Patents by Inventor Nathaniel Mills
Nathaniel Mills 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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Patent number: 12197504Abstract: A method, computer system, and a computer program for conducting a conversational search. In one embodiment, the method includes monitoring a dialogue involving at least one user and capturing user utterances provided during the dialogue. These user utterances are then analyzed and classified according to the context of the dialogue. The dialogue is intervened upon the determination that a user needs additional information and/or upon execution of an action on behalf of the user and based on the plurality of user utterances and context. The Required information may be provided back to the user using Documentation Recommendation Module. The Documentation Recommendation Module determines a valid resource recommendation as determined by a combination of the context and a resource that includes additional information.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2022Date of Patent: January 14, 2025Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Jatin Ganhotra, Nathaniel Mills, Chulaka Gunasekara, Kshitij Fadnis, Sachindra Joshi, Luis A. Lastras-Montano
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Patent number: 12190067Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for context-based response generation are provided herein. A method includes: obtaining conversation logs comprising agent responses matched to contexts and a set of designated responses that are not matched to the contexts; replacing at least a portion of the agent responses with the designated responses to form modified conversation logs; training a first model, using the modified conversation logs, to output a designated response in the set for a given context and a second model, using the historical conversation logs, to output one of the agent responses for a given context; identifying one or more new responses based at least in part on the output of the second machine learning model for a particular one of the contexts; and retraining the first machine learning model based at least in part on the one or more new responses.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2022Date of Patent: January 7, 2025Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Gaurav Pandey, Danish Contractor, Nathaniel Mills, Jatin Ganhotra, Ross Warren Judd, Sachindra Joshi, Luis A. Lastras-Montano
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Patent number: 11941414Abstract: Embodiments herein describe an automated process for identifying tasks that can be converted from primarily being driven by a human agent into bot-driven RPAs. This disclosure describes techniques for automatically generating RPAs by monitoring the actions of the agent and identifying corresponding events. These events can be performed on unstructured data sources and structured data sources. The events are clustered into different tasks where pattern detection techniques are used to identify common (or overlapping) events and causal relationships between the events. Using these causal relationships, the system can map events performed on unstructured data sources to events performed on structured data source. The system can then generate respective bot-RPAs for the tasks. The system can monitor, in real-time, data received from unstructured and/or structured data sources and when it identifies data for one of the bot-RPAs, automatically execute the RPA to perform the task.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2020Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Jatin Ganhotra, Sachindra Joshi, Nathaniel Mills, Luis A. Lastras-Montano
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Publication number: 20230342397Abstract: A method, computer system, and a computer program for conducting a conversational search. In one embodiment, the method includes monitoring a dialogue involving at least one user and capturing user utterances provided during the dialogue. These user utterances are then analyzed and classified according to the context of the dialogue. The dialogue is intervened upon the determination that a user needs additional information and/or upon execution of an action on behalf of the user and based on the plurality of user utterances and context. The Required information may be provided back to the user using Documentation Recommendation Module. The Documentation Recommendation Module determines a valid resource recommendation as determined by a combination of the context and a resource that includes additional information.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2022Publication date: October 26, 2023Inventors: Jatin Ganhotra, Nathaniel Mills, Chulaka Gunasekara, Kshitij Fadnis, Sachindra Joshi, Luis A. Lastras-Montano
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Publication number: 20230267278Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for context-based response generation are provided herein. A method includes: obtaining conversation logs comprising agent responses matched to contexts and a set of designated responses that are not matched to the contexts; replacing at least a portion of the agent responses with the designated responses to form modified conversation logs; training a first model, using the modified conversation logs, to output a designated response in the set for a given context and a second model, using the historical conversation logs, to output one of the agent responses for a given context; identifying one or more new responses based at least in part on the output of the second machine learning model for a particular one of the contexts; and retraining the first machine learning model based at least in part on the one or more new responses.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2022Publication date: August 24, 2023Inventors: Gaurav Pandey, DANISH CONTRACTOR, Nathaniel Mills, Jatin GANHOTRA, Ross Warren Judd, Sachindra Joshi, Luis A. Lastras-Montano
