Patents by Inventor John Brockett

John Brockett 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).

  • Publication number: 20160352657
    Abstract: Examples are generally directed towards automatic assessment of machine generated conversational responses. Context-message-response n-tuples are extracted from at least one source of conversational data to generate a set of multi-reference responses. A response in the set of multi-reference responses includes it context-message data pair and rating. The rating indicates a quality of the response relative to the context-message data pair. A response assessment engine generates a metric score for a machine-generated response based on an assessment metric and the set of multi-reference responses. The metric score indicates a quality of the machine-generated conversational response relative to a user-generated message and a context of the user-generated message. A response generation system of a computing device, such as a digital assistant, is optimized and adjusted based on the metric score to improve the accuracy, quality, and relevance of responses output to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Michel GALLEY, Alessandro SORDONI, Christopher John BROCKETT, Jianfeng GAO, III, William Brennan DOLAN, Yangfeng JI, Michael AULI, Margaret Ann MITCHELL, Christopher Brian QUIRK
  • Publication number: 20160352656
    Abstract: Examples are generally directed towards context-sensitive generation of conversational responses. Context-message-response n-tuples are extracted from at least one source of conversational data to generate a set of training context-message-response n-tuples. A response generation engine is trained on the set of training context-message-response n-tuples. The trained response generation engine automatically generates a context-sensitive response based on a user generated input message and conversational context data. A digital assistant utilizes the trained response generation engine to generate context-sensitive, natural language responses that are pertinent to user queries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Michel GALLEY, Alessandro SORDONI, Christopher John BROCKETT, Jianfeng GAO, III, William Brennan DOLAN, Yangfeng JI, Michael AULI, Margaret Ann MITCHELL, Jian-Yun NIE
  • Patent number: 9501759
    Abstract: The subject disclosure is directed towards developing a translation model for mapping search query terms to document-related data. By processing user logs comprising search histories into word-aligned query-document pairs, the translation model may be trained using data, such as probabilities, corresponding to the word-aligned query-document pairs. After incorporating the translation model into model data for a search engine, the translation model is used may used as features for producing relevance scores for current search queries and ranking documents/advertisements according to relevance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jianfeng Gao, Xuedong Huang, Mei Li, Zhenghao Wang, Christopher John Brockett, William B. Dolan
  • Patent number: 9092483
    Abstract: There is provided a computer-implemented method for user query reformulation. A graph is created to represent a relationship between previous user query terms. The graph may represent the previous user searches in n-grams that correspond to nodes. A random walk analysis is performed to determine probabilities that various n-grams corresponding to nodes of the graph could be used to effectively alter a user search term. The probabilities represent a quantification of relationships between nodes of the graph. A determination may be made regarding whether to reformulate the user query based on a relationship between a user search term in the user query and a graphed search term represented by a node of the graph. The determination takes into account a relationship between the user search term and the graphed search term.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher John Brockett, Jianfeng Gao, Vahed Qazvinian
  • Patent number: 8972240
    Abstract: An “Interactive Word Lattice” provides a user interface for interacting with and selecting user-modifiable paths through a lattice-based representation of alternative suggested text segments in response to a user's text segment input, such as phrases, sentences, paragraphs, entire documents, etc. More specifically, the user input is provided to a trained paraphrase generation model that returns a plurality of alternative text segments having the same or similar meaning as the original user input. An interactive graphical lattice-based representation of the alternative text segments is then presented to the user. One or more words of each alternative text segment represents a “node” of the lattice, while each connection between nodes represents a lattice “edge. Both nodes and edges are user modifiable. Each possible path through the lattice corresponds to a different alternative text segment. Users select a path through the lattice to select an alternative text to the original input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher John Brockett, William Brennan Dolan
  • Patent number: 8713035
