Clarification of Submitted Questions in a Question and Answer System
First Claim
1. A method, in a data processing system comprising a processor and a memory, for clarifying an input question, the method comprising:
- receiving, in the data processing system from a computing device, the input question for generation of an answer to the input question;
generating, in the data processing system, a set of candidate answers for the input question based on an analysis of a corpus of information, wherein each candidate answer in the set of candidate answers corresponds to an evidence passage supporting the candidate answer as answering the input question;
determining, in the data processing system, based on the set of candidate answers, whether clarification of the input question is required;
sending, by the data processing system, in response to a determination that clarification of the input question is required, a request for user input to clarify the input question;
receiving, in the data processing system, user input from the computing device in response to the request; and
selecting, by the data processing system, at least one candidate answer in the set of candidate answers as an answer for the input question based on the user input.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Mechanisms for clarifying an input question are provided. A question is received for generation of an answer. A set of candidate answers is generated based on an analysis of a corpus of information. Each candidate answer has an evidence passage supporting the candidate answer. Based on the set of candidate answers, a determination is made as to whether clarification of the question is required. In response to a determination that clarification of the question is required, a request is sent for user input to clarify the question. User input is received from the computing device in response to the request and at least one candidate answer in the set of candidate answers is selected as an answer for the question based on the user input.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, in a data processing system comprising a processor and a memory, for clarifying an input question, the method comprising:
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receiving, in the data processing system from a computing device, the input question for generation of an answer to the input question; generating, in the data processing system, a set of candidate answers for the input question based on an analysis of a corpus of information, wherein each candidate answer in the set of candidate answers corresponds to an evidence passage supporting the candidate answer as answering the input question; determining, in the data processing system, based on the set of candidate answers, whether clarification of the input question is required; sending, by the data processing system, in response to a determination that clarification of the input question is required, a request for user input to clarify the input question; receiving, in the data processing system, user input from the computing device in response to the request; and selecting, by the data processing system, at least one candidate answer in the set of candidate answers as an answer for the input question based on the user input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer readable program stored therein, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a computing device, causes the computing device to:
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receive an input question for generation of an answer to the input question; generate a set of candidate answers for the input question based on an analysis of a corpus of information, wherein each candidate answer in the set of candidate answers corresponds to an evidence passage supporting the candidate answer as answering the input question; determine, based on the set of candidate answers, whether clarification of the input question is required; send, in response to a determination that clarification of the input question is required, a request for user input to clarify the input question; receive user input from the computing device in response to the request; and select at least one candidate answer in the set of candidate answers as an answer for the input question based on the user input. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus comprising:
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a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to; receive an input question for generation of an answer to the input question; generate a set of candidate answers for the input question based on an analysis of a corpus of information, wherein each candidate answer in the set of candidate answers corresponds to an evidence passage supporting the candidate answer as answering the input question; determine, based on the set of candidate answers, whether clarification of the input question is required; send, in response to a determination that clarification of the input question is required, a request for user input to clarify the input question; receive user input from the computing device in response to the request; and select at least one candidate answer in the set of candidate answers as an answer for the input question based on the user input.
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Specification