Patents by Inventor John M. Boyer

John M. Boyer 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: 11681932
    Abstract: A first and second blending profile may be created for a set of question answering pipelines. A set of test answer data may be generated for a first answering pipeline. The test answer data may be generated based on a set of test question and using an answer key associated with the test questions. Based on the test answer data, a first blending profile can be created for the first answering pipeline. Using the set of test questions and a second answer key, another set of test answer data may be generated. This set may be generated for the second answering pipeline. Using this second answering pipeline test answer data, a second blending profile can be generated for the second answering pipeline. Each blending profile may have metadata about a confidence of each pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: John M. Boyer
  • Patent number: 11200510
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for text classifier training. The mechanism receives a training set of text and class specification pairs to be used as a ground truth for training a text classifier machine learning model for a text classifier. Each text and class specification pair comprises a text and a corresponding class specification. A domain terms selector component identifies at least one domain term in the texts of the training set. A domain terms replacer component replaces the at least one identified domain term in the texts of the training set with a corresponding replacement term to form a revised set of text and class specification pairs. A text classifier trainer component trains the text classifier machine learning model using the revised set to form a trained text classifier machine learning model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Boyer, Kshitij P. Fadnis, Dinesh Raghu
  • Patent number: 11163429
    Abstract: Embodiments can provide a computer implemented method in a data processing system comprising a processor and a memory, the memory comprising instructions that are executed by the processor to cause the processor to implement a system for providing profile photo enhancement, the method comprising receiving, from a specification source, one or more specifications for image acceptance criteria; receiving, from an uploading user, an image; examining, through an image processing toolbox, the image to determine if all of the image acceptance criteria are met; if all image acceptance criteria are met, accepting the image; and if one or more image acceptance criteria are not met, processing the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul R. Bastide, John M. Boyer
  • Patent number: 10956824
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for performing watched question processing. The mechanisms detect a change in content of electronic documents in a corpus of electronic documents, and retrieve a watched question from a watched question database. The mechanisms determine whether full processing of the watched question through the question answering pipeline is to be bypassed when performing watched question processing in response to the detected change in content of the electronic documents in the corpus. The mechanisms bypass one or more stages of processing of the question answering pipeline in response to determining that full processing of the watched question through the question answering pipeline is to be bypassed. The mechanisms return a result of the watched question processing indicating that no changes to the previously generated answers are caused by the change in the content of the electronic documents in the corpus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Boyer, Bryan J. Kyle
  • Patent number: 10936956
    Abstract: An answer to a question may selected from answers from a set of answering pipelines. Question answer data can be generated for a question, using a first answering pipeline. Another set of question answer data can be generated for the second question, using the second answering pipeline. The question answer data can include answers and confidence values for each answer. Using a weighting formula and a blending profile for the first answering pipeline, a vote weight can be determined for an answer with the highest confidence value. The same weighting formula and a second blending profile may be used to determine a vote weight for another answer with the highest confidence value. An answer to the question may be selected from the answers, based on the overall highest vote weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: John M. Boyer
  • Patent number: 10902330
    Abstract: A first and second blending profile may be created for a set of question answering pipelines. A set of test answer data may be generated for a first answering pipeline. The test answer data may be generated based on a set of test question and using an answer key associated with the test questions. Based on the test answer data, a first blending profile can be created for the first answering pipeline. Using the set of test questions and a second answer key, another set of test answer data may be generated. This set may be generated for the second answering pipeline. Using this second answering pipeline test answer data, a second blending profile can be generated for the second answering pipeline. Each blending profile may have metadata about a confidence of each pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: John M. Boyer
  • Patent number: 10769537
    Abstract: An answer to a question may selected from answers from a set of answering pipelines. Question answer data can be generated for a question, using a first answering pipeline. Another set of question answer data can be generated for the second question, using the second answering pipeline. The question answer data can include answers and confidence values for each answer. Using a weighting formula and a blending profile for the first answering pipeline, a vote weight can be determined for an answer with the highest confidence value. The same weighting formula and a second blending profile may be used to determine a vote weight for another answer with the highest confidence value. An answer to the question may be selected from the answers, based on the overall highest vote weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: John M. Boyer
