Patents by Inventor Christopher M. Nolan

Christopher M. Nolan 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: 11762890
    Abstract: A question answering (QA) system comprising memory for storing instructions, and a processor configured to execute the instructions to ingest source documents that include structured data and unstructured data to create a knowledge base, wherein the unstructured data includes table data; create table annotations to represent the table data; store the ingested structured data, unstructured data, and the table annotations in the knowledge base; and determine answers to questions using the knowledge base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Octavian F. Filoti, Christopher M. Nolan, Chengmin Ding, Renee F. Decker, Elinna Shek, Stanley J. Vernier
  • Publication number: 20210034987
    Abstract: A method generates a complex response to a question in a question answering system. A core knowledge database stores essential annotations associated with term spans from an original text document. One or more auxiliary knowledge databases store non-essential annotations for the term spans from the original text document. One or more processors establish links among the core knowledge database and the one or more auxiliary knowledge databases by using parallel fields for corresponding term spans, where the parallel fields provide positional term span location information for correlating the essential annotations to the non-essential annotations. The processor(s) receive a question from a question answering system, and then, using the correlated essential annotations and non-essential annotations, fetch term spans that answer the question in a complex response, generate the complex response by using the fetched term spans, and then return the complex response to the question answering system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: OCTAVIAN F. FILOTI, CHRISTOPHER M. NOLAN
  • Patent number: 10747839
    Abstract: Embodiments may provide a computer implemented method in a data processing system comprising a processor and a memory, the memory comprising instructions that are executed by the processor to cause the processor to implement a system for bookmarking, the method comprising: receiving, by the processor, at least one search query from a user; returning, by the processor, a set of search results and a search score for each search result to the user; recording, by the processor, behavior of the user with respect to the search results; selecting, by the processor, at least one search result based on recorded behavior and the search score; determining, by the processor, at least one topic for the at least one selected search result; and generating, by the processor, a bookmark for each selected search result, under the at least one topic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Murdock, Sujoy Roy, Radha Mohan De, Nisarga Markandaiah, Christopher M. Nolan
  • Publication number: 20200104414
    Abstract: A question answering (QA) system comprising memory for storing instructions, and a processor configured to execute the instructions to ingest source documents that include structured data and unstructured data to create a knowledge base, wherein the unstructured data includes table data; create table annotations to represent the table data; store the ingested structured data, unstructured data, and the table annotations in the knowledge base; and determine answers to questions using the knowledge base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Octavian F. Filoti, Christopher M. Nolan, Chengmin Ding, Renee F. Decker, Elinna Shek, Stanley J. Vernier
  • Publication number: 20190340302
    Abstract: Embodiments may provide a computer implemented method in a data processing system comprising a processor and a memory, the memory comprising instructions that are executed by the processor to cause the processor to implement a system for bookmarking, the method comprising: receiving, by the processor, at least one search query from a user; returning, by the processor, a set of search results and a search score for each search result to the user; recording, by the processor, behavior of the user with respect to the search results; selecting, by the processor, at least one search result based on recorded behavior and the search score; determining, by the processor, at least one topic for the at least one selected search result; and generating, by the processor, a bookmark for each selected search result, under the at least one topic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: James W. Murdock, Sujoy Roy, Radha Mohan De, Nisarga Markandaiah, Christopher M. Nolan
  • Patent number: 10354078
    Abstract: An approach is provided in which a knowledge manager generates a knowledge structure that includes security annotation tokens and term tokens. Each of the security annotation tokens are stored in a parallel field and align to at least one of the term tokens. The knowledge manager matches security policies corresponding to a search request to one or more of the security annotation tokens and, in turn, generates search results based upon obfuscation of one or more of the term tokens aligned to the matched security annotation tokens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bridget B. Beamon, Bradley M. Debroni, Octavian F. Filoti, Bryan J. Kyle, Christopher M. Nolan
  • Patent number: 10083398
    Abstract: An approach is provided in which a knowledge manager generates term tokens from terms included in an original text stream, and generates annotation tokens with corresponding term location information. In turn, the knowledge manager generates a knowledge structure that indexes the term tokens into original text fields and indexes the annotation tokens into parallel fields that align to the original text fields based upon the term location information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kay Mueller, Christopher M. Nolan, William G. Visotski, David E. Wilson
  • Patent number: 9904674
    Abstract: An approach is provided in which a knowledge manager generates syntactic annotation tokens that correspond to syntactic relationships between terms included in a source document. The knowledge manager creates a knowledge structure that stores the syntactic annotation tokens in parallel fields and stores the source document terms in original text fields, which align to the parallel fields. In turn, the knowledge manager utilizes the knowledge structure to generate answers to questions based upon the syntactic annotation tokens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen A. Boxwell, Christopher M. Nolan, William G. Visotski, David E. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20180032742
    Abstract: An approach is provided in which a knowledge manager generates a knowledge structure that includes security annotation tokens and term tokens. Each of the security annotation tokens are stored in a parallel field and align to at least one of the term tokens. The knowledge manager matches security policies corresponding to a search request to one or more of the security annotation tokens and, in turn, generates search results based upon obfuscation of one or more of the term tokens aligned to the matched security annotation tokens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Bridget B. Beamon, Bradley M. Debroni, Octavian F. Filoti, Bryan J. Kyle, Christopher M. Nolan
  • Patent number: 9881166
    Abstract: An approach is provided in which a knowledge manager generates a knowledge structure that includes security annotation tokens and term tokens. Each of the security annotation tokens are stored in a parallel field and align to at least one of the term tokens. The knowledge manager matches security policies corresponding to a search request to one or more of the security annotation tokens and, in turn, generates search results based upon obfuscation of one or more of the term tokens aligned to the matched security annotation tokens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bridget B. Beamon, Bradley M. Debroni, Octavian F. Filoti, Bryan J. Kyle, Christopher M. Nolan
