Patents by Inventor Michael D. Pfeifer

Michael D. Pfeifer 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: 11269929
    Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, methods, systems and computer readable media are provided, in a cognitive data processing system, for implementing a predictive analytics system that utilizes entity and non-entity information. A collection of content is processed to extract defined entities pertaining to one or more domains. Semantic relationships are determined between objects within the collection of content, wherein the objects include undefined entities. The defined entities and objects are resolved based on entity definitions and the semantic relationships to determine defined entities and undefined entities for a resulting data set. The resulting data set is processed to identify one or more relationships between a defined entity and an undefined entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William S. Spangler, Richard L. Martin, David Martinez Iraola, Daniel Pierce, Sheng Hua Bao, Meenakshi Nagarajan, Michael D. Pfeifer
  • Publication number: 20210019313
    Abstract: Managing answers in a question-answering environment is disclosed. Managing answers in the question-answering environment can include sorting, based on a set of answer categories for a subject matter, a first set of answers into a first answer category and a second set of answers into a second answer category. Managing answers in the question-answering environment can include determining, using the subject matter, a first category sequence including the first answer category and the second answer category, and establishing, based on the first category sequence, a first answer sequence established from a portion of the first set of answers from the first answer category and a portion of the second set of answers from the second answer category.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Kevin S. Barker, Thomas J. Eggebraaten, Mark G. Megerian, John E. Petri, Michael D. Pfeifer
  • Patent number: 10885025
    Abstract: Managing answers in a question-answering environment is disclosed. Managing answers in the question-answering environment can include sorting, based on a set of answer categories for a subject matter, a first set of answers into a first answer category and a second set of answers into a second answer category. Managing answers in the question-answering environment can include determining, using the subject matter, a first category sequence including the first answer category and the second answer category, and establishing, based on the first category sequence, a first answer sequence established from a portion of the first set of answers from the first answer category and a portion of the second set of answers from the second answer category.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin S. Barker, Thomas J. Eggebraaten, Mark G. Megerian, John E. Petri, Michael D. Pfeifer
  • Publication number: 20190340294
    Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, methods, systems and computer readable media are provided, in a cognitive data processing system, for implementing a predictive analytics system that utilizes entity and non-entity information. A collection of content is processed to extract defined entities pertaining to one or more domains. Semantic relationships are determined between objects within the collection of content, wherein the objects include undefined entities. The defined entities and objects are resolved based on entity definitions and the semantic relationships to determine defined entities and undefined entities for a resulting data set. The resulting data set is processed to identify one or more relationships between a defined entity and an undefined entity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: William S. Spangler, Richard L. Martin, David Martinez Iraola, Daniel Pierce, Sheng Hua Bao, Meenakshi Nagarajan, Michael D. Pfeifer
  • Patent number: 10460239
    Abstract: A system and computer implemented method for generating a set of inferred questions for a question answering system is disclosed. The method may include determining, based on context data, a user state. The method may also include extracting characterization information for an object satisfying an attention criteria. The characterization information may be configured to include sensory data. The method may also include determining a relationship between the object and the user state based on the characterization information for the object and the context data of the user state. The method may also include generating, based on the relationship between the object and the user state, a set of inferred questions for a question answering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Petri, Michael D. Pfeifer, William C. Rapp
  • Patent number: 10043024
    Abstract: Method to perform an operation comprising receiving, from a set of input devices, data of an environment surrounding a computing device, determining a current context of a discussion based on the data and a timing schedule specifying a list of planned contexts, receiving a request to perform an operation on the computing device, determining a context of the requested operation, determining a measure of relatedness between the contexts, and upon determining the measure of relatedness does not exceed a predefined threshold, restricting execution of the operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Adam T. Clark, John S. Mysak, Aspen L. Payton, John E. Petri, Michael D. Pfeifer
  • Patent number: 9923898
