval document retrieval system supports automatic, knowledge based training.

Abstract: Methods and systems for syntactically indexing and searching data sets to achieve more accurate search results and for indexing and searching data sets using entity tags alone or in combination therewith are provided. Example embodiments provide a Syntactic Query Engine (“SQE”) that parses, indexes, and stores a data set, as well as processes natural language queries subsequently submitted against the data set. The SQE comprises a Query Preprocessor, a Data Set Preprocessor, a Query Builder, a Data Set Indexer, an Enhanced Natural Language Parser (“ENLP”), a data set repository, and, in some embodiments, a user interface. After preprocessing the data set, the SQE parses the data set according to a variety of levels of parsing and determines as appropriate the entity tags and syntactic and grammatical roles of each term to generate enhanced data representations for each object in the data set. The SQE indexes and stores these enhanced data representations in the data set repository.

Abstract: An information retrieval system that deals with the problems of synonymy, polysemy, and retrieval by concept by allowing for a wide margin of uncertainty in the initial choice of keywords in a query. For each input query vector and an information matrix, the disclosed system solves an optimization problem which maximizes the stability of a solution at a given level of misfit. The disclosed system may include a decomposition of the information matrix in terms of orthogonal basis functions. Each basis encodes groups of conceptually related keywords. The bases are arranged in order of decreasing statistical relevance to a query. The disclosed search engine approximates the input query with a weighted sum of the first few bases. Other commercial applications than the disclosed search engine can also be built on the disclosed techniques.

Abstract: A system for image registration and quantitative feature extraction for multiple image sets. The system includes an imaging workstation having a data processor and memory in communication with a database server in communication. The a data processor capable of inputting and outputting data and instructions to peripheral devices and operating pursuant to a software product and accepts instructions from a graphical user interface capable of interfacing with and navigating the imaging software product. The imaging software product is capable of instructing the data processor, to register images, segment images and to extract features from images and provide instructions to store and retrieve one or more registered images, segmented images, quantitative image features and quantitative image data and from the database server.

Abstract: Methods and systems for mining large data sets using block model averaging techniques are provided. Example embodiments provide a Block Model Averaging System (“BMAS”), which enables users to build/train, test, deploy, and maintain predictive statistical models that can be used to gain knowledge from both static and dynamic data. In one embodiment, the BMAS incrementally builds predictive models from portions (blocks) of input data using block model averaging techniques, determines a voting population of the predictive models to use as components of an ensemble model, generates an ensemble model with these determined components, and deploys the generated ensemble model to input data to derive answers. One technique for determining the voting population is correctness; another is diversity of response.

Abstract: An automated system and method for providing a contest to multiple, geographically dispersed contest participants is disclosed, in which the participants are interconnected by a computer network such as the internet, and in which a contest participant's individual chance of winning the contest is increased in response to the performance of certain actions associated with the contest. The actions provide a contest sponsor with information about the participant, or expose the participant to predefined advertising information. The disclosed system provides feedback to participants regarding their current chances of winning the contest, in response to performance of one or more of the actions associated with the contest.