  • Publication number: 20200097843
    Abstract: A first and second blending profile may be created for a set of question answering pipelines. A set of test answer data may be generated for a first answering pipeline. The test answer data may be generated based on a set of test question and using an answer key associated with the test questions. Based on the test answer data, a first blending profile can be created for the first answering pipeline. Using the set of test questions and a second answer key, another set of test answer data may be generated. This set may be generated for the second answering pipeline. Using this second answering pipeline test answer data, a second blending profile can be generated for the second answering pipeline. Each blending profile may have metadata about a confidence of each pipeline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventor: John M. Boyer
  • Patent number: 10552527
    Abstract: A system for presenting and executing a multiplicity of interactive forms as a single document includes a server having one or more copies of a multi-form package and configured to deliver a copy of the package to a requesting device upon request. The system also includes a client computing device configured to request and receive the multi-form package, the first computing device including an application program and a multi-form document engine configured to receive commands from the application program and, in response, cause forms from the multi-form package to be presented and executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Boyer, David F. Manning, Michael C. Mansell
  • Patent number: 10546035
    Abstract: A system and method for web application navigation control includes updating navigation data models used in navigation constraints with received data from an end-user or system. Without needing a centralized application-specific controller, from a collection of extensible navigation rules associated with each page of a plurality of pages, the extensible navigation rules are automatically selected which depend on changed data values and need re-evaluation. The navigation constraints associated only with the pages potentially changing their ready state to execute from among the plurality of pages in an entire application are evaluated to determine which pages are ready to run based on updated data from the navigation data models. A preferred page to be actually navigated to next is selected from among a set of all available and ready pages by execution of a set of second and separate navigation constraints using results of the navigation constraints of the evaluating step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rahul P. Akolkar, John M. Boyer, Charles F. Wiecha
  • Publication number: 20200012951
    Abstract: An answer to a question may selected from answers from a set of answering pipelines. Question answer data can be generated for a question, using a first answering pipeline. Another set of question answer data can be generated for the second question, using the second answering pipeline. The question answer data can include answers and confidence values for each answer. Using a weighting formula and a blending profile for the first answering pipeline, a vote weight can be determined for an answer with the highest confidence value. The same weighting formula and a second blending profile may be used to determine a vote weight for another answer with the highest confidence value. An answer to the question may be selected from the answers, based on the overall highest vote weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventor: John M. Boyer
  • Publication number: 20190339845
    Abstract: Embodiments can provide a computer implemented method in a data processing system comprising a processor and a memory, the memory comprising instructions that are executed by the processor to cause the processor to implement a system for providing profile photo enhancement, the method comprising receiving, from a specification source, one or more specifications for image acceptance criteria; receiving, from an uploading user, an image; examining, through an image processing toolbox, the image to determine if all of the image acceptance criteria are met; if all image acceptance criteria are met, accepting the image; and if one or more image acceptance criteria are not met, processing the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Paul R. Bastide, John M. Boyer
  • Patent number: 10416859
    Abstract: Embodiments can provide a computer implemented method in a data processing system comprising a processor and a memory, the memory comprising instructions that are executed by the processor to cause the processor to implement a system for providing profile photo enhancement, the method comprising receiving, from a specification source, one or more specifications for image acceptance criteria; receiving, from an uploading user, an image; examining, through an image processing toolbox, the image to determine if all of the image acceptance criteria are met; if all image acceptance criteria are met, accepting the image; and if one or more image acceptance criteria are not met, processing the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul R. Bastide, John M. Boyer
  • Patent number: 10289731
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for aggregating sentiment about an entity from a corpus of documents. The mechanism identifies a plurality of sentiment passages in the corpus of documents. Each of the plurality of sentiment passages includes a statement of sentiment about the entity. The mechanism determines a plurality of passage sentiment scores for the plurality of sentiment passages and an actual aggregate sentiment score from the plurality of passage sentiment scores based on a k-valued model. The mechanism determines a sentiment confidence score for the actual aggregate sentiment score based on the raw aggregate sentiment score and the actual aggregate sentiment score and presents the actual aggregate sentiment score and the sentiment confidence score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Boyer, Scott N. Gerard, Srikanth G. Tamilselvam
