International Business Machines Corporation

Activision Publishing, Inc.

Peter Frederick Haggar

Daniel Edward House

Andrew Bryan Smith

Brian Ronald Bokor

William Bruce Nicol, Ii

Kevin B Haverlock

Christopher S Alkov

Suzanne L Estrada

Keith Allen Wells

Arnaud J Le Hors

Heather Marie Kreger

Donald E Buddenbaum

John V Meegan

David Mark Wendt

Luis J Ostdiek

James A Mickelson

Steven Keith Speicher

Scott A Will

Stephan Joseph Roorda

Richard L Stillwell

Jacqueline G Rojanatavorn

Dane A Johnson

Christopher J Dawson

John Edward Petri

Richard Joseph Stevens

Mark Gregory Megerian

Michael D Whitley

Leah Rae Smutzer

Chang Sheng Liu

Gregory Bollella

Robert Van Der Linden

Wiliam B Nicol, Ii

Xiao Ming Gao

A system for automatically increasing a capacity of a virtual space in a virtual world may include a processor and a module operating on the processor for detecting an attempt by an avatar to enter a virtual space in a virtual world. The system may also include another module for determining if an allowable number of avatars is currently in the virtual space. The allowable number of avatars may be determined by at least a capacity of a server that is hosting the virtual space. Another module may be provided for increasing a capacity of the virtual space when the allowable number of avatars is currently in the virtual space. Increasing the capacity of the virtual space may include spawning a replicate new virtual space on a different server in response to the capacity of the server that is hosting the virtual space reaching the allowable number of avatars.

Automatic increasing of capacity of a virtual space in a virtual world

Mechanisms are provided for performing load balancing of question processing in a Question and Answer (QA) system, implemented by the data processing system, having a plurality of QA system pipelines. The mechanisms receive an input question for processing by the QA system and determine a predicted question difficulty of the input question. The mechanisms select a QA system pipeline from the plurality of QA system pipelines based on the predicted question difficulty and route the input question to the selected QA system pipeline for processing. In addition, the mechanisms process the input question with the selected QA system pipeline to generate an answer for the input question.

Dynamic load balancing based on question difficulty

A method, computer program product, and computer system for monitoring, at a computing device, at least a portion of a collaboration session provided by one or more participants of the collaboration session. At least the portion of the collaboration session is analyzed to determine a recommendation associated with at least the portion of the collaboration session. A source for information associated with the recommendation is searched based upon, at least in part, analyzing at least the portion of the collaboration session. At least one participant of the one or more participants is presented the recommendation and the information associated with the recommendation.

Providing of recommendations determined from a collaboration session system and method

A collaborative computing device group operative under a shared multiple discrete desktop user interface is established from a first desktop of a first computing device and a different discrete desktop of a second computing device physically located in user visual proximity to the first computing device. A color-coded graphical representation of a user-interface control port that allows authorized cursor navigation to and from the second computing device is displayed on the first desktop oriented in a respective direction of the second computing device. A cursor of the second computing device is authorized to migrate, under control of a user of the second computing device, from the different discrete desktop through the color-coded graphical representation of the user-interface control port of the second computing device to the first desktop and the first computing device is controlled in accordance with visual navigation and control of the cursor of the second computing device.

Shared inter-operational control among multiple computing devices

Mechanisms are provided for performing an operation based on an identification of similar lines of questioning by input question sources. Question information identifying extracted features of an input question and a first source of the input question is obtained. A clustering operation is performed to cluster the input question with one or more other questions of a cluster based on a similarity of the extracted features of the input question to features of the one or more other questions. An operation is performed based on results of the clustering of the input question with the one or more other questions.

Categorizing users based on similarity of posed questions, answers and supporting evidence

A method for mapping transactions between a real world and a virtual world may include receiving information associated with a real world item at a virtual business object (VBO) controller. Information associated with a user is received at the VBO controller. In response to receiving by the VBO controller a decision to buy the real world item, the VBO controller generates a VBO, which includes the information associated with the real world item. In response to receiving at the VBO controller a decision not to buy the real world item, the VBO controller generates a VBO light, which includes the information associated with the real world item. Either the generated VBO or the VBO light is transmitted to a VBO inventory database associated with the user based on the user's information.

Mapping transactions between the real world and a virtual world

A mechanism is provided in a data processing system comprising a processor and a memory configured to implement a question and answer system (QA), for improving answers to an input question. An input question is received and parsed for a known set of critical information required to answer the input question. Responsive to one or more pieces of critical information failing to be identifiable in the input question, a user who submitted the input question is prompted for the one or more pieces of critical information via a graphical user interface (GUI).

Analyzing natural language questions to determine missing information in order to improve accuracy of answers

A method, system and computer program product for managing work and personal items. Information is received from a user to populate a user profile providing rules to determine a priority for work and personal items to be addressed by the user. Work and personal data sources (e.g., e-mails, social media) are monitored. The content in these monitored data sources are scanned and analyzed for work and personal items to be addressed by the user. These work and personal items are then presented to the user in a prioritized order based on the rules in the user profile. In this manner, the user is able to effectively manage the various work and personal items from various data sources by receiving a prioritized list of work and personal items that need to be addressed based on various factors that the user deems to be important as provided in the user's profile.

Prioritizing work and personal items from various data sources using a user profile

Growing community of inventors

Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Peter Frederick Haggar