Abstract: A computer implemented system and method are disclosed for updating an electronic calendar. The method includes receiving an electronic message in a natural language in which a change in role is expressed and, with a natural language processor implemented by a computer processor, automatically detecting the change in role within the email message, optionally storing the change in role in a contacts database, and proposing updates for entries in an electronic calendar based on the detected change in role.

Abstract: A computer implemented electronic out-of-office message analysis system and method are disclosed. The method includes, for each of a plurality of users, receiving a user-generated electronic out-of-office message in a natural language in which a time window of absence and at least one alternate named contact are expressed and, based on the out-of-office message, generating a structured representation of the out-of-office message which links the alternate contact to a normalized representation of the time window. The structured representation of the out-of-office message is stored in a database. From the database it can be determined whether a current user's out-of-office message conflicts with another user's out-of-office message. If a conflict is detected, the current user can be notified.

Abstract: A computer implemented electronic out-of-office message analysis system and method are disclosed. The method includes, for each of a plurality of users, receiving a user-generated electronic out-of-office message in a natural language in which a time window of absence and at least one alternate named contact are expressed and, based on the out-of-office message, generating a structured representation of the out-of-office message which links the alternate contact to a normalized representation of the time window. The structured representation of the out-of-office message is stored in a database. From the database it can be determined whether a current user's out-of-office message conflicts with another user's out-of-office message. If a conflict is detected, the current user can be notified.

Abstract: A system for retrieval of text includes a processor which identifies grammar rules associated with text fragments of a text string that is retrieved from an associated storage medium, and retrieves text strings from the storage medium which satisfy the grammar rules. A display displays retrieved text strings. A user input device in communication with the processor enables a user to select text fragments of the displayed text strings for generating a query. The processor identifies grammar rules associated with the user-selected text fragments and retrieves text strings from the storage medium which satisfy the grammar rules.

Abstract: A bilingual authoring apparatus includes a user interface (20) for inputting partially translated text including a text portion in a source language and surrounding or adjacent text in a target language. A bilingual dictionary (34) associates words and phrases in the target language and words and phrases in a source language. A context sensitive translation tool (30, 32, 38) communicates with the user interface, receives the partially translated text, and provides at least one proposed translation in the target language of the text portion in the source language. The at least one proposed translation in the target language is derived from the bilingual dictionary based on contextual analysis of at least a portion of the partially translated text.

Abstract: A method of automatically generating personalized text for teaching a student to learn to read. Based upon inputs of the students reading ability/level, either from a self assessment or teacher input and input of personal data, the system automatically searches selected libraries and chooses appropriate text and modifies the text for vocabulary and topics of character identification of personal interest to the student. An optional function of previewing by one of the student's teacher, parent or advocate is included. The system generates a local repository of generated text associated with a particular student.

Abstract: A system operating on a network for learning a language includes a memory for storing a scenario having tasks to be carried out in the language. A connection manager accepts a plurality of connections from one or more user systems. A virtual reality subsystem represents the scenario in a physical setting. A communication subsystem provides at least one channel over which users communicate text when carrying out the tasks in the language. Linguistic tools receive and disambiguate an identified term in specified text. A search subsystem retrieves information related to the specified text. The set of linguistic tools disambiguate the identified term in the information retrieved by the search subsystem to identify example uses having a meaning similar to the identified term in the specified text to aid the users of the user systems to comprehend the text communicated in the language over the at least one channel.

Abstract: A system for retrieval of text includes a processor which identifies grammar rules associated with text fragments of a text string that is retrieved from an associated storage medium, and retrieves text strings from the storage medium which satisfy the grammar rules. A display displays retrieved text strings. A user input device in communication with the processor enables a user to select text fragments of the displayed text strings for generating a query. The processor identifies grammar rules associated with the user-selected text fragments and retrieves text strings from the storage medium which satisfy the grammar rules.

Abstract: A bilingual authoring apparatus includes a user interface (20) for inputting partially translated text including a text portion in a source language and surrounding or adjacent text in a target language. A bilingual dictionary (34) associates words and phrases in the target language and words and phrases in a source language. A context sensitive translation tool (30, 32, 38) communicates with the user interface, receives the partially translated text, and provides at least one proposed translation in the target language of the text portion in the source language. The at least one proposed translation in the target language is derived from the bilingual dictionary based on contextual analysis of at least a portion of the partially translated text.

Abstract: A system operating on a network for learning a language includes a memory for storing a scenario having tasks to be carried out in the language. A connection manager accepts a plurality of connections from one or more user systems. A virtual reality subsystem represents the scenario in a physical setting. A communication subsystem provides at least one channel over which users communicate text when carrying out the tasks in the language. Linguistic tools receive and disambiguate an identified term in specified text. A search subsystem retrieves information related to the specified text. The set of linguistic tools disambiguate the identified term in the information retrieved by the search subsystem to identify example uses having a meaning similar to the identified term in the specified text to aid the users of the user systems to comprehend the text communicated in the language over the at least one channel.

Abstract: In semantically disambiguating words, where more than one disambiguation applies to the context in which a word occurs, a rule can be selected based on the type of information from which it was obtained. The rules can be derived from different types of information in a corpus such as a dictionary, and rules can be selected in accordance with a prioritization of the types of information.

Abstract: To provide information about the meaning of a multi-token expression in a first language, where the information is understandable in a second language, subexpressions are obtained, such as tokens, chunks, and sentences. The multi-token expression could, for example, be a sentence or an input text with more than one sentence. Translation choices are obtained in the second language for a set of the subexpressions. A subset of the translation choices of a subexpression are ranked, and the ranked translation choices are used to produce a sequence of translation choices for the multi-token expression as a whole. Information is then presented to a user about the sequence of translation choices, indicating in the second language the meaning of the multi-token expression. Translation choices can be ranked based on syntactic or semantic context, based on translation source, based on confidence levels, based on how each was obtained, in accordance with a user-selected process, and so forth.