    Abstract: Conceptually related term identification technique embodiments are presented that involve identifying in the results of a search query, terms that are conceptually related to the search query terms. In one general embodiment, this is accomplished by first inputting the terms employed in a search query and the results of the search. Word tokens found in the search query terms are then identified, as are potential phrases that can be made from the identified word tokens. Conceptually related words and phrases are then identified in the search query results. These words and phrases correspond to the previously identified word tokens and potential phrases. The search query results are presented to a user on a display device in such a manner as to visually distinguish the conceptually related words and phrases from other words and phrases in the search query results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Lucretia Vanderwende, Christopher John Brockett
  • Publication number: 20130262114
    Abstract: Different advantageous embodiments provide a crowdsourcing method for modeling user intent in conversational interfaces. One or more stimuli are presented to a plurality of describers. One or more sets of describer data are captured from the plurality of describers using a data collection mechanism. The one or more sets of describer data are processed to generate one or more models. Each of the one or more models is associated with a specific stimulus from the one or more stimuli.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher John Brockett, Piali Choudhury, William Brennan Dolan, Yun-Cheng Ju, Patrick Pantel, Noelle Mallory Sophy, Svitlana Volkova
  • Patent number: 8484016
    Abstract: A method is described herein that includes acts of receiving a selection of a first phrase in a first language and executing a random walk over a computer-implemented multipartite graph, wherein the multipartite-graph includes a first set of nodes that are representative of phrases in the first language, a second set of nodes that are representative of phrases in a second language, and edges between nodes that are representative of relationships between the respective phrases. The random walk includes traversals over edges of the graph between nodes. The method also includes the act of indicating that a second phrase in the first language is a paraphrase of the first phrase based at least in part upon the random walk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher John Brockett, Stanley Kok, Dengyong Zhou
  • Publication number: 20130103493
    Abstract: The subject disclosure is directed towards developing a translation model for mapping search query terms to document-related data. By processing user logs comprising search histories into word-aligned query-document pairs, the translation model may be trained using data, such as probabilities, corresponding to the word-aligned query-document pairs. After incorporating the translation model into model data for a search engine, the translation model is used may used as features for producing relevance scores for current search queries and ranking documents/advertisements according to relevance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jianfeng Gao, Xuedong Huang, Mei Li, Zhenghao Wang, Christopher John Brockett, William B. Dolan
  • Publication number: 20120296635
    Abstract: An “Interactive Word Lattice” provides a user interface for interacting with and selecting user-modifiable paths through a lattice-based representation of alternative suggested text segments in response to a user's text segment input, such as phrases, sentences, paragraphs, entire documents, etc. More specifically, the user input is provided to a trained paraphrase generation model that returns a plurality of alternative text segments having the same or similar meaning as the original user input. An interactive graphical lattice-based representation of the alternative text segments is then presented to the user. One or more words of each alternative text segment represents a “node” of the lattice, while each connection between nodes represents a lattice “edge. Both nodes and edges are user modifiable. Each possible path through the lattice corresponds to a different alternative text segment. Users select a path through the lattice to select an alternative text to the original input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher John Brockett, William Brennan Dolan
  • Publication number: 20120096042
    Abstract: There is provided a computer-implemented method for user query reformulation. A graph is created to represent a relationship between previous user query terms. The graph may represent the previous user searches in n-grams that correspond to nodes. A random walk analysis is performed to determine probabilities that various n-grams corresponding to nodes of the graph could be used to effectively alter a user search term. The probabilities represent a quantification of relationships between nodes of the graph. A determination may be made regarding whether to reformulate the user query based on a relationship between a user search term in the user query and a graphed search term represented by a node of the graph. The determination takes into account a relationship between the user search term and the graphed search term.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher John Brockett, Jianfeng Gao, Vahed Qazvinian
  • Patent number: 8078451