    Abstract: A computer system comprises a processor and a memory coupled to the at least one processor. The processor is configured to collect context information for a presentation from a set of monitoring devices stationed in a presentation environment where the presentation is performed; determine, based on the context information for the presentation, a subject matter group for the presentation; and generate a set of access rules for a set of network devices in the presentation environment based on the context information for the presentation. The processor is further configured to identify, based on the subject matter group, a first set of resources relevant to the subject matter group; and restrict access of the set of network devices to resources not included in the first set of resources during performance of the presentation based on the set of access rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Adam T. Clark, John S. Mysak, Aspen L. Payton, John E. Petri, Michael D. Pfeifer
  • Patent number: 9886591
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products to perform an operation comprising receiving, from a set of input devices, data of an environment surrounding a computing device, determining a current context of a discussion based on the data and a timing schedule specifying a list of planned contexts, receiving a request to perform an operation on the computing device, determining a context of the requested operation, determining a measure of relatedness between the contexts, and upon determining the measure of relatedness does not exceed a predefined threshold, restricting execution of the operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Adam T. Clark, John S. Mysak, Aspen L. Payton, John E. Petri, Michael D. Pfeifer
  • Patent number: 9888006
    Abstract: A method comprises collecting context information for a presentation using a set of monitoring devices stationed in the presentation environment where the presentation is performed; determining, based on the context information for the presentation, a subject matter group for the presentation; and generating a set of access rules for a set of network devices based on the context information for the presentation. The method further comprises identifying, based on the subject matter group, a first set of resources relevant to the subject matter group; and restricting access to resources not included in the first set of resources during performance of the presentation based on the set of access rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Adam T. Clark, John S. Mysak, Aspen L. Payton, John E. Petri, Michael D. Pfeifer
  • Publication number: 20170026471
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward managing resources in a presentation environment. Aspects are directed toward collecting, using a set of monitoring devices, context information with respect to a presentation. Aspects are also directed toward determining, based on the context information for the presentation, a subject matter group and a set of access rules for the set of network devices. Aspects are also directed toward identifying, based on the subject matter group, a first set of resources. Aspects are also directed toward establishing, based on the set of access rules and the first set of resources, a first subset of the first set of resources for the set of network devices of the presentation environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Adam T. Clark, John S. Mysak, Aspen L. Payton, John E. Petri, Michael D. Pfeifer
  • Publication number: 20170026377
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward managing resources in a presentation environment. Aspects are directed toward collecting, using a set of monitoring devices, context information with respect to a presentation. Aspects are also directed toward determining, based on the context information for the presentation, a subject matter group and a set of access rules for the set of network devices. Aspects are also directed toward identifying, based on the subject matter group, a first set of resources. Aspects are also directed toward establishing, based on the set of access rules and the first set of resources, a first subset of the first set of resources for the set of network devices of the presentation environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Adam T. Clark, John S. Mysak, Aspen L. Payton, John E. Petri, Michael D. Pfeifer
  • Patent number: 9525693
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward managing resources in a presentation environment. Aspects are directed toward collecting, using a set of monitoring devices, context information with respect to a presentation. Aspects are also directed toward determining, based on the context information for the presentation, a subject matter group and a set of access rules for the set of network devices. Aspects are also directed toward identifying, based on the subject matter group, a first set of resources. Aspects are also directed toward establishing, based on the set of access rules and the first set of resources, a first subset of the first set of resources for the set of network devices of the presentation environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Adam T. Clark, John S. Mysak, Aspen L. Payton, John E. Petri, Michael D. Pfeifer
  • Patent number: 9519719
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward managing resources in a presentation environment. Aspects are directed toward collecting, using a set of monitoring devices, context information with respect to a presentation. Aspects are also directed toward determining, based on the context information for the presentation, a subject matter group and a set of access rules for the set of network devices. Aspects are also directed toward identifying, based on the subject matter group, a first set of resources. Aspects are also directed toward establishing, based on the set of access rules and the first set of resources, a first subset of the first set of resources for the set of network devices of the presentation environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Adam T. Clark, John S. Mysak, Aspen L. Payton, John E. Petri, Michael D. Pfeifer
  • Publication number: 20160358489