  • Publication number: 20190122356
    Abstract: Embodiments can provide a computer implemented method in a data processing system comprising a processor and a memory, the memory comprising instructions that are executed by the processor to cause the processor to implement a system for providing profile photo enhancement, the method comprising receiving, from an online platform, one or more specifications for image acceptance criteria; receiving, through an uploading user, a plurality of images; receiving, through a requesting user, a request to view an image; selecting a particular specification for image acceptance criteria; for each image in the plurality of images: examining, through an image processing toolbox, the image to determine if the image acceptance criteria are met; if all acceptance criteria are met, providing the image to the requesting user; if one or more acceptance criteria are not met, taking one or more actions to process the image, reexamining, through the image processing toolbox, the processed image to determine if the image acceptan
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Paul R. Bastide, John M. Boyer
  • Patent number: 10255668
    Abstract: Embodiments can provide a computer implemented method in a data processing system comprising a processor and a memory, the memory comprising instructions that are executed by the processor to cause the processor to implement a system for providing profile photo enhancement, the method comprising receiving, from an online platform, one or more specifications for image acceptance criteria; receiving, through an uploading user, a plurality of images; receiving, through a requesting user, a request to view an image; selecting a particular specification for image acceptance criteria; for each image in the plurality of images: examining, through an image processing toolbox, the image to determine if the image acceptance criteria are met; if all acceptance criteria are met, providing the image to the requesting user; if one or more acceptance criteria are not met, taking one or more actions to process the image, reexamining, through the image processing toolbox, the processed image to determine if the image acceptan
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul R. Bastide, John M. Boyer
  • Publication number: 20180341714
    Abstract: A system and method for web application navigation control includes updating navigation data models used in navigation constraints with received data from an end-user or system. Without needing a centralized application-specific controller, from a collection of extensible navigation rules associated with each page of a plurality of pages, the extensible navigation rules are automatically selected which depend on changed data values and need re-evaluation. The navigation constraints associated only with the pages potentially changing their ready state to execute from among the plurality of pages in an entire application are evaluated to determine which pages are ready to run based on updated data from the navigation data models. A preferred page to be actually navigated to next is selected from among a set of all available and ready pages by execution of a set of second and separate navigation constraints using results of the navigation constraints of the evaluating step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: RAHUL P. AKOLKAR, JOHN M. BOYER, CHARLES F. WIECHA
  • Patent number: 10083242
    Abstract: A system and method for web application navigation control includes updating navigation data models used in navigation constraints with received data from an end-user or system. Without needing a centralized application-specific controller, from a collection of extensible navigation rules associated with each page of a plurality of pages, the extensible navigation rules are automatically selected which depend on changed data values and need re-evaluation. The navigation constraints associated only with the pages potentially changing their ready state to execute from among the plurality of pages in an entire application are evaluated to determine which pages are ready to run based on updated data from the navigation data models. A preferred page to be actually navigated to next is selected from among a set of all available and ready pages by execution of a set of second and separate navigation constraints using results of the navigation constraints of the evaluating step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rahul P. Akolkar, John M. Boyer, Charles F. Wiecha
  • Publication number: 20180165580
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for performing watched question processing. The mechanisms detect a change in content of electronic documents in a corpus of electronic documents, and retrieve a watched question from a watched question database. The mechanisms determine whether full processing of the watched question through the question answering pipeline is to be bypassed when performing watched question processing in response to the detected change in content of the electronic documents in the corpus. The mechanisms bypass one or more stages of processing of the question answering pipeline in response to determining that full processing of the watched question through the question answering pipeline is to be bypassed. The mechanisms return a result of the watched question processing indicating that no changes to the previously generated answers are caused by the change in the content of the electronic documents in the corpus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: John M. Boyer, Bryan J. Kyle
  • Publication number: 20180136804
    Abstract: In an approach, a processor obtains at least one media file. A processor receives a request to create a segment sequence using the at least one media file, wherein the segment sequence comprises a plurality of segments of the at least one media file. A processor creates the segment sequence from the at least one media file. A processor shares the segment sequence to a social computing platform. A processor receives a request for a social computing operation to be performed on the segment sequence. A processor performs the social computing operation on the segment sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Muhtar B. Akbulut, John M. Boyer, Steven D. Wood