Patents by Inventor Jeffrey G. MacAllister
Jeffrey G. MacAllister 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: 8438031Abstract: A conversation manager processes spoken utterances from a user of a computer. The conversation manager includes a semantics analysis module and a syntax manager. A domain model that is used in processing the spoken utterances includes an ontology (i.e., world view for the relevant domain of the spoken utterances), lexicon, and syntax definitions. The syntax manager combines the ontology, lexicon, and syntax definitions to generate a grammatic specification. The semantics module uses the grammatic specification and the domain model to develop a set of frames (i.e., internal representation of the spoken utterance). The semantics module then develops a set of propositions from the set of frames. The conversation manager then uses the set of propositions in further processing to provide a reply to the spoken utterance.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2007Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.Inventors: Steven I. Ross, Robert C. Armes, Julie F. Alweis, Elizabeth A. Brownholtz, Jeffrey G. MacAllister
-
Patent number: 7496514Abstract: A dialog management system functions to manage the dialog between a user of a computer system and one or more speech enabled software applications. The user provides spoken input to a microphone connected to the computer system, and hears responses from one or more applications through a speaker connected to the computer system. The dialog management system includes a dialog manager, a turn manager, a speak queue, dialog contexts, and dialog state. The dialog manager provides top-level control of the dialog and stores responses based on the user's spoken input in a speak queue for later output to the user. The turn manager controls delivery of the responses to the user based on the dialog context and the dialog state, to provide a polite asynchronous dialog with the user that enables the user to be in control of the dialog. The dialog context provides information about each dialog. The dialog state provides information about whose turn it is (computer or user) to speak.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2007Date of Patent: February 24, 2009Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Steven I. Ross, Jeffrey G. MacAllister, Christopher A. Hyland, Marijane M. Zeller, Kathleen A. Howard
-
Patent number: 7257537Abstract: A dialog management system functions to manage the dialog between a user of a computer system and one or more speech enabled software applications. The user provides spoken input to a microphone connected to the computer system, and hears responses from one or more applications through a speaker connected to the computer system. The dialog management system includes a dialog manager, a turn manager, a speak queue, dialog contexts, and dialog state. The dialog manager provides top-level control of the dialog and stores responses based on the user's spoken input in a speak queue for later output to the user. The turn manager controls delivery of the responses to the user based on the dialog context and the dialog state, to provide a polite dialog with the user that enables the user to be in control of the dialog. The dialog context provides information about each dialog. The dialog state provides information about whose turn it is (computer or user) to speak.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2002Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Steven I. Ross, Jeffrey G. MacAllister, Christopher A. Hyland, Marijane M. Zeller, Kathleen A. Howard
-
Patent number: 7249018Abstract: A conversation manager processes spoken utterances from a user of a computer. The conversation manager includes a semantics analysis module and a syntax manager. A domain model that is used in processing the spoken utterances includes an ontology (i.e., world view for the relevant domain of the spoken utterances), lexicon, and syntax definitions. The syntax manager combines the ontology, lexicon, and syntax definitions to generate a grammatic specification. The semantics module uses the grammatic specification and the domain model to develop a set of frames (i.e., internal representation of the spoken utterance). The semantics module then develops a set of propositions from the set of frames. The conversation manager then uses the set of propositions in further processing to provide a reply to the spoken utterance.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2001Date of Patent: July 24, 2007Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Steven I. Ross, Robert C. Armes, Julie F. Alweis, Elizabeth A. Brownholtz, Jeffrey G. MacAllister
-
Patent number: 7127402Abstract: A conversation manager processes a spoken utterance from a user of a computer that is directed to an application program hosted on the computer. The conversation manager includes a reasoning facility which accesses goal-directed rules stored in a rules base (e.g., database). The reasoning facility also has access to a conversational record that includes a record of previous utterances and a semantic analysis for each utterance. The reasoning facility processes a representation of the utterance by using the goal-directed rules. The reasoning facility uses means-end analysis to determine the proper rules to execute, and thus the script calls to make to achieve the goal of processing the utterance. While processing the utterance, the reasoning facility attempts to resolve any ambiguities in the representation of the utterance and to fill in any missing information that is needed to achieve its goal.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2002Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Steven I. Ross, Elizabeth A. Brownholtz, Jeffrey G. MacAllister
-
Patent number: 6950793Abstract: A conversation manager processes spoken utterances from a user of a computer, and develops responses to the spoken utterances. The conversation manager includes a reasoning facility and a language generation module. Each response has a domain model associated with it. The domain model includes an ontology (i.e., world view for the relevant domain of the spoken utterances and responses), lexicon, and syntax definitions. The language generation module receives a response in the form of a formal belief structure from other components of the conversation manager. The reasoning facility selects a syntax template to use in generating a response output from the formal belief structure. The language generation module produces the response output based on the formal structure, the selected syntax template, and the domain model.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2002Date of Patent: September 27, 2005Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Steven I. Ross, Jeffrey G. MacAllister, Julie F. Alweis
