Abstract: Software code is analyzed to identify one or more symbols in the software code, the one or more symbols corresponding to a defined software syntax. For each of one or more identified symbols: a corresponding annotation that conveys a meaning of the identified symbol is determined; a location within a document to display the annotation is determined so that the annotation, when displayed, is visually associated with the identified symbol; and the annotation is displayed at the location.

Abstract: Positioning pads are displayed via a display device to facilitate movement of a position of interest (e.g., as indicated by a cursor) with respect to a structured object also displayed via the display device. The structured object is analyzed to determine predicted locations to which a user may subsequently wish to navigate the position of interest, and positioning pads are displayed at, or associated with, the predicted locations. When activation of a positioning pad is detected, (i) the position of interest is moved to the location of, or associated with, the positioning pad, and (ii) the positioning pad is no longer displayed via the display device.

Abstract: A system receives first requests to create electronic storage objects that are accessible on the communication network or another communication network, and creates electronic storage objects responsive to the first requests. The first requests specify one or more data types to which the system should convert raw data received for storage in the electronic storage objects. The system also receives second requests to store specified data to the electronic storage objects, and stores received raw data (or converts the raw data to specified data types and stores the converted data) to the electronic storage objects responsive to the second requests. The system further receives third requests to retrieve data from specified electronic storage objects, and retrieves data from the specified electronic storage objects responsive to the third requests, the retrieved data being in specified data types.

Abstract: In a method of creating a natural language (NL) macro, a first term/phrase and a second term/phrase in an imprecise syntax are obtained, and an association between the first and the second terms/phrases is created. The association is stored as an NL macro. In a method of using an NL macro in an NL query, it is determined that an original NL query includes an NL macro, and the NL macro is replaced with its corresponding NL value to form a revised NL query. The revised NL query is processed to generate one or more answers.

Abstract: In a method for generating a product design, a description of i) a product to be designed, and/or ii) one or more design objectives are received and analyzed to determine a design function that corresponds to the description and characterizes the product. Combinations of sub-functions that match the determined design function are determined. A plurality of components that implement the design sub-functions are determined. One or more models that correspond to one or more candidate designs that implement the determined design function are constructed from sub-models corresponding to the determined plurality of components. The one or more models are evaluated with regard to one or more design objectives. A report is generated that provides i) information regarding performance of at least one candidate design with regard to the one or more design objectives, and/or ii) an indication that no candidate design meets the one or more design objectives, when appropriate.

Abstract: A word meaning or sense is determined in response to an actual user query in a system designed for computation, search, or other activities involving the processing of queries. Assumptions, which are attempts to disambiguate pieces of the user's query string, are generated. Generation of the assumptions is based on various heuristics and algorithms which are designed to disambiguate words which may connote multiple different entities, meanings, or senses given the context. Assumptions also may be ranked based on a set of criteria that does not require an elaborately constructed body of world knowledge to be created. A most likely assumption may be chosen for generating a machine-generated query and/or for generating query results.

Abstract: A user interface application is created to prompt a user for information and to generate a query to be submitted to a natural language (NL) query answering system. A first user is prompted to submit an NL query, and the NL query is received. The user interface application is generated using the NL query and so that the user interface application is configured to prompt the first user or a second user to provide information, receive the information, generate a computer-generated query based on the NL query and the received information, provide the computer-generated query to the NL query answering system, receive answer information from the NL query answering system in response to the computer-generated query, and cause at least some of the answer information to be displayed on a display device.

Abstract: A data function in received. The data function is indicative of a request for data from a database, and is included in a library of built-in functions of a computational software application. In response to receiving the data function, a request for database data is transmitted to a database system via a network. In response to the request for data, the database data is received from the database system via the network. In response to receiving the database data via the network, an expression is created using at least a portion of the received database data. The expression is capable of being operated on by the computational software application.

Abstract: In a method for determining an answer to a query expressed in an imprecise syntax, a formula for computing an answer to the query is determined. An answer is calculated using the formula, and the answer is then presented to the user.

Abstract: Natural language (NL) processing of NL commands is performed to determine one or more of (i) content to be included in a hypertext document, (ii) a layout for the hypertext document, or (iii) parameters corresponding to behavior of the hypertext document. Performing the NL processing includes: determining assumptions concerning one or both of (a) ambiguities associated with the NL commands or (b) information necessary for creating the hypertext document not specified by the NL commands. The assumptions correspond to the one or more of (i) content to be included in the hypertext document, (ii) the layout for the hypertext document, or (iii) the parameters corresponding to behavior of the hypertext document. Hypertext document code or data for displaying the hypertext document is generated based on the NL processing of the NL commands including the determined assumptions.

