Patents by Inventor William G. O'Keeffe

William G. O'Keeffe 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: 10275448
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided, in a first computing device, for sharing content of communication sessions. The mechanisms establish a first communication session between the first computing device and a second computing device. The first computing device is operated by a first user and the second computing device is operated by a second user. The apparatus establishes, in response to content of the first communication session indicating subject matter for which additional information is desired by at least one of the first user or the second user, a second communication session between the first computing device and a question and answer (QA) system. In response to an input by the first user requesting sharing of information, the first computing device automatically copies a portion of content of the first communication session to the second communication session as an input question submitted to the QA system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Scott H. Isensee, William G. O'Keeffe, David R. Schwartz, Cale R. Vardy
  • Patent number: 10229187
    Abstract: Aspects include determination of automated response follow-up. A response to a question is received at a response follow-up system. The response follow-up system analyzes the response using natural language processing to identify one or more response terms. The response follow-up system determines one or more follow-up questions based on the one or more response terms. The response follow-up system modifies an aspect of a user interface based on the one or more follow-up questions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jose Barbosa, Ashok T. Kumar, Dan O'Connor, William G. O'Keeffe, David D. Taieb
  • Patent number: 10229189
    Abstract: Aspects include generation of automated response follow-up. A response to a question is received at a response follow-up system. The response follow-up system analyzes the response using natural language processing to identify one or more response terms. The response follow-up system generates one or more follow-up questions based on the one or more response terms. The response follow-up system modifies an aspect of a user interface based on the one or more follow-up questions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jose Barbosa, Ashok T. Kumar, Dan O'Connor, William G. O'Keeffe, David D. Taieb
  • Publication number: 20190050478
    Abstract: A new document is processed for ingestion into a corpus of a cognitive computing system by associating with a category of documents already contained within the corpus, such as a topical category. Then, the cognitive computing system is engaged automatically to query one or more questions previously-associated with the category to discover discrepancies between the new document and those already in the corpus. If a discrepancy is found, a confidence factor based upon extracted natural language entities and relationships is assigned to the discrepancy, and it is flagged and reported to a user for reconciliation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Donna K. Byron, Elie Feirouz, Ashok Kumar, William G. O'Keeffe
  • Publication number: 20190026438
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, a system analyzes a collection of medical documents to identify within document content risk factors of medical conditions associated with corresponding activities. A processor in the system maps the identified risk factors of the activities to one or more medical tests for the associated medical conditions, and analyzes a medical record and social media communications of a patient to determine participation of the patient in one or more of the corresponding activities. The processor determines the one or more medical tests to conduct from the mapping based on the risk factors associated with the determined activities of the patient. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product for analyzing patient activity to conduct appropriate medical tests in substantially the same manner described above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Ryan Ma, Raghavendra Mujumdar, William G. O'Keeffe, Ravi Tejwani
  • Publication number: 20190012372
    Abstract: A user session for a client device may be initiated by a computerized answering system. Answers to one or more questions may be provided via a network for presentation in a user interface of a display of the client device, where the presentation of the answers may be based on a default profile. User interaction with one or more of the answers presented in the user interface of the display of the client device is monitored during the user session. A first user profile is selected from a plurality of user profiles in response to determining attributes of the user interaction correspond to attributes of the first user profile. The user interface of the display of the client device is modified to change from presenting the answers based on the default profile to presenting the answers based on the first user profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: John B. Gordon, Scott H. Isensee, Mark Marrara, William G. O 'Keeffe, Cale Vardy
  • Patent number: 10178057
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for generating poll information from a chat session. The mechanism monitors chat content in the multiple user chat session. The mechanism identifies a poll question in a message within the chat content. The mechanism identifies a plurality of answers to the poll question in subsequent messages within the chat content. The mechanism generates a poll user interface presenting the poll question and the plurality of answers as selectable options and presents the poll user interface to the multiple users of the chat session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Prithu Banerjee, William G. O'Keeffe, David D. Taieb, Srikanth G. Tamilselvam
