Abstract: Techniques are disclosed that enable the generation of candidate endorsements for recommended items of content using an ensemble of nominators. Various implementations include each nominator in the ensemble providing a candidate endorsement for each recommended item of content. Additionally or alternatively, an endorsement is selected to present to the user based on a score determined for each candidate endorsement.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed that enable the generation of candidate endorsements for recommended items of content using an ensemble of nominators. Various implementations include each nominator in the ensemble providing a candidate endorsement for each recommended item of content. Additionally or alternatively, an endorsement is selected to present to the user based on a score determined for each candidate endorsement.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed that enable the generation of candidate endorsements for recommended items of content using an ensemble of nominators. Various implementations include each nominator in the ensemble providing a candidate endorsement for each recommended item of content. Additionally or alternatively, an endorsement is selected to present to the user based on a score determined for each candidate endorsement.

Abstract: In some natural language understanding (NLU) applications, results may not be tailored to the user's query. In an embodiment of the present invention, a method includes tagging elements of automated speech recognition (ASR) data based on an ontology stored in a memory. The method further includes indexing tagged elements to an entity of the ontology. The method further includes generating a logical form of the ASR data based on the tagged elements and the indexed entities. The method further includes mapping the logical form to a query to a respective corresponding database stored in the memory. The method further includes issuing the query to the respective corresponding databases. The method further includes presenting results of the query to the user via a display or a voice response system.

Abstract: Presenting natural-language-understanding (NLU) results can include redundancies and awkward sentence structures. In an embodiment of the present invention, a method includes, responsive to receiving a result to a NLU query, loading a matching template of a plurality of templates stored in a memory. Each template has mask fields associated with at least one property. The method compares the properties of the mask fields of each of the templates to properties of the query and properties of the result, and selects the matching template. The method further completes the matching template by inserting fields of the result into corresponding mask fields of the matching template. The method may further suppress certain mask fields of the matching template to increase brevity and improve the naturalness of the response when appropriate based on the results of the NLU query. The method further presents the completed matching template to a user via a display.

Abstract: A method is provided for representing and updating the state of a dialog involving a series of queries and commands to an artificial intelligence system. Each statement within the dialogue may be modeled as a relational tree spanning nodes corresponding to named entities within the statement. A data structure may be used to store each of these trees and to modify them as the dialog progresses. A subsequent statement in the dialog may be parsed and its contents used to update an ongoing search initiated within that dialog. Statements may be used for the update process despite being fragmentary or not corresponding to any predetermined grammar. An algorithm is disclosed for updating the trees within the data structure after a new statement is parsed.

Abstract: A method includes, with a physical computing system, executing a navigational application for a printer interface of a printer connected to the physical computing system through a network, with the physical computing system, using a content model for the navigational application, the content model defining attributes and a category for a screen. The method further includes, with the physical computing system, receiving content associated with the category, and with the physical computing system, providing to the printer the screen and the content in a format that is executable by the printer.

Abstract: Presenting natural-language-understanding (NLU) results can include redundancies and awkward sentence structures. In an embodiment of the present invention, a method includes, responsive to receiving a result to a NLU query, loading a matching template of a plurality of templates stored in a memory. Each template has mask fields associated with at least one property. The method compares the properties of the mask fields of each of the templates to properties of the query and properties of the result, and selects the matching template. The method further completes the matching template by inserting fields of the result into corresponding mask fields of the matching template. The method may further suppress certain mask fields of the matching template to increase brevity and improve the naturalness of the response when appropriate based on the results of the NLU query. The method further presents the completed matching template to a user via a display.

Abstract: In some natural language understanding (NLU) applications, results may not be tailored to the user's query. In an embodiment of the present invention, a method includes tagging elements of automated speech recognition (ASR) data based on an ontology stored in a memory. The method further includes indexing tagged elements to an entity of the ontology. The method further includes generating a logical form of the ASR data based on the tagged elements and the indexed entities. The method further includes mapping the logical form to a query to a respective corresponding database stored in the memory. The method further includes issuing the query to the respective corresponding databases. The method further includes presenting results of the query to the user via a display or a voice response system.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of techniques or systems for modeling familiarity for a traveler are provided herein. Familiarity evidence can be received, indicative of how familiar a traveler is with an area or road segment, and based on a number of visits the traveler has made to that area. The familiarity evidence can be used to generate one or more familiarity models indicative of a predicted familiarity of locations around the area. Familiarity models can be based on kernels, graph distances, Markov random fields (MRFs), etc. When route directions are generated from an origin location to a destination location, one or more of the directions can be provided based on one or more of the familiarity models. For example, if a familiarity model indicates that a traveler is familiar with a route, driving directions of the route can be adapted to be more succinct.