  • Patent number: 9875364
    Abstract: An approach is provided in which a knowledge manager generates a knowledge structure that includes security annotation tokens and term tokens. Each of the security annotation tokens are stored in a parallel field and align to at least one of the term tokens. The knowledge manager matches security policies corresponding to a search request to one or more of the security annotation tokens and, in turn, generates search results based upon obfuscation of one or more of the term tokens aligned to the matched security annotation tokens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bridget B. Beamon, Bradley M. Debroni, Octavian F. Filoti, Bryan J. Kyle, Christopher M. Nolan
  • Patent number: 9792280
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for performing context based synonym filtering for natural language processing. Content is parsed into one or more conceptual units, wherein each conceptual unit comprises a portion of text of the content that is associated with a single concept. For each conceptual unit, a term in the conceptual unit is identified that has a synonym to be utilized during natural language processing of the content. A first measure of relatedness of the term to at least one other term in the conceptual unit is determined. A second measure of relatedness of the synonym of the term to the at least one other term in the conceptual unit is determined. A determination whether or not to utilize the synonym when performing natural language processing on the conceptual unit is made based on the first and second measures of relatedness and natural language processing on the content is performed accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kay Mueller, Christopher M. Nolan, William G. Visotski, David E. Wilson
  • Patent number: 9734238
    Abstract: According to an aspect, a question answering computer system determines a set of search terms for a given question. A plurality of passages that each includes at least one search term in the set of search terms is identified in response to a search of a document for search terms in the set of search terms. A passage from the plurality of passages is selected. A context based score of the selected passage that indicates the likelihood that the selected passage contains an answer to the question is generated based on criteria that specify a relationship among the set of search terms, content of the passage, and content of at least one other passage in the plurality of passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher M. Nolan, William G. Visotski, David E. Wilson, Robert L. Yates
  • Patent number: 9720905
    Abstract: An approach is provided in which a knowledge manager generates syntactic annotation tokens that correspond to syntactic relationships between terms included in a source document. The knowledge manager creates a knowledge structure that stores the syntactic annotation tokens in parallel fields and stores the source document terms in original text fields, which align to the parallel fields. In turn, the knowledge manager utilizes the knowledge structure to generate answers to questions based upon the syntactic annotation tokens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen A. Boxwell, Christopher M. Nolan, William G. Visotski, David E. Wilson
  • Patent number: 9613133
    Abstract: According to an aspect, a question answering computer system determines a set of search terms for a given question. A plurality of passages that each includes at least one search term in the set of search terms is identified in response to a search of a document for search terms in the set of search terms. A passage from the plurality of passages is selected. A context based score of the selected passage that indicates the likelihood that the selected passage contains an answer to the question is generated based on criteria that specify a relationship among the set of search terms, content of the passage, and content of at least one other passage in the plurality of passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher M. Nolan, William G. Visotski, David E. Wilson, Robert L. Yates
  • Publication number: 20170068726
    Abstract: According to an aspect, a question answering computer system determines a set of search terms for a given question. A plurality of passages that each includes at least one search term in the set of search terms is identified in response to a search of a document for search terms in the set of search terms. A passage from the plurality of passages is selected. A context based score of the selected passage that indicates the likelihood that the selected passage contains an answer to the question is generated based on criteria that specify a relationship among the set of search terms, content of the passage, and content of at least one other passage in the plurality of passages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher M. Nolan, William G. Visotski, David E. Wilson, Robert L. Yates
  • Patent number: 9529894
    Abstract: According to an aspect, a question answering computer system determines a set of search terms for a given question. A plurality of passages that each includes at least one search term in the set of search terms is identified in response to a search of a document for search terms in the set of search terms. A passage from the plurality of passages is selected. A context based score of the selected passage that indicates the likelihood that the selected passage contains an answer to the question is generated based on criteria that specify a relationship among the set of search terms, content of the passage, and content of at least one other passage in the plurality of passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher M. Nolan, William G. Visotski, David E. Wilson, Robert L. Yates
  • Publication number: 20160371247
    Abstract: An approach is provided in which a knowledge manager generates syntactic annotation tokens that correspond to syntactic relationships between terms included in a source document. The knowledge manager creates a knowledge structure that stores the syntactic annotation tokens in parallel fields and stores the source document terms in original text fields, which align to the parallel fields. In turn, the knowledge manager utilizes the knowledge structure to generate answers to questions based upon the syntactic annotation tokens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Stephen A. Boxwell, Christopher M. Nolan, William G. Visotski, David E. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20160371253
    Abstract: An approach is provided in which a knowledge manager generates syntactic annotation tokens that correspond to syntactic relationships between terms included in a source document. The knowledge manager creates a knowledge structure that stores the syntactic annotation tokens in parallel fields and stores the source document terms in original text fields, which align to the parallel fields. In turn, the knowledge manager utilizes the knowledge structure to generate answers to questions based upon the syntactic annotation tokens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Stephen A. Boxwell, Christopher M. Nolan, William G. Visotski, David E. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20160308902
    Abstract: An approach is provided in which a knowledge manager generates a knowledge structure that includes security annotation tokens and term tokens. Each of the security annotation tokens are stored in a parallel field and align to at least one of the term tokens. The knowledge manager matches security policies corresponding to a search request to one or more of the security annotation tokens and, in turn, generates search results based upon obfuscation of one or more of the term tokens aligned to the matched security annotation tokens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Bridget B. Beamon, Bradley M. Debroni, Octavian F. Filoti, Bryan J. Kyle, Christopher M. Nolan