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Publication number: 20220335308Abstract: A system and method for determining parameters for a system. Selectable questions with associated goal are presented. Operational goals are different from configurable parameters of the system. A question is selected and a goal indication is received. First values for each goal are determined by an optimization engine adjusting parameters of mathematical models for the system to improve a value of the goal associated with the selected question in a direction of the goal indication. Selectable questions and the first values are presented and selection of a second question and a second goal indication is received. An optimization engine determines second updated values by adjusting parameters of the mathematical model to improve a value of a goal associated with the second selected question in the direction of the second goal indication. Second updated values of the goals, and differences from the first updated values. are presented.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2021Publication date: October 20, 2022Inventors: Nianjun ZHOU, Viktoriia KUSHERBAEVA, Dharmashankar SUBRAMANIAN, Xiang MA, Jacqueline WILLIAMS, Nathaniel MILLS
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Publication number: 20220164200Abstract: Embodiments herein describe an automated process for identifying tasks that can be converted from primarily being driven by a human agent into bot-driven RPAs. This disclosure describes techniques for automatically generating RPAs by monitoring the actions of the agent and identifying corresponding events. These events can be performed on unstructured data sources and structured data sources. The events are clustered into different tasks where pattern detection techniques are used to identify common (or overlapping) events and causal relationships between the events. Using these causal relationships, the system can map events performed on unstructured data sources to events performed on structured data source. The system can then generate respective bot-RPAs for the tasks. The system can monitor, in real-time, data received from unstructured and/or structured data sources and when it identifies data for one of the bot-RPAs, automatically execute the RPA to perform the task.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2020Publication date: May 26, 2022Inventors: Jatin GANHOTRA, Sachindra JOSHI, Nathaniel MILLS, Luis A. LASTRAS-MONTANO
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Patent number: 11056107Abstract: A computer-implemented conversational system framework to perform tasks associated with a client request. A conversation application executing on a hardware processor provides application workflow orchestration, the conversation application receiving a client request and sending one or more application requests based on the application workflow orchestration. A conversation system executing on a hardware processor provides conversation workflow orchestration, the conversation system receiving the one or more application requests. The conversation application and the conversation system develop dialog context and store the dialog context in a memory device. The conversation application and the conversation system develop the dialog context by invoking at least one micro-service to perform tasks associated with the one or more application requests. The conversation application generates a response to the client request based on the developed dialog context.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2018Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: David Nahamoo, Lazaros Polymenakos, Nathaniel Mills, Li Zhu
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Collaborative multi-media, multi-channel cognitive visual analytics rationale authoring and playback
Patent number: 10743083Abstract: Various embodiments provide a multi-channel collaborative visual analytics (CVA) system, method and computer program product for coordinating collaborative data exploration. The system comprises a central CVA server and a plurality of client devices. The CVA server has a plurality of local channels and a global channel. Each client device is coupled to one or more local channels of the central CVA server by one or more WebSockets and communicates state change event data of a distributed-web-connected application to the central CVA server. The central CVA server manages both real-time delivery and recorded playback of the state change events for the plurality of client devices. The CVA system further comprises a persistent store that stores the state change events from the plurality of client devices for deferred playback.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2015Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: David H. Byman, Nathaniel Mills -
Publication number: 20190304445Abstract: A computer-implemented conversational system framework to perform tasks associated with a client request. A conversation application executing on a hardware processor provides application workflow orchestration, the conversation application receiving a client request and sending one or more application requests based on the application workflow orchestration. A conversation system executing on a hardware processor provides conversation workflow orchestration, the conversation system receiving the one or more application requests. The conversation application and the conversation system develop dialog context and store the dialog context in a memory device. The conversation application and the conversation system develop the dialog context by invoking at least one micro-service to perform tasks associated with the one or more application requests. The conversation application generates a response to the client request based on the developed dialog context.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2018Publication date: October 3, 2019Inventors: David Nahamoo, Lazaros Polymenakos, Nathaniel Mills, Li Zhu
