Patents by Inventor Nicholas W. Orrick
Nicholas W. Orrick 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: 10474747Abstract: An approach is provided to adjust time dependent terminology in a question and answering (QA) system. The approach ingests a set of documents to produce a corpus utilized by the QA system. A base time is established and the approach acquires a temporally accurate lexicon of terms that correspond to the base time. A corpus of the QA system is updated according to the lexicon. The QA system answers a question according to the updated corpus.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2013Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Daniel M. Jamrog, Jason D. LaVoie, Nicholas W. Orrick, Kristin A. Witherspoon
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Patent number: 9720977Abstract: A mechanism is provided, in a data processing system comprising a processor and a memory configured to implement a question and answer (QA) system, for weighting search criteria based on similarities to an ingested corpus in the QA system. A set of question characteristics found in a received input question are compared to a set of data characteristics respectively describing data in each corpus of a corpora. For each question characteristic in the set of found question characteristics, a first weight is assigned to the corpus within which data associated with the data characteristic resides in response to the question characteristic being more related to a data characteristic; otherwise a second weight is assigned, where the first weight is greater than the second weight. A selective search is then performed for an answer to the received input question in one or more corpora with a higher weighting.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2014Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Daniel M. Jamrog, Jason D. LaVoie, Nicholas W. Orrick, Kristin A. Witherspoon
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Patent number: 9715531Abstract: A mechanism is provided, in a data processing system comprising a processor and a memory configured to implement a question and answer (QA) system, for weighting search criteria based on similarities to an ingested corpus in the QA system. A set of question characteristics found in a received input question are compared to a set of data characteristics respectively describing data in each corpus of a corpora. For each question characteristic in the set of found question characteristics, a first weight is assigned to the corpus within which data associated with the data characteristic resides in response to the question characteristic being more related to a data characteristic; otherwise a second weight is assigned, where the first weight is greater than the second weight. A selective search is then performed for an answer to the received input question in one or more corpora with a higher weighting.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2016Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Daniel M. Jamrog, Jason D. LaVoie, Nicholas W. Orrick, Kristin A. Witherspoon
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Patent number: 9690862Abstract: An approach is provided for updating corpora in a Question and Answer (QA) system. Ingestion of a first set of sources into a first corpus and a second set of sources into a second corpus with the second set of sources including updates to the first set of sources. A question is received. The system identifies candidate answers to the question using the sources included in the corpuses. Each candidate answer has a weighting. The system determines whether the first and second corpuses have an overlapping source from which two candidate answers were identified. If an overlapping source is found, the candidate answer from the overlapping source in the first corpus is assigned a lower weighting than the candidate answer from the second corpus. Likely answers are selected from the candidate answers based on the weighting and returned to the requestor.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2014Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Daniel M. Jamrog, Jason D. LaVoie, Nicholas W. Orrick, Kristin A. Witherspoon
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Patent number: 9684726Abstract: An approach is provided for updating corpora in a Question and Answer (QA) system. Ingestion of a first set of sources into a first corpus and a second set of sources into a second corpus with the second set of sources including updates to the first set of sources. A question is received. The system identifies candidate answers to the question using the sources included in the corpuses. Each candidate answer has a weighting. The system determines whether the first and second corpuses have an overlapping source from which two candidate answers were identified. If an overlapping source is found, the candidate answer from the overlapping source in the first corpus is assigned a lower weighting than the candidate answer from the second corpus. Likely answers are selected from the candidate answers based on the weighting and returned to the requestor.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2015Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Daniel M. Jamrog, Jason D. LaVoie, Nicholas W. Orrick, Kristin A. Witherspoon
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Patent number: 9524320Abstract: An approach is provided for utilizing unstructured corpora in a Question and Answer (QA) system. A question is received at the QA system. A private corpora is generated with the private corpora being associated with the user. The private corpora is generated from private data stores associated with the user as well as private data stores associated with other users. Access to the other user's private data sources is provided to the user by the other users. The system retrieves data responsive to the question from the private corpora. The responsive data is ranked based on its relevance to the question. Likely answers are identified based on the ranked responsive data and the likely answers are provided back to the user.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2015Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Daniel M. Jamrog, Jason D. LaVoie, Nicholas W. Orrick, Kristin A. Witherspoon
