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).
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Publication number: 20160352657Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2015Publication date: December 1, 2016Inventors: Michel GALLEY, Alessandro SORDONI, Christopher John BROCKETT, Jianfeng GAO, III, William Brennan DOLAN, Yangfeng JI, Michael AULI, Margaret Ann MITCHELL, Christopher Brian QUIRK
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Publication number: 20160352656Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2015Publication date: December 1, 2016Inventors: Michel GALLEY, Alessandro SORDONI, Christopher John BROCKETT, Jianfeng GAO, III, William Brennan DOLAN, Yangfeng JI, Michael AULI, Margaret Ann MITCHELL, Jian-Yun NIE
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Patent number: 9501759Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 16, 2011Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Jianfeng Gao, Xuedong Huang, Mei Li, Zhenghao Wang, Christopher John Brockett, William B. Dolan
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Patent number: 9092483Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 19, 2010Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Christopher John Brockett, Jianfeng Gao, Vahed Qazvinian
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Patent number: 8972240Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 18, 2011Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Christopher John Brockett, William Brennan Dolan
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Patent number: 8713035Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 31, 2012Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Lucretia Vanderwende, Christopher John Brockett
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Publication number: 20130262114Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2012Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Christopher John Brockett, Piali Choudhury, William Brennan Dolan, Yun-Cheng Ju, Patrick Pantel, Noelle Mallory Sophy, Svitlana Volkova
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Patent number: 8484016Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 28, 2010Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Christopher John Brockett, Stanley Kok, Dengyong Zhou
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Publication number: 20130103493Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2011Publication date: April 25, 2013Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Jianfeng Gao, Xuedong Huang, Mei Li, Zhenghao Wang, Christopher John Brockett, William B. Dolan
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Publication number: 20120296635Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2011Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Christopher John Brockett, William Brennan Dolan
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Publication number: 20120096042Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2010Publication date: April 19, 2012Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Christopher John Brockett, Jianfeng Gao, Vahed Qazvinian
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Patent number: 8078451Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 27, 2006Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: William B. Dolan, Christopher John Brockett, Michael Gamon
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Publication number: 20110295589Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2010Publication date: December 1, 2011Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Christopher John Brockett, Stanley Kok, Dengyong Zhou
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Publication number: 20100293180Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2009Publication date: November 18, 2010Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Lucretia Vanderwende, Christopher John Brockett
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Publication number: 20080103759Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2006Publication date: May 1, 2008Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: William B. Dolan, Christopher John Brockett, Michael Gamon
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Publication number: 20080045438Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2006Publication date: February 21, 2008Applicant: D/B/A UNILEVER, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORKInventors: Kimball James WOELFEL, Jonathan MOY, John BROCKETT
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Publication number: 20040102345Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2002Publication date: May 27, 2004Applicant: 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
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Publication number: 20030139309Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2003Publication date: July 24, 2003Applicant: 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