Patents by Inventor Douglas A. Smith

Douglas A. Smith 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: 11932970
    Abstract: A nanofiber comprising a polyamide including at least one substituted phenyl group is provided. The nanofiber includes an average diameter from about 50 to about 1000 nm. A fibrous mat including a plurality of the nanofibers is also provided. A composite including a plurality of the nanofibers and a continuous matrix resin is also provided. A method of forming the nanofibers is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher M. Hoffman, Jr., Matthew P. Yeager, Morgana M. Trexler, Zhiyong Xia, Douglas A. Smith, Marcia W. Patchan
  • Patent number: 11347777
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a computer program product for identifying key words within a plurality of documents comprises a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, wherein the computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se, and where the program instructions are executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform a method comprising identifying, by the processor, a first group of textual data, determining, by the processor, a plurality of word combinations within the first group of textual data, and determining, by the processor, a first plurality of key words for the first group of textual data, utilizing the plurality of word combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas A. Smith
  • Patent number: 11334607
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes identifying a first group of textual data, determining a plurality of word combinations within the first group of textual data, and determining a first plurality of key words for the first group of textual data, utilizing the plurality of word combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas A. Smith
  • Patent number: 11295219
    Abstract: A technique for answering questions includes receiving a question directed to a first subject. A mathematical operation is performed between each of one or more first topic vectors (associated with the first subject) and each of one or more second topic vectors (associated with a second subject) to generate respective strength values. Relevant ones of the respective strength values are summed to provide an overall strength value, which is utilized to determine a semantic distance (SD) between the first subject and the second subject. In response to the SD being within a threshold distance value (TDV), information associated with the first subject and the second subject is utilized to answer the question. In response to the SD not being within the TDV, information associated with the first subject is utilized to answer the question.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jennifer Ann English, Malous Melissa Kossarian, Charles E. McManis, Jr., Douglas A. Smith
  • Patent number: 10740377
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes identifying a plurality of documents associated with a predetermined subject, where each of the plurality of documents contains textual data, analyzing the textual data of each of the plurality of documents to identify one or more categories within the plurality of the documents, and returning the one or more categories identified within the plurality of the documents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. McManis, Jr., Douglas A. Smith
  • Publication number: 20200224335
    Abstract: A nanofiber comprising a polyamide including at least one substituted phenyl group is provided. The nanofiber includes an average diameter from about 50 to about 1000 nm. A fibrous mat including a plurality of the nanofibers is also provided. A composite including a plurality of the nanofibers and a continuous matrix resin is also provided. A method of forming the nanofibers is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher M. Hoffman, JR., Matthew P. Yeager, Morgana M. Trexler, Zhiyong Xia, Douglas A. Smith, Marcia W. Patchan
  • Patent number: 10621219
    Abstract: A technique for calculating a semantic distance between subjects includes performing a mathematical operation between each of one or more first topic vectors and each of one or more second topic vectors to generate respective strength values. The first topic vectors are associated with respective first topics of a first subject, the second topic vectors are associated with respective second topics of a second subject, and the respective strength values are indicative of a relative closeness between associated ones of the first and second topics. Relevant ones of the respective strength values are summed to provide an overall strength value between the first subject and the second subject. A semantic distance between the first subject and the second subject is determined based on the overall strength value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jennifer Ann English, Malous Melissa Kossarian, Charles E. McManis, Jr., Douglas A. Smith
  • Patent number: 10599694
    Abstract: A technique for calculating a semantic distance between subjects includes performing a mathematical operation between each of one or more first topic vectors and each of one or more second topic vectors to generate respective strength values. The first topic vectors are associated with respective first topics of a first subject, the second topic vectors are associated with respective second topics of a second subject, and the respective strength values are indicative of a relative closeness between associated ones of the first and second topics. Relevant ones of the respective strength values are summed to provide an overall strength value between the first subject and the second subject. A semantic distance between the first subject and the second subject is determined based on the overall strength value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jennifer Ann English, Malous Melissa Kossarian, Charles E. McManis, Jr., Douglas A. Smith
  • Patent number: 10423649
    Abstract: A training query generation system is usable to generate fully formed training questions from prior search queries, some of which may be fully formed search queries and some of which are not fully formed. The system may identify fully formed questions from a query database stored on a storage device. The query database includes a plurality of search query character string, The system further identifies partially formed questions from the query database, creates question templates from the identified fully formed questions, and stores the question templates in a template database. The system then identifies entities with the partially formed questions, classifies each entity, and stores the classified entities in an entity database. Fully formed questions can then be generated using the question templates from the template database and classified entities from the entity database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William S. Ko, Malous M. Kossarian, Douglas A. Smith, Huaiyu Zhu
  • Patent number: 10339167
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a computer implemented method, in a data processing system comprising a processor and a memory comprising instructions which are executed by the processor to cause the processor to implement a full question generation system, the method comprising ingesting a query dataset derived from one or more search queries entered by one or more users of an internet search engine; identifying questions from the ingested query dataset; separating one or more prior full questions from the ingested dataset; identifying one or more question intent queries from the query dataset; for each identified question intent query; sorting the question intent query into one or more bins based on one or more missing interrogative words; and appending the missing interrogative word and a verb onto the question intent query to generate a full question. The full question generation method can additionally generate un-canonical questions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bryn R. Dole, William S. Ko, Malous M. Kossarian, Douglas A. Smith
  • Patent number: 10339168