-
Publication number: 20020173960Abstract: A conversation manager processes spoken utterances from a user of a computer, and develops responses to the spoken utterances. The conversation manager includes a reasoning facility and a language generation module. Each response has a domain model associated with it. The domain model includes an ontology (i.e., world view for the relevant domain of the spoken utterances and responses), lexicon, and syntax definitions. The language generation module receives a response in the form of a formal belief structure from other components of the conversation manager. The reasoning facility selects a syntax template to use in generating a response output from the formal belief structure. The language generation module produces the response output based on the formal structure, the selected syntax template, and the domain model.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2002Publication date: November 21, 2002Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Steven I. Ross, Jeffrey G. MacAllister, Julie F. Alweis
-
Publication number: 20020138266Abstract: A conversation manager processes a spoken utterance from a user of a computer that is directed to an application program hosted on the computer. The conversation manager includes a reasoning facility which accesses goal-directed rules stored in a rules base (e.g., database). The reasoning facility also has access to a conversational record that includes a record of previous utterances and a semantic analysis for each utterance. The reasoning facility processes a representation of the utterance by using the goal-directed rules. The reasoning facility uses means-end analysis to determine the proper rules to execute, and thus the script calls to make to achieve the goal of processing the utterance. While processing the utterance, the reasoning facility attempts to resolve any ambiguities in the representation of the utterance and to fill in any missing information that is needed to achieve its goal.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2002Publication date: September 26, 2002Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Steven I. Ross, Elizabeth A. Brownholtz, Jeffrey G. MacAllister
-
Publication number: 20020133355Abstract: A dialog management system functions to manage the dialog between a user of a computer system and one or more speech enabled software applications. The user provides spoken input to a microphone connected to the computer system, and hears responses from one or more applications through a speaker connected to the computer system. The dialog management system includes a dialog manager, a turn manager, a speak queue, dialog contexts, and dialog state. The dialog manager provides top-level control of the dialog and stores responses based on the user's spoken input in a speak queue for later output to the user. The turn manager controls delivery of the responses to the user based on the dialog context and the dialog state, to provide a polite dialog with the user that enables the user to be in control of the dialog. The dialog context provides information about each dialog. The dialog state provides information about whose turn it is (computer or user) to speak.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2002Publication date: September 19, 2002Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Steven I. Ross, Jeffrey G. MacAllister, Christopher A. Hyland, Marijane M. Zeller, Kathleen A. Howard
-
Publication number: 20020095286Abstract: A conversation manager processes spoken utterances from a user of a computer. The conversation manager includes a semantics analysis module and a syntax manager. A domain model that is used in processing the spoken utterances includes an ontology (i.e., world view for the relevant domain of the spoken utterances), lexicon, and syntax definitions. The syntax manager combines the ontology, lexicon, and syntax definitions to generate a grammatic specification. The semantics module uses the grammatic specification and the domain model to develop a set of frames (i.e., internal representation of the spoken utterance). The semantics module then develops a set of propositions from the set of frames. The conversation manager then uses the set of propositions in further processing to provide a reply to the spoken utterance.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2001Publication date: July 18, 2002Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Steven I. Ross, Robert C. Armes, Julie F. Alweis, Elizabeth A. Brownholtz, Jeffrey G. MacAllister
-
Patent number: 6138104Abstract: A system, and related method, for managing the development of a project includes a memory device and at least one category definition stored in the memory device. Each category definition is representative of a discrete work deliverable required to complete the project being managed and has at least one stage. Each stage defines a portion of the definition's life-cycle and is completed only upon the submission of substantive information required by the stage to create the discrete work deliverable.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1999Date of Patent: October 24, 2000Assignee: Workgroup Technology CorporationInventors: Lori C. Marchak, Martin Dickau, Jeffrey G. MacAllister, Patrice A. Tegan
-
Patent number: 6006195Abstract: A system, and related method, for managing the development of a project includes a memory device and at least one category definition stored in the memory device. Each category definition is representative of a discrete work deliverable required to complete the project being managed and has at least one stage. Each stage defines a portion of the definition's life-cycle and is completed only upon the submission of substantive information required by the stage to create the discrete work deliverable.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 1996Date of Patent: December 21, 1999Assignee: Workgroup Technology CorporationInventors: Lori C. Marchak, Martin Dickau, Jeffrey G. MacAllister, Patrice A. Tegan