  • Patent number: 10176250
    Abstract: A selected document from corpus of a cognitive computing system is processed according to its association with a category of documents already contained within the corpus, such as a topical category. Then, the cognitive computing system is engaged automatically to query one or more questions previously-associated with the category to discover discrepancies between the selected document and the other corpus documents. If a discrepancy is found, a confidence factor based upon extracted natural language entities and relationships is assigned to the discrepancy, and it is flagged and reported to a user for reconciliation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Donna K. Byron, Elie Feirouz, Ashok Kumar, William G. O'Keeffe
  • Publication number: 20190005122
    Abstract: Aspects include generation of automated response follow-up. A response to a question from a user is received at a response follow-up system. The response follow-up system analyzes the response using natural language processing to identify one or more response terms. The response follow-up system generates one or more follow-up questions based on the one or more response terms. Based on the response, one or more follow-up responses to the one or more follow-up questions are pre-fetched from one or more content provider systems including one or more content servers, where a question answering system including the response follow-up system is communicatively coupled to the one or more content provider systems through a network. The response follow-up system modifies an aspect of a user interface displayed to the user based on the one or more follow-up questions and the one or more follow-up responses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Jose Barbosa, Ashok T. Kumar, Dan O'Connor, William G. O'Keeffe, David D. Taieb
  • Publication number: 20190005120
    Abstract: Aspects include determination of automated response follow-up. A response to a question from a user is received at a response follow-up system. The response follow-up system analyzes the response using natural language processing to identify one or more response terms. The response follow-up system determines one or more follow-up questions based on the one or more response terms. Based on the response, one or more follow-up responses to the one or more follow-up questions are pre-fetched from one or more content provider systems including one or more content servers, where a question answering system including the response follow-up system is communicatively coupled to the one or more content provider systems through a network. The response follow-up system modifies an aspect of a user interface displayed to the user based on the one or more follow-up questions and the one or more follow-up responses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Jose Barbosa, Ashok T. Kumar, Dan O'Connor, William G. O'Keeffe, David D. Taieb
  • Patent number: 10171389
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for generating poll information from a chat session. The mechanism monitors chat content in the multiple user chat session. The mechanism identifies a poll question in a message within the chat content. The mechanism identifies a plurality of answers to the poll question in subsequent messages within the chat content. The mechanism generates a poll user interface presenting the poll question and the plurality of answers as selectable options and presents the poll user interface to the multiple users of the chat session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Prithu Banerjee, William G. O'Keeffe, David D. Taieb, Srikanth G. Tamilselvam
  • Patent number: 10146858
    Abstract: A new document is processed for ingestion into a corpus of a cognitive computing system by associating with a category of documents already contained within the corpus, such as a topical category. Then, the cognitive computing system is engaged automatically to query one or more questions previously-associated with the category to discover discrepancies between the new document and those already in the corpus. If a discrepancy is found, a confidence factor based upon extracted natural language entities and relationships is assigned to the discrepancy, and it is flagged and reported to a user for reconciliation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Donna K. Byron, Elie Feirouz, Ashok Kumar, William G. O'Keeffe
  • Patent number: 10061842
    Abstract: A question is received in a computerized answering system via an input device. A plurality of classes corresponding to the question are retrieved from a memory device. One or more answers to the question are generated by a processor. Each answer is associated with a confidence value. The confidence values associated with the answers are compared with thresholds associated with the plurality of classes. The answers are classified by the processor into the plurality of classes based on the comparing. The answers are presented via a display device in accordance with the classification of the answers. A user response to at least one of the answers is detected. At least one of the plurality of classes is adjusted based on the user response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John B. Gordon, Scott H. Isensee, Mark Marrara, William G. O'Keeffe, Cale Vardy
  • Publication number: 20180239753