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a computer implemented method, in a data processing system comprising a processor and a memory comprising instructions which are executed by the processor to cause the processor to implement a full question generation system, the method comprising ingesting, into the full question generation system, a query dataset derived from one or more search queries entered by one or more users of an internet search engine; identifying questions from the ingested query dataset; separating, through a full question identification module, one or more prior full questions from the ingested dataset; identifying, through a question intent query identification module, one or more question intent queries from the query dataset; for each identified question intent query: sorting, through a sorting module, the question intent query into one or more bins based on one or more missing interrogative words; and appending, through an appending module, the missing interrogative word and a verb onto the question intent
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bryn R. Dole, William S. Ko, Malous M. Kossarian, Douglas A. Smith
  • Publication number: 20190121905
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes identifying a plurality of documents associated with a predetermined subject, where each of the plurality of documents contains textual data, analyzing the textual data of each of the plurality of documents to identify one or more categories within the plurality of the documents, and returning the one or more categories identified within the plurality of the documents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Charles E. McManis, Jr., Douglas A. Smith
  • Patent number: 10242002
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a system and method for semantic distance calculation. The method can involve receiving a plurality of documents having a set of subjects extracted through the use of latent dirichlet allocation; for each document in the plurality of documents, generating a classification list comprising a ranking of the one or more subjects based on the relevance of each subject to the document; for each classification list, calculating the semantic distance between each subject present on the classification list; aggregating the plurality of classification lists; and creating a distance matrix containing the relative semantic distances between each member of the set of subjects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jennifer A. English, Malous M. Kossarian, Charles E. McManis, Jr., Douglas A. Smith
  • Patent number: 10229184
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a system and method for semantic distance calculation. The method can involve ingesting a plurality of documents; extracting a set of subjects from the plurality of documents using latent dirichlet allocation; for each document in the plurality of documents, generating a classification list comprising a ranking of the one or more subjects based on the relevance of each subject to the document; for each classification list, calculating the semantic distance between each subject present on the classification list; aggregating the plurality of classification lists; and creating a distance matrix containing the relative semantic distances between each member of the set of subjects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jennifer A. English, Malous M. Kossarian, Charles E. McManis, Jr., Douglas A. Smith
  • Patent number: 10157178
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes identifying a plurality of documents associated with a predetermined subject, where each of the plurality of documents contains textual data, analyzing the textual data of each of the plurality of documents to identify one or more categories within the plurality of the documents, and returning the one or more categories identified within the plurality of the documents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. McManis, Jr., Douglas A. Smith
  • Publication number: 20180293302
    Abstract: A training query generation system is usable to generate fully formed training questions from prior search queries, some of which may be fully formed search queries and some of which are not fully formed. The system may identify fully formed questions from a query database stored on a storage device. The query database includes a plurality of search query character string, The system further identifies partially formed questions from the query database, creates question templates from the identified fully formed questions, and stores the question templates in a template database. The system then identifies entities with the partially formed questions, classifies each entity, and stores the classified entities in an entity database. Fully formed questions can then be generated using the question templates from the template database and classified entities from the entity database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: William S. KO, Malous M. KOSSARIAN, Douglas A. SMITH, Huaiyu ZHU
  • Publication number: 20180293508
    Abstract: A training query generation system is usable to generate fully formed training questions from prior search queries, The system may include a training dataset generation service that is configured to receive a message containing an indicator of a topic over a network, access a template database containing a plurality of question templates and associated topic indicators, each question template including one or more argument values indicative of a role, and select those question templates from the template database that match the received topic indicator. The training dataset generation service also is configured to select entities from an entity database that map to the argument values of the selected question templates and generate a plurality of fully formed questions, each generated fully formed question comprising a character string containing the question template and at least one of the selected agents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: William S. KO, Malous M. KOSSARIAN, Douglas A. SMITH, Huaiyu ZHU
  • Publication number: 20180232437
    Abstract: A technique for calculating a semantic distance between subjects includes performing a mathematical operation between each of one or more first topic vectors and each of one or more second topic vectors to generate respective strength values. The first topic vectors are associated with respective first topics of a first subject, the second topic vectors are associated with respective second topics of a second subject, and the respective strength values are indicative of a relative closeness between associated ones of the first and second topics. Relevant ones of the respective strength values are summed to provide an overall strength value between the first subject and the second subject. A semantic distance between the first subject and the second subject is determined based on the overall strength value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: JENNIFER ANN ENGLISH, MALOUS MELISSA KOSSARIAN, CHARLES E. MCMANIS, JR., DOUGLAS A. SMITH
  • Publication number: 20180232380
    Abstract: A technique for calculating a semantic distance between subjects includes performing a mathematical operation between each of one or more first topic vectors and each of one or more second topic vectors to generate respective strength values. The first topic vectors are associated with respective first topics of a first subject, the second topic vectors are associated with respective second topics of a second subject, and the respective strength values are indicative of a relative closeness between associated ones of the first and second topics. Relevant ones of the respective strength values are summed to provide an overall strength value between the first subject and the second subject. A semantic distance between the first subject and the second subject is determined based on the overall strength value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: JENNIFER ANN ENGLISH, MALOUS MELISSA KOSSARIAN, CHARLES E. MCMANIS, JR., DOUGLAS A. SMITH
  • Publication number: 20180232623
    Abstract: A technique for answering questions includes receiving a question directed to a first subject. A mathematical operation is performed between each of one or more first topic vectors (associated with the first subject) and each of one or more second topic vectors (associated with a second subject) to generate respective strength values. Relevant ones of the respective strength values are summed to provide an overall strength value, which is utilized to determine a semantic distance (SD) between the first subject and the second subject. In response to the SD being within a threshold distance value (TDV), information associated with the first subject and the second subject is utilized to answer the question. In response to the SD not being within the TDV, information associated with the first subject is utilized to answer the question.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: JENNIFER ANN ENGLISH, MALOUS MELISSA KOSSARIAN, CHARLES E. MCMANIS, JR., DOUGLAS A. SMITH