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Patent number: 9519688Abstract: An approach is provided for utilizing unstructured corpora in a Question and Answer (QA) system. A question is received at the QA system. A private corpora is generated with the private corpora being associated with the user. The private corpora is generated from private data stores associated with the user as well as private data stores associated with other users. Access to the other user's private data sources is provided to the user by the other users. The system retrieves data responsive to the question from the private corpora. The responsive data is ranked based on its relevance to the question. Likely answers are identified based on the ranked responsive data and the likely answers are provided back to the user.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2014Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Daniel M. Jamrog, Jason D. LaVoie, Nicholas W. Orrick, Kristin A. Witherspoon
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Publication number: 20160224566Abstract: A mechanism is provided, in a data processing system comprising a processor and a memory configured to implement a question and answer (QA) system, for weighting search criteria based on similarities to an ingested corpus in the QA system. A set of question characteristics found in a received input question are compared to a set of data characteristics respectively describing data in each corpus of a corpora. For each question characteristic in the set of found question characteristics, a first weight is assigned to the corpus within which data associated with the data characteristic resides in response to the question characteristic being more related to a data characteristic; otherwise a second weight is assigned, where the first weight is greater than the second weight. A selective search is then performed for an answer to the received input question in one or more corpora with a higher weighting.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2016Publication date: August 4, 2016Inventors: Daniel M. Jamrog, Jason D. LaVoie, Nicholas W. Orrick, Kristin A. Witherspoon
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Patent number: 9342561Abstract: Mechanisms for ingesting a document from a corpus of documents for use by a Question and Answer (QA) system are provided. The mechanisms receive a document from a corpus of documents and generate one or more titles for the document based on an analysis of content of the document. The mechanisms generate score values for the titles based on a measure of a degree to which the titles represent the content of the document. The mechanisms store the score values in association with the titles as document metadata associated with the document and output the document and document metadata to the QA system. The QA system utilizes the document metadata and document to generate a candidate answer to an input question.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2014Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Daniel M. Jamrog, Jason D. LaVoie, Nicholas W. Orrick, Alexander Pikovsky, Kristin A. Witherspoon
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Publication number: 20160110364Abstract: An approach is provided for updating corpora in a Question and Answer (QA) system. Ingestion of a first set of sources into a first corpus and a second set of sources into a second corpus with the second set of sources including updates to the first set of sources. A question is received. The system identifies candidate answers to the question using the sources included in the corpuses. Each candidate answer has a weighting. The system determines whether the first and second corpuses have an overlapping source from which two candidate answers were identified. If an overlapping source is found, the candidate answer from the overlapping source in the first corpus is assigned a lower weighting than the candidate answer from the second corpus. Likely answers are selected from the candidate answers based on the weighting and returned to the requestor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: Daniel M. Jamrog, Jason D. LaVoie, Nicholas W. Orrick, Kristin A. Witherspoon
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Publication number: 20160110459Abstract: An approach is provided for updating corpora in a Question and Answer (QA) system. Ingestion of a first set of sources into a first corpus and a second set of sources into a second corpus with the second set of sources including updates to the first set of sources. A question is received. The system identifies candidate answers to the question using the sources included in the corpuses. Each candidate answer has a weighting. The system determines whether the first and second corpuses have an overlapping source from which two candidate answers were identified. If an overlapping source is found, the candidate answer from the overlapping source in the first corpus is assigned a lower weighting than the candidate answer from the second corpus. Likely answers are selected from the candidate answers based on the weighting and returned to the requestor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2014Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: Daniel M. Jamrog, Jason D. LaVoie, Nicholas W. Orrick, Kristin A. Witherspoon
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Publication number: 20160110361Abstract: An approach is provided for utilizing unstructured corpora in a Question and Answer (QA) system. A question is received at the QA system. A private corpora is generated with the private corpora being associated with the user. The private corpora is generated from private data stores associated with the user as well as private data stores associated with other users. Access to the other user's private data sources is provided to the user by the other users. The system retrieves data responsive to the question from the private corpora. The responsive data is ranked based on its relevance to the question. Likely answers are identified based on the ranked responsive data and the likely answers are provided back to the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2014Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: Daniel M. Jamrog, Jason D. LaVoie, Nicholas W. Orrick, Kristin A. Witherspoon
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Publication number: 20160112391Abstract: An approach is provided for utilizing unstructured corpora in a Question and Answer (QA) system. A question is received at the QA system. A private corpora is generated with the private corpora being associated with the user. The private corpora is generated from private data stores associated with the user as well as private data stores associated with other users. Access to the other user's private data sources is provided to the user by the other users. The system retrieves data responsive to the question from the private corpora. The responsive data is ranked based on its relevance to the question. Likely answers are identified based on the ranked responsive data and the likely answers are provided back to the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: Daniel M. Jamrog, Jason D. LaVoie, Nicholas W. Orrick, Kristin A. Witherspoon