    Abstract: Method to perform an operation comprising identifying, in a corpus comprising a plurality of items of content, a subset of the plurality of items of content having a concept matching a concept in a learning environment, wherein each item of content comprises a set of attributes, computing an assistance score for each item of content in the subset based on the set of attributes of the respective item of content in the subset and a set of attributes of a user in the learning environment, and upon determining that a first item of content, of the subset of items of content, has as an assistance score greater than the assistance scores of the other items in the subset, returning the first item of content to the user as a learning supplement for the concept in the learning environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Alexander J. CANTER, Adam T. CLARK, John S. MYSAK, Aspen L. PAYTON, John E. PETRI, Michael D. PFEIFER
  • Publication number: 20160358488
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products to perform an operation comprising identifying, in a corpus comprising a plurality of items of content, a subset of the plurality of items of content having a concept matching a concept in a learning environment, wherein each item of content comprises a set of attributes, computing an assistance score for each item of content in the subset based on the set of attributes of the respective item of content in the subset and a set of attributes of a user in the learning environment, and upon determining that a first item of content, of the subset of items of content, has as an assistance score greater than the assistance scores of the other items in the subset, returning the first item of content to the user as a learning supplement for the concept in the learning environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Alexander J. CANTER, Adam T. CLARK, John S. MYSAK, Aspen L. PAYTON, John E. PETRI, Michael D. PFEIFER
  • Publication number: 20160232368
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products to perform an operation comprising receiving, from a set of input devices, data of an environment surrounding a computing device, determining a current context of a discussion based on the data and a timing schedule specifying a list of planned contexts, receiving a request to perform an operation on the computing device, determining a context of the requested operation, determining a measure of relatedness between the contexts, and upon determining the measure of relatedness does not exceed a predefined threshold, restricting execution of the operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Adam T. CLARK, John S. MYSAK, Aspen L. PAYTON, John E. PETRI, Michael D. PFEIFER
  • Publication number: 20160232243
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward managing resources in a presentation environment. Aspects are directed toward collecting, using a set of monitoring devices, context information with respect to a presentation. Aspects are also directed toward determining, based on the context information for the presentation, a subject matter group and a set of access rules for the set of network devices. Aspects are also directed toward identifying, based on the subject matter group, a first set of resources. Aspects are also directed toward establishing, based on the set of access rules and the first set of resources, a first subset of the first set of resources for the set of network devices of the presentation environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Adam T. Clark, John S. Mysak, Aspen L. Payton, John E. Petri, Michael D. Pfeifer
  • Publication number: 20160232245
    Abstract: Method to perform an operation comprising receiving, from a set of input devices, data of an environment surrounding a computing device, determining a current context of a discussion based on the data and a timing schedule specifying a list of planned contexts, receiving a request to perform an operation on the computing device, determining a context of the requested operation, determining a measure of relatedness between the contexts, and upon determining the measure of relatedness does not exceed a predefined threshold, restricting execution of the operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Adam T. CLARK, John S. MYSAK, Aspen L. PAYTON, John E. PETRI, Michael D. PFEIFER
  • Publication number: 20160234223
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward managing resources in a presentation environment. Aspects are directed toward collecting, using a set of monitoring devices, context information with respect to a presentation. Aspects are also directed toward determining, based on the context information for the presentation, a subject matter group and a set of access rules for the set of network devices. Aspects are also directed toward identifying, based on the subject matter group, a first set of resources. Aspects are also directed toward establishing, based on the set of access rules and the first set of resources, a first subset of the first set of resources for the set of network devices of the presentation environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Adam T. Clark, John S. Mysak, Aspen L. Payton, John E. Petri, Michael D. Pfeifer
  • Patent number: 9396158
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for calculating performance metrics associated with a data stream. A processing element configured to process data tuples flowing through a stream-based computing system receives data tuples via the data stream. Each of the one or more tuples is processed at the processing element, and each of the one or more tuples are associated with metadata that includes information related to the processing of the tuple by the processing element. Performance metrics are then calculated for the data stream based on the metadata associated with the one or more tuples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan K. Cradick, Michael D. Pfeifer, John M. Santosuosso