Abstract: In a method for cloud deployment, programmer input in a programming language is received, the programmer input including i) a built-in function corresponding to making electronic objects accessible on a network, and ii) a parameter indicating an electronic object. The programmer input is evaluated to cause the electronic object to be stored on a server and made accessible via a network coupled to the server.

Abstract: A natural language query is received, and an answer to the natural language query is determined. A message is formatted such that the message includes the answer, and metadata corresponding to the answer, the metadata including information to enable construction, using the metadata, of a sentence that rephrases the query and recites the answer.

Abstract: In a method to help a user determine a formula, (e.g., a fact, rule, or principle expressed in scientific, mathematical, technical, etc. symbols), a user may input an indication of the formula in an imprecise syntax. The inputted indication may be in ASCII text, for example, and may include technical shorthand, technical abbreviations, pseudocode, etc. In response, one or more formulas corresponding to the user's input are determined. Optionally, other outputs related to the determined formula (s) may be generated. In one implementation, software programming code corresponding to the formula is generated. Then, the formula (s) and the output(s) are presented to the user.

Abstract: In a method of creating a natural language (NL) macro, a first term/phrase and a second term/phrase in an imprecise syntax are obtained, and an association between the first and the second terms/phrases is created. The association is stored as an NL macro. In a method of using an NL macro in an NL query, it is determined that an original NL query includes an NL macro, and the NL macro is replaced with its corresponding NL value to form a revised NL query. The revised NL query is processed to generate one or more answers.

Abstract: A system and method facilitate the use of a multi-function computer for an examination. An application implementing the method receives a hash input from a user and, upon successful completion of the examination, displays a hash output. The hash output may be displayed as a visual hash. During the examination, the application or system monitors the multi-function computer to determine whether the user has activated, viewed, or launched any prohibited functions or applications on the multi-function computer. If the user views a prohibited function or application, the examination application does not display the hash output. The system and application implement various security measures to prevent spoofing or duplication of the hash output or tampering with the application.

Abstract: A multimedia presentation system facilitates efficient creation of multimedia presentations. For example, in an embodiment, a multimedia presentation system provides tools for creating an authoring notebook via which a user can (i) create graphics to be used in a presentation, (ii) create a script to be read, or be referred to, by a speaker during the presentation, and (iii) provide prompts to the speaker for when and/or how to modify the graphics during the presentation. A controller may be provided to allow a user to modify the visual portion of the presentation during performance of the presentation.

Abstract: Positioning pads are displayed via a display device to facilitate movement of a position of interest (e.g., as indicated by a cursor) with respect to a structured object also displayed via the display device. The structured object is analyzed to determine predicted locations to which a user may subsequently wish to navigate the position of interest, and positioning pads are displayed at, or associated with, the predicted locations. When activation of a positioning pad is detected, (i) the position of interest is moved to the location of, or associated with, the positioning pad, and (ii) the positioning pad is no longer displayed via the display device.

Abstract: A framing technique included in a set of framing techniques is applied to at least a portion of a target data set. When a result of the application of the framing technique meets a first condition, a typing technique included in a set of typing techniques is applied to the target data set. When a result of the application of the typing technique meets a second condition, a tokenization technique included in a set of tokenization techniques is applied to the target data set. When a result of the application of the tokenization technique meets a third condition, a parsing technique for the target data set is determined to include the framing technique, the typing technique and the tokenization technique. An indication of the parsing technique is generated.

Abstract: In a method of creating a natural language (NL) macro, a first term/phrase and a second term/phrase in an imprecise syntax are obtained, and an association between the first and the second terms/phrases is created. The association is stored as an NL macro. In a method of using an NL macro in an NL query, it is determined that an original NL query includes an NL macro, and the NL macro is replaced with its corresponding NL value to form a revised NL query. The revised NL query is processed to generate one or more answers.

Abstract: A compatibility of a computational analysis and a data set is automatically determined by comparing data set attribute data with attribute data of the computational analysis. Other computational analyses may also be evaluated for compatibility with the data set. Compatible analyses may be performed on the data set, and selected views of the results may be presented. Selection of the analyses to be performed, the views, and/or the contents and format of the views may be determined based result data attributes and computational analysis attribute data as well as other considerations, such as resources required and multiplicity. As computational analysis attributes are based on a set of rules or statements determined from heuristics of respective computational analyses, evaluation of the compatibility between various analyses and the data set is accordingly determined based on the heuristic-based rules or statements. Computational analyses may include visualizations and heavyweight computational analyses.