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Publication number: 20160019220Abstract: A system, a method, and a computer program product of searching a corpus with an unstructured query in a Question and Answering (QA) system are disclosed. The system, the method, and the computer program product include analyzing structural information of an input question. The analyzing may occur in response to parsing the input question. The analyzing may select a first portion of the input question as a first component. The system, the method, and the computer program product include weighting the first component with a first weight. The weighting may be used in a query. The system, the method, and the computer program product include submitting the query to the QA system. The query may include the first component with the first weight.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2015Publication date: January 21, 2016Inventors: Daniel M. Jamrog, Jason D. LaVoie, Nicholas W. Orrick, Kristin A. Witherspoon
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Publication number: 20150356089Abstract: A mechanism is provided, in a data processing system comprising a processor and a memory configured to implement a question and answer (QA) system, for weighting search criteria based on similarities to an ingested corpus in the QA system. A set of question characteristics found in a received input question are compared to a set of data characteristics respectively describing data in each corpus of a corpora. For each question characteristic in the set of found question characteristics, a first weight is assigned to the corpus within which data associated with the data characteristic resides in response to the question characteristic being more related to a data characteristic; otherwise a second weight is assigned, where the first weight is greater than the second weight. A selective search is then performed for an answer to the received input question in one or more corpora with a higher weighting.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2014Publication date: December 10, 2015Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Daniel M. Jamrog, Jason D. LaVoie, Nicholas W. Orrick, Kristin A. Witherspoon
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Publication number: 20150331935Abstract: A system, a method, and a computer program product of searching a corpus with an unstructured query in a Question and Answering (QA) system are disclosed. The system, the method, and the computer program product include analyzing structural information of an input question. The analyzing may occur in response to parsing the input question. The analyzing may select a first portion of the input question as a first component. The system, the method, and the computer program product include weighting the first component with a first weight. The weighting may be used in a query. The system, the method, and the computer program product include submitting the query to the QA system. The query may include the first component with the first weight.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2014Publication date: November 19, 2015Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Daniel M. Jamrog, Jason D. LaVoie, Nicholas W. Orrick, Kristen A. Witherspoon
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Publication number: 20150193441Abstract: Mechanisms for ingesting a document from a corpus of documents for use by a Question and Answer (QA) system are provided. The mechanisms receive a document from a corpus of documents and generate one or more titles for the document based on an analysis of content of the document. The mechanisms generate score values for the titles based on a measure of a degree to which the titles represent the content of the document. The mechanisms store the score values in association with the titles as document metadata associated with the document and output the document and document metadata to the QA system. The QA system utilizes the document metadata and document to generate a candidate answer to an input question.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2014Publication date: July 9, 2015Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Daniel M. Jamrog, Jason D. LaVoie, Nicholas W. Orrick, Alexander Pikovsky, Kristin A. Witherspoon
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Publication number: 20150169539Abstract: An approach is provided to adjust time dependent terminology in a question and answering (QA) system. The approach ingests a set of documents to produce a corpus utilized by the QA system. A base time is established and the approach acquires a temporally accurate lexicon of terms that correspond to the base time. A corpus of the QA system is updated according to the lexicon. The QA system answers a question according to the updated corpus.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2013Publication date: June 18, 2015Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Daniel M. Jamrog, Jason D. LaVoie, Nicholas W. Orrick, Kristin A. Witherspoon
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Patent number: 8683438Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computing device for initiating a first instance of an application to be debugged. A second instance of the application to be debugged is initiated. A common command is simultaneously executed on the first and second instances of the application to be debugged.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2007Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Nicholas W. Orrick
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Publication number: 20090138853Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computing device for initiating a first instance of an application to be debugged. A second instance of the application to be debugged is initiated. A common command is simultaneously executed on the first and second instances of the application to be debugged.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2007Publication date: May 28, 2009Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventor: Nicholas W. Orrick