Question Pre-Processing in a Question and Answer System
First Claim
1. A method, in a data processing system comprising a processor and a memory, the memory comprising instructions which are executed by the processor to configure the data processing system to implement a question compiler for assembling natural language user inputs into questions for a question-and-answer (QA) system, the method comprising:
- initializing, by the question compiler of the data processing system, a timer to a threshold amount of time;
receiving, in a queue of the question compiler, a first input of content-bearing natural language from the user computing device;
initiating, by the question compiler, running of the timer in response to receiving the first input of content-bearing natural language;
determining, by the question compiler, whether or not a second input of content-bearing natural language is received from the user computing device prior to the threshold amount of time being reached by the timer;
in response to receiving the second input of content-bearing natural language prior to the threshold amount of time being reached by the timer, grouping the second input with the first input to generate a question comprising content of both the first input and the second input, and resetting the running of the timer; and
providing, by the question compiler, in response to the timer reaching the threshold amount of time without further input being received from the user computing device, the question to the QA system as an input question for processing by the QA system.
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Abstract
Mechanisms are provided for assembling natural language user inputs into questions for a question-and-answer (QA) system. The mechanisms initialize a timer to a threshold amount of time, receive a first input of content-bearing natural language from a user computing device, and initiate running of the timer in response. The mechanisms determine whether a second input of content-bearing natural language is received from the user computing device prior to the threshold amount of time being reached by the timer. If so, the second input is grouped with the first input to generate a question comprising content of both the first input and the second input, and the timer is reset. In response to the timer reaching the threshold without further input from the user computing device, the question is provided to the QA system as an input question for processing by the QA system.
21 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method, in a data processing system comprising a processor and a memory, the memory comprising instructions which are executed by the processor to configure the data processing system to implement a question compiler for assembling natural language user inputs into questions for a question-and-answer (QA) system, the method comprising:
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initializing, by the question compiler of the data processing system, a timer to a threshold amount of time; receiving, in a queue of the question compiler, a first input of content-bearing natural language from the user computing device; initiating, by the question compiler, running of the timer in response to receiving the first input of content-bearing natural language; determining, by the question compiler, whether or not a second input of content-bearing natural language is received from the user computing device prior to the threshold amount of time being reached by the timer; in response to receiving the second input of content-bearing natural language prior to the threshold amount of time being reached by the timer, grouping the second input with the first input to generate a question comprising content of both the first input and the second input, and resetting the running of the timer; and providing, by the question compiler, in response to the timer reaching the threshold amount of time without further input being received from the user computing device, the question to the QA system as an input question for processing by the QA system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11-21. -21. (canceled)
Specification