Abstract: A system, method, computer program product and computer program for evaluating links between objects are provided. A receive ontology component receives an ontology and an identify component identifies, from the ontology, semantic feature types within the ontology that can be used to measure the links between the objects. A data receive component receives instance information and maps the instance information into an ontological form of the instance information. An analyze component analyzes the ontological form to generate an ontological mapping of the instance information. A match component analyzes the mapping to identify matches with semantic patterns. A strength component analyzes the associated semantic features associated with the objects of the matches to determine weightings for the links of the matches. An alert component provides the links and associated weightings.

Abstract: An approach is provided to identify permanence data corresponding to terms included in a corpus of a question answering (QA) system. Based on the identified permanence, a time-based confidence of each of the terms is established. Terms are identified as a plurality of candidate answers to a question posed to the QA system. Each of the plurality of candidate answers are scored with the scoring being at least partially based on the time-based confidence established for each of the terms.

Abstract: Mechanisms for evaluating a link between information concept entities are provided. A set of evidential data specifying a plurality of information concept entities is received and a link between at least two information concept entities in the set of evidential data is generated. The set of evidential data is evaluated with regard to whether or not the set of evidential data supports or refutes the link. The evaluation of the set of evidential data comprises analyzing language of natural language statements in the set of evidential data to identify certainty terms within the natural language statements. A confidence value for the link is calculated based on results of the evaluation of the set of evidential data and a knowledge output is generated based on the link and the confidence value associated with the link.

Abstract: Mechanisms for evaluating an evidential statement in a corpus of evidence are provided. An evidential statement is received for determining a level of confidence in a hypothetical ontological link of an ontology. A source of the evidential statement is identified and a grading of the source of the evidential statement is determined based on a source grading measurement value indicative of a degree of reliability and credibility of the source. An indication of trustworthiness of the evidential statement is generated based on the source grading measurement value. A representation of the indication of trustworthiness of the evidential statement is output in association with the evidential statement.

Abstract: Mechanisms for evaluating an evidential statement in a corpus of evidence are provided. A first evidential statement for which corroboration is sought is received and a corpus of evidence data is processed to determine a measure of corroboration of the first evidential statement by other evidence data in the corpus of evidence data. An indication of trustworthiness of the first evidential statement is generated based on the measure of corroboration of the first evidential statement by the other evidence data in the corpus of evidence data. A representation of the indication of the trustworthiness of the first evidential statement is output in association with the first evidential statement.

Abstract: Mechanisms, in a Question Answering (QA) system comprising a processor and a memory, for evaluating a hypothetical link in an ontology are provided. An initial analysis of the ontology is performed to identify a set of information concept entities and links between information concept entities in the ontology. The hypothetical link between a first information concept entity and a second information concept entity in the ontology is generated based on the initial analysis of the ontology. Natural language questions corresponding to the hypothetical link are processed to generate answer results directed to a plurality of links between a plurality of information concept entities. The answer results are aggregated across the plurality of links to determine an aggregate answer result for the hypothetical link. An indication of whether or not the hypothetical link is a valid link is output based on the aggregate answer result for the hypothetical link.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for identifying and evaluating hypothetical ontological links in an ontology and outputting intelligence information. An ontology is received that comprises a plurality of information concept objects and one or more actual links between the information concept objects. An indication of a selected information concept object for which a hypothetical ontological link is to be evaluated is received. One or more natural language questions are generated for processing by a Question Answering (QA) system pipeline based on at least an identification of a type of the selected information concept object. The one or more natural language questions are processed to generate answer results and a score for the hypothetical ontological link is calculated based on the answer results. Intelligence information associated with the hypothetical ontological link is output based on the score for the hypothetical ontological link.