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COLLABORATIVE MULTI-MEDIA, MULTI-CHANNEL COGNITIVE VISUAL ANALYTICS RATIONALE AUTHORING AND PLAYBACK
Publication number: 20170180458Abstract: Various embodiments provide a multi-channel collaborative visual analytics (CVA) system, method and computer program product for coordinating collaborative data exploration. The system comprises a central CVA server and a plurality of client devices. The CVA server has a plurality of local channels and a global channel. Each client device is coupled to one or more local channels of the central CVA server by one or more WebSockets and communicates state change event data of a distributed-web-connected application to the central CVA server. The central CVA server manages both real-time delivery and recorded playback of the state change events for the plurality of client devices. The CVA system further comprises a persistent store that stores the state change events from the plurality of client devices for deferred playback.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2015Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventors: David H. BYMAN, Nathaniel MILLS -
Patent number: 9324027Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for facilitating collaborative decision making may be provided. The system receives data representing individual postings of users associated with a deliberation to make a decision. The system further receives ratings associated with the individual postings in order to make the decision. The system represents the received data in a hierarchical data structure. The system aggregates, through the hierarchical data structure, the ratings associated with the individual postings to obtain strength values. The system facilitates the making of the decision based on the aggregated strength values.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2013Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Nathaniel Mills, Bonnie K. Ray, Jesus M. Rios Aliaga, Steven I. Ross
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Publication number: 20150039548Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for facilitating collaborative decision making may be provided. The system receives data representing individual postings of users associated with a deliberation to make a decision. The system further receives ratings associated with the individual postings in order to make the decision. The system represents the received data in a hierarchical data structure. The system aggregates, through the hierarchical data structure, the ratings associated with the individual postings to obtain strength values. The system facilitates the making of the decision based on the aggregated strength values.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2013Publication date: February 5, 2015Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Nathaniel Mills, Bonnie K. Ray, Jesus M. Rios Aliaga, Steven I. Ross
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Patent number: 7848988Abstract: Electronic contracts or “eContracts” for representing service level agreements are provided. In one illustrative embodiment, the eContract may comprise information pertaining to: (a) descriptions of business transactions in IT terms; (b) financial implications of business transaction service levels; and (c) reporting to be done in business terms. Of course, the eContract may comprise other terms and conditions. In an illustrative aspect of the invention, a system for managing IT resources in terms of business financials comprises an electronic contract authoring system or “ecAuthoring system,” an electronic contract manager module or “ecManager,” and one or more electronic contract agent modules or “ecAgents” that may run on IT elements (e.g., components of the network) that are being managed. Analysts interact with the ecAuthoring system to construct eContracts. An eContract is input to an ecManager that interprets the contract to report on and optimize IT resources based on business financials.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2007Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Joseph L. Hellerstein, Gautam Kar, Alexander Keller, W. Nathaniel Mills, III, John F. Morar
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Patent number: 7720958Abstract: Techniques for use in accordance with application performance decomposition are provided which take advantage of the communications protocol used to carry a transaction between application components in a distributed computing network. Specifically, the invention extends the communications protocol by embedding data, such as timestamp and duration measurement data, in the protocol itself, rather than extending or altering the application or transaction data carried by the protocol as in existing approaches. Thus, the invention provides natural correlation of interactions of distributed application components on such transactions without modification to the application or transaction data. Because the correlation is performed in-line with the application component interactions, minimal data management overhead is required, and correlated performance decomposition is made possible in real-time for the transaction.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2001Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: W. Nathaniel Mills, III, LeRoy A. Krueger, Jr., Joseph L. Hellerstein, Srirama Mandyam Krishnakumar, Mark S. Squillante
