Abstract: A plurality of constraints associated with conversational steps implemented by a conversation model is extracted from the conversation model. Using the conversational steps and the constraints, a directed graph is constructed, each node in the directed graph representing a conversational step, each directed edge in the directed graph representing a possible execution path from a first conversational step to a second conversational step. An edge in the graph is populated with flow data denoting a probability associated with the edge. By traversing a portion of the graph, an experience preview is generated, the experience preview demonstrating a user experience of a portion of the conversation model.

Abstract: In an approach for a cooperative build and content annotation system for conversational design of virtual assistants, a processor formulates a build context based on a build activity of a user. A processor formulates one or more content queries based on the build context. A processor builds a content index by augmenting a text-search index with a neural Information Retrieval (IR) index. A processor searches the content index using the one or more content queries to identify content relevant to the build context. A processor determines at least one recommendation for the user based on heuristic rules applied to the build context and the identified content, wherein each recommendation is a build suggestion or a content annotation suggestion.

Abstract: In an approach for a cooperative build and content annotation system for conversational design of virtual assistants, a processor formulates a build context based on a build activity of a user. A processor formulates one or more content queries based on the build context. A processor builds a content index by augmenting a text-search index with a neural Information Retrieval (IR) index. A processor searches the content index using the one or more content queries to identify content relevant to the build context. A processor determines at least one recommendation for the user based on heuristic rules applied to the build context and the identified content, wherein each recommendation is a build suggestion or a content annotation suggestion.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for reducing energy use in buildings. A data centre receives source data from one or more building systems and/or one or more external sources. A plurality of energy optimization strategies are applied to at least a subset of the source data to determine a set of proposed output values for each energy optimization strategy, independently of each other, wherein each set of proposed output values includes at least one equipment set point. Conflicts between the sets of proposed output values are resolved, to generate a set of harmonized output values. The set of harmonized output values is transmitted to the one or more building control systems through one or more gateway devices.

Abstract: Aspects include generation of automated response follow-up. A response to a question from a user is received at a response follow-up system. The response follow-up system analyzes the response using natural language processing to identify one or more response terms. The response follow-up system generates one or more follow-up questions based on the one or more response terms. Based on the response, one or more follow-up responses to the one or more follow-up questions are pre-fetched from one or more content provider systems including one or more content servers, where a question answering system including the response follow-up system is communicatively coupled to the one or more content provider systems through a network. The response follow-up system modifies an aspect of a user interface displayed to the user based on the one or more follow-up questions and the one or more follow-up responses.

Abstract: A system configured to provide dynamic help support in a chatbot application. The system includes memory for storing instructions, and a processor configured to execute the instructions to create a chatbot application using a chatbot development platform, wherein the chatbot application implements a dynamic user-support capability of the chatbot development platform; determine that a user of the chatbot application requires user assistance in interacting with the chatbot application; and provide the user with intent-examples using the dynamic user-support capability of the chatbot development platform.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided in a data processing system comprising at least one processor and at least one memory, the at least one memory comprising instructions which are executed by the at least one processor and configure the processor to implement a conversation scope system, comprising a conversation scope controller and a conversation scope extractor, for progressively extending conversation scope in a multi-user messaging platform. The conversation scope controller captures an utterance input by a user into a chat platform. The conversation scope extractor determines a conversation scope for the utterance based on at least one entity extracted from the entity. The conversation scope controller directs the utterance to a messaging chat room based on the determined conversation scope.

Abstract: Aspects include engaging a user in a chat flow by a dialog system. A user sentiment associated with a system response provided by the dialog system as part of the chat flow is determined based on observation of the user. A next system response is rerouted from a planned sequence of the chat flow to a sentiment-based repair sequence to alter content delivered to the user based on a detected aspect of the user sentiment.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for reducing energy use in buildings. A data centre receives source data from one or more building systems and/or one or more external sources. A plurality of energy optimization strategies are applied to at least a subset of the source data to determine a set of proposed output values for each energy optimization strategy, independently of each other, wherein each set of proposed output values includes at least one equipment set point. Conflicts between the sets of proposed output values are resolved, to generate a set of harmonized output values. The set of harmonized output values is transmitted to the one or more building control systems through one or more gateway devices.