Abstract: A method is provided for representing and updating the state of a dialog involving a series of queries and commands to an artificial intelligence system. Each statement within the dialogue may be modeled as a relational tree spanning nodes corresponding to named entities within the statement. A data structure may be used to store each of these trees and to modify them as the dialog progresses. A subsequent statement in the dialog may be parsed and its contents used to update an ongoing search initiated within that dialog. Statements may be used for the update process despite being fragmentary or not corresponding to any predetermined grammar. An algorithm is disclosed for updating the trees within the data structure after a new statement is parsed.

Abstract: An utterance is received from a user specifying a location attribute and a landmark. A set of candidate locations is identified based on the specified location attribute, and a confidence score can be determined for each candidate location. A set of landmarks is identified based on the specified landmark, and confidence scores can be determined for the landmarks. An associated kernel model is generated for each landmark. Each kernel model is centered at the location of the associated landmark on a map, and the amplitude of the kernel model can be based on landmark attributes, landmark confidence scores, characteristics of the user, and the like. The candidate locations are ranked based on the amplitudes of overlapping kernel models at the candidate locations, and can also be ranked based on confidence scores associated with the candidate locations. A candidate location is selected and presented to the user based on the candidate location ranking.

Abstract: A powertrain of a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is controlled. A first value ?1 and a second value ?2 are determined. ?1 represents a proportion of an instantaneous power requirement (Preq) supplied by an engine of the HEV. ?2 controls a recharging rate of a battery of the HEV. A determination is performed, based on ?1 and ?2, regarding how much engine power to use (Peng) and how much battery power to use (Pbatt). Peng and Pbatt are sent to the powertrain.

Abstract: Systems and methods of establishing a secure connection between a proxy server and a base station device are disclosed. An example of a method includes providing a proxy server with a session token for a mobile device from a cloud service. The method also includes providing a session code directly to the mobile device from the cloud service based on the session token. The method also includes providing access by the proxy server to the base station device if the proxy server provides the session code to the cloud service.

Abstract: An application service includes a device interface manager, an acquisition manager, and a job manager. The device interface is configured to receive, from a device, a print instruction defining a context. The acquisition manager is configured to use the context to acquire context compatible content. The job manager is configured to communicate a reference to a print service for accessing cached context compatible print data for the print instruction if the context compatible print data is available in a cache, and to otherwise communicate to the print service, context compatible print data for context compatible content acquired by the acquisition manager.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of techniques or systems for modeling familiarity for a traveler are provided herein. Familiarity evidence can be received, indicative of how familiar a traveler is with an area or road segment, and based on a number of visits the traveler has made to that area. The familiarity evidence can be used to generate one or more familiarity models indicative of a predicted familiarity of locations around the area. Familiarity models can be based on kernels, graph distances, Markov random fields (MRFs), etc. When route directions are generated from an origin location to a destination location, one or more of the directions can be provided based on one or more of the familiarity models. For example, if a familiarity model indicates that a traveler is familiar with a route, driving directions of the route can be adapted to be more succinct.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a builder, a template engine, and an assembler. The template engine is operable to identify a reference template associated with application selection. The assembler is configured to assemble a request from the identified reference template and state data indicated by the reference template. The builder is configured to process a user interface description retrieved using the request to cause the display of a user interface having one or more objects each associated with an application available from a network service, the applications having been selected according to the state data.

Abstract: An action is performed in a spoken dialog system in response to a user's spoken utterance. A policy which maps belief states of user intent to actions is retrieved or created. A belief state is determined based on the spoken utterance, and an action is selected based on the determined belief state and the policy. The action is performed, and in one embodiment, involves requesting clarification of the spoken utterance from the user. Creating a policy may involve simulating user inputs and spoken dialog system interactions, and modifying policy parameters iteratively until a policy threshold is satisfied. In one embodiment, a belief state is determined by converting the spoken utterance into text, assigning the text to one or more dialog slots associated with nodes in a probabilistic ontology tree (POT), and determining a joint probability based on probability distribution tables in the POT and on the dialog slot assignments.

Abstract: A powertrain of a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is controlled. A first value ?1 and a second value ?2 are determined, ?1 represents a proportion of an instantaneous power requirement (Preq) supplied by an engine of the HEV. ?2 controls a recharging rate of a battery of the HEV. A determination is performed, based on ?1 and ?2, regarding how much engine power to use (Peng) and how much battery power to use (Pbatt). Peng and Pbatt are sent to the powertrain.

Abstract: An utterance is received from a user specifying a location attribute and a landmark. A set of candidate locations is identified based on the specified location attribute, and a confidence score can be determined for each candidate location. A set of landmarks is identified based on the specified landmark, and confidence scores can be determined for the landmarks. An associated kernel model is generated for each landmark. Each kernel model is centered at the location of the associated landmark on a map, and the amplitude of the kernel model can be based on landmark attributes, landmark confidence scores, characteristics of the user, and the like. The candidate locations are ranked based on the amplitudes of overlapping kernel models at the candidate locations, and can also be ranked based on confidence scores associated with the candidate locations.