    Abstract: A method for providing aligned editorial corrections to a database is discussed. The method includes receiving a first text in a language and organizing the first text into one or more sentences. The method further includes editing a copy of the first text to create a second text. The second text is in the language of the first text. The method further includes aligning the sentences of the first text with corresponding sentences of the second text storing the aligned sentences on a computer readable medium. A system for providing a data structure having aligned editorial corrections is also discussed. The system includes an alignment component for receiving a first text and organizing the first text into sentences. The system also includes a user interface configured to provide a second text, wherein the second text is an edited version of the first text in the language of the first text.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Dolan, Christopher John Brockett, Michael Gamon
  • Publication number: 20110295589
    Abstract: A method is described herein that includes acts of receiving a selection of a first phrase in a first language and executing a random walk over a computer-implemented multipartite graph, wherein the multipartite-graph includes a first set of nodes that are representative of phrases in the first language, a second set of nodes that are representative of phrases in a second language, and edges between nodes that are representative of relationships between the respective phrases. The random walk includes traversals over edges of the graph between nodes. The method also includes the act of indicating that a second phrase in the first language is a paraphrase of the first phrase based at least in part upon the random walk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher John Brockett, Stanley Kok, Dengyong Zhou
  • Publication number: 20100293180
    Abstract: Conceptually related term identification technique embodiments are presented that involve identifying in the results of a search query, terms that are conceptually related to the search query terms. In one general embodiment, this is accomplished by first inputting the terms employed in a search query and the results of the search. Word tokens found in the search query terms are then identified, as are potential phrases that can be made from the identified word tokens. Conceptually related words and phrases are then identified in the search query results. These words and phrases correspond to the previously identified word tokens and potential phrases. The search query results are presented to a user on a display device in such a manner as to visually distinguish the conceptually related words and phrases from other words and phrases in the search query results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Lucretia Vanderwende, Christopher John Brockett
  • Publication number: 20080103759
    Abstract: A method for providing aligned editorial corrections to a database is discussed. The method includes receiving a first text in a language and organizing the first text into one or more sentences. The method further includes editing a copy of the first text to create a second text. The second text is in the language of the first text. The method further includes aligning the sentences of the first text with corresponding sentences of the second text storing the aligned sentences on a computer readable medium. A system for providing a data structure having aligned editorial corrections is also discussed. The system includes an alignment component for receiving a first text and organizing the first text into sentences. The system also includes a user interface configured to provide a second text, wherein the second text is an edited version of the first text in the language of the first text.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Dolan, Christopher John Brockett, Michael Gamon
  • Publication number: 20080045438
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to liquid laundry compositions which deliver both effective softening and effective cleaning containing a solubilised cationic polymer and a solubilised soap blend which incorporates a saturated hydroxyl carboxylic acid. A method of cleaning and conditioning articles using the inventive compositions is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: D/B/A UNILEVER, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK
    Inventors: Kimball James WOELFEL, Jonathan MOY, John BROCKETT
  • Publication number: 20040102345
    Abstract: A laundry detergent product produced by a spray-on process and method of laundering clothes is disclosed which relates to the inclusion of one or more wrinkle reducing ingredients in the laundry detergent product. The spray-on process produces a freely flowable powder or granular laundry products that incorporate effective amounts of hydrophilic wrinkle reducing ingredients. The benefits are delivered to the laundered item during the cleaning step and, therefore, reduces the need for further wrinkle reducing steps when the items are taken from the dryer or after hang drying.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: Unilever Home and Personal Care USA, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Orchowski, Dennis Stephen Murphy, Feng-Lung Gordon Hsu, Daniel Joseph Fox, John Brockett, David Alan Binder
  • Publication number: 20030139309
    Abstract: A fabric care composition comprises a solid carrier and an anti-wrinkle agent. The composition may be used to provide fabrics with softness and/or anti-wrinkle and/or other fabric benefits in laundering processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: John Brockett, Deborah Marie Coccaro, Michel Gilbert Delroisse, Karen Jane Ellson, Nancy Ann Falk, Dennis Stephen Murphy, Michael Orchowski, Stephane Ugazio, Antje Minke Wierenga