Abstract: Aspects include cross validation of user feedback in a dialog system. A repository of previous user feedback associated with a user interface is accessed. One or more identified features in the previous user feedback are classified. A sequence of cross-validation questions is generated in a dialog system to elicit further feedback from a current user of the user interface based on the one or more identified features and observed interactions of the current user with the user interface. Responses to the sequence of cross-validation questions are filtered to group the further feedback associated with the one or more identified features. One or more change suggestions to modify the user interface are stored based on the previous user feedback and the further feedback associated with the one or more identified features.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for reducing energy use in buildings. A data center receives source data from one or more building systems and/or one or more external sources. A plurality of energy optimization strategies are applied to at least a subset of the source data to determine a set of proposed output values for each energy optimization strategy, independently of each other, wherein each set of proposed output values includes at least one equipment set point. Conflicts between the sets of proposed output values are resolved, to generate a set of harmonized output values. The set of harmonized output values is transmitted to the one or more building control systems through one or more gateway devices.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided in a data processing system comprising at least one processor and at least one memory, the at least one memory comprising instructions which are executed by the at least one processor and configure the processor to implement a conversation scope system, comprising a conversation scope controller and a conversation scope extractor, for progressively extending conversation scope in a multi-user messaging platform. The conversation scope controller captures an utterance input by a user into a chat platform. The conversation scope extractor determines a conversation scope for the utterance based on at least one entity extracted from the entity. The conversation scope controller directs the utterance to a messaging chat room based on the determined conversation scope.

Abstract: Aspects include determination of automated response follow-up. A response to a question is received at a response follow-up system. The response follow-up system analyzes the response using natural language processing to identify one or more response terms. The response follow-up system determines one or more follow-up questions based on the one or more response terms. The response follow-up system modifies an aspect of a user interface based on the one or more follow-up questions.

Abstract: Aspects include generation of automated response follow-up. A response to a question is received at a response follow-up system. The response follow-up system analyzes the response using natural language processing to identify one or more response terms. The response follow-up system generates one or more follow-up questions based on the one or more response terms. The response follow-up system modifies an aspect of a user interface based on the one or more follow-up questions.

Abstract: Aspects include generation of automated response follow-up. A response to a question from a user is received at a response follow-up system. The response follow-up system analyzes the response using natural language processing to identify one or more response terms. The response follow-up system generates one or more follow-up questions based on the one or more response terms. Based on the response, one or more follow-up responses to the one or more follow-up questions are pre-fetched from one or more content provider systems including one or more content servers, where a question answering system including the response follow-up system is communicatively coupled to the one or more content provider systems through a network. The response follow-up system modifies an aspect of a user interface displayed to the user based on the one or more follow-up questions and the one or more follow-up responses.

Abstract: Aspects include determination of automated response follow-up. A response to a question from a user is received at a response follow-up system. The response follow-up system analyzes the response using natural language processing to identify one or more response terms. The response follow-up system determines one or more follow-up questions based on the one or more response terms. Based on the response, one or more follow-up responses to the one or more follow-up questions are pre-fetched from one or more content provider systems including one or more content servers, where a question answering system including the response follow-up system is communicatively coupled to the one or more content provider systems through a network. The response follow-up system modifies an aspect of a user interface displayed to the user based on the one or more follow-up questions and the one or more follow-up responses.

Abstract: Aspects include accessing a chat flow tree structure defining a plurality of response sequences for a chat flow of a dialog system. A sentiment and flow history associated with the chat flow tree structure is analyzed. The sentiment and flow history defines an observed user sentiment captured for one or more system responses of the response sequences. Each of the one or more system responses is flagged having a negative sentiment in the sentiment and flow history and a sample size greater than a minimum adjustment threshold. A portion of the chat flow tree structure is adjusted that includes at least one of the flagged system responses to reduce the negative sentiment.

Abstract: Aspects include engaging a user in a chat flow by a dialog system. A user sentiment associated with a system response provided by the dialog system as part of the chat flow is determined based on observation of the user. A next system response is rerouted from a planned sequence of the chat flow to a sentiment-based repair sequence to alter content delivered to the user based on a detected aspect of the user sentiment.

Abstract: Aspects include determination of automated response follow-up. A response to a question is received at a response follow-up system. The response follow-up system analyzes the response using natural language processing to identify one or more response terms. The response follow-up system determines one or more follow-up questions based on the one or more response terms. The response follow-up system modifies an aspect of a user interface based on the one or more follow-up questions.

Abstract: Aspects include generation of automated response follow-up. A response to a question is received at a response follow-up system. The response follow-up system analyzes the response using natural language processing to identify one or more response terms. The response follow-up system generates one or more follow-up questions based on the one or more response terms. The response follow-up system modifies an aspect of a user interface based on the one or more follow-up questions.