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Patent number: 7610228Abstract: Electronic contracts or “eContracts” for representing service level agreements are provided. In one illustrative embodiment, the eContract may comprise information pertaining to: (a) descriptions of business transactions in IT terms; (b) financial implications of business transaction service levels; and (c) reporting to be done in business terms. Of course, the eContract may comprise other terms and conditions. In an illustrative aspect of the invention, a system for managing IT resources in terms of business financials comprises an electronic contract authoring system or “ecAuthoring system,” an electronic contract manager module or “ecManager,” and one or more electronic contract agent modules or “ecAgents” that may run on IT elements (e.g., components of the network) that are being managed. Analysts interact with the ecAuthoring system to construct eContracts. An eContract is input to an ecManager that interprets the contract to report on and optimize IT resources based on business financials.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2001Date of Patent: October 27, 2009Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Joseph L. Hellerstein, Gautam Kar, Alexander Keller, W. Nathaniel Mills, III, John F. Morar
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Publication number: 20080168171Abstract: A method for processing requests from a client to a server, the method comprising: receiving a service request from the client at a service manager implemented on the server; negotiating the type of workflow engine to use between the server and the client; negotiating the type of notification to use between the server and the client; receiving a further service request from the client at the service manager, the further service request using the negotiated type of workflow engine and the negotiated type of notification; creating a surrogate client executing on the server, the surrogate client interfacing the client with a service provider application executing on the server; providing a reference to the surrogate client to the client; the surrogate client receiving requests from the client and forwarding a surrogate request to the service provider application, the surrogate request including a predicted request based on multiple requests from the client; and the surrogate client receiving a notification fromType: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2007Publication date: July 10, 2008Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Genady Grabarnik, Nathaniel Mills, Larisa Shwartz, Alexander Zlatsin
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Publication number: 20080167963Abstract: A method and structure for a set of rules processed by combining a procedural rule engine and a pattern matching inference engine to compute and apply discounts to customer orders in an electronic commerce system. The rule processing occurs in multiple phases. First all applicable discounts are computed. Then all allowable subsets of discounts are computed. Finally, a set of discounts is selected, based on business policies, and the discounts are applied to the order line items.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2008Publication date: July 10, 2008Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Joseph P. Bigus, W. Nathaniel Mills
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Patent number: 6701363Abstract: The present invention comprises a method of relating characteristics gleaned by monitoring application transaction flows (and the decomposition thereof) to produce performance metrics useful to characterize the efficiency and performance of web transactions used in a web-based application. These metrics can assist application designers and developers in reorganizing their application content, programs, and transports to provide improved service to their consumer. Events are generated and composed into predefined activities on a web transaction basis. The performance metric is then derived that entails a relationship between at least two different activities that gives insight into the performance characteristics of the web transaction. By using the derived performance metrics, designers and developers of web pages can judge the effects of changes to their application relative to efficiency and performance. Different applications can also be compared and contrasted using these metrics.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 2000Date of Patent: March 2, 2004Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Willy W. Chiu, Nagui Halim, Joseph L. Hellerstein, LeRoy Albert Krueger, Jr., W. Nathaniel Mills, III, Mark S. Squillante
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Publication number: 20030004848Abstract: Electronic contracts or “eContracts” for representing service level agreements are provided. In one illustrative embodiment, the eContract may comprise information pertaining to: (a) descriptions of business transactions in IT terms; (b) financial implications of business transaction service levels; and (c) reporting to be done in business terms. Of course, the eContract may comprise other terms and conditions. In an illustrative aspect of the invention, a system for managing IT resources in terms of business financials comprises an electronic contract authoring system or “ecAuthoring system,” an electronic contract manager module or “ecManager,” and one or more electronic contract agent modules or “ecAgents” that may run on IT elements (e.g., components of the network) that are being managed. Analysts interact with the ecAuthoring system to construct eContracts.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2001Publication date: January 2, 2003Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Joseph L. Hellerstein, Gautam Kar, Alexander Keller, W. Nathaniel Mills, John F. Morar