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided, in a first computing device, for sharing content of communication sessions. The mechanisms establish a first communication session between the first computing device and a second computing device. The first computing device is operated by a first user and the second computing device is operated by a second user. The apparatus establishes, in response to content of the first communication session indicating subject matter for which additional information is desired by at least one of the first user or the second user, a second communication session between the first computing device and a question and answer (QA) system. In response to an input by the first user requesting sharing of information, the first computing device automatically copies a portion of content of the first communication session to the second communication session as an input question submitted to the QA system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Scott H. Isensee, William G. O'Keeffe, David R. Schwartz, Cale R. Vardy
  • Patent number: 9996604
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided in a question answering system for generating a usage report based on question categorization. The mechanism clusters documents from a corpus of documents to form a nested structure of clusters of documents. The mechanism record questions answered by question answering system in a database in association with answers returned and answer confidence values. The mechanism maps the questions to the nested structure of clusters of documents to form a nested structure of clusters of questions. The mechanism generates a usage report based on the nested structure of clusters of questions and presenting the usage report responsive to a requesting user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J. McCloskey, William G. O'Keeffe, Timothy V. Paciolla, Cale R. Vardy
  • Patent number: 9984050
    Abstract: A method, system and a computer program product are provided for collecting ground truth data by activating a ground truth collection browser plugin with a designated toolbar button to receive answer data from a webpage which includes user-selected data passage and source data from the webpage for automatic loading into a ground truth submission window along with user input question data corresponding to the answer data so that the user input question data, source data, and answer data from the ground truth submission window may be stored as ground truth data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William G. O'Keeffe, David D. Taieb, Cale R. Vardy
  • Patent number: 9984061
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided, in a first computing device, for sharing content of communication sessions. The mechanisms establish a first communication session between the first computing device and a second computing device. The first computing device is operated by a first user and the second computing device is operated by a second user. The apparatus establishes, in response to content of the first communication session indicating subject matter for which additional information is desired by at least one of the first user or the second user, a second communication session between the first computing device and a question and answer (QA) system. In response to an input by the first user requesting sharing of information, the first computing device automatically copies a portion of content of the first communication session to the second communication session as an input question submitted to the QA system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Scott H. Isensee, William G. O'Keeffe, David R. Schwartz, Cale R. Vardy
  • Patent number: 9940320
    Abstract: A method, system and a computer program product are provided for collecting document segmentation data by activating a document segmentation collection browser plugin with a designated toolbar button to generate one or more initial document segments from a webpage document and to receive user feedback for modifying a first initial document segment through a document segment control tool to generate a modified set of one or more initial document segments which are stored as document and document preprocessing data for the webpage document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lakshminarayanan Krishnamurthy, William G. O'Keeffe, David D. Taieb, Cale R. Vardy
  • Publication number: 20180068012
    Abstract: Aspects include accessing a chat flow tree structure defining a plurality of response sequences for a chat flow of a dialog system. A sentiment and flow history associated with the chat flow tree structure is analyzed. The sentiment and flow history defines an observed user sentiment captured for one or more system responses of the response sequences. Each of the one or more system responses is flagged having a negative sentiment in the sentiment and flow history and a sample size greater than a minimum adjustment threshold. A portion of the chat flow tree structure is adjusted that includes at least one of the flagged system responses to reduce the negative sentiment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Dan O'Connor, William G. O'Keeffe, David D. Taieb, Srikanth G. Tamilselvam
  • Publication number: 20180067950
    Abstract: Curation of a corpus of a cognitive computing system is performed interactively by reporting on user interface device to a user a parse tree illustration of discrepancies and corresponding assigned confidence factors detected between at least a portion of a first document and a second or more documents in the corpus. Responsive to a user selection of an illustrated discrepancy in the parse tree, a drill-down dialog is prepared and displayed which shows at least a text string for the portion of the first document and at least one conflicting text string from the second or more documents, and which provides at least one user-selectable administrative action option for handling the detected discrepancy. Responsive to receipt of user selection of an administrative action option, the computing system performs the action to handle the detected discrepancy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Donna K. Byron, Elie Feirouz, Ashok Kumar, William G. O'Keeffe