Qa based on context aware, real-time information from mobile devices

Abstract

A common infrastructure collects data from a plurality of mobile devices and traditional sensors at Internet scale to respond to natural language queries received at different applications. The infrastructure includes a semantic interpreter to translate the natural language query to a data request specification that is processed by the data collection system. The data collection system includes a phenomenon layer that expresses data and information needs in a declarative fashion and coordinates data collection and processing for queries. An edge layer manages devices, receives collection requirements from the backend layer, configures and instructs devices for data collection, and conducts aggregation and primitive processing of data. This layer contains network edge nodes, such as base stations in a cellular network. Each node manages a set of local data generating networked devices. The device agent data layer using common agents on the networked devices receives data collection instructions and performs data collection.

1 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A method for question answering, the method comprising:
 receiving queries at a plurality of applications running on computing systems, each query comprising only an identification of a type of event, a geographical scope and a time duration;   communicating the queries from the applications to mobile edge capture and analytics middleware; and   using the mobile edge capture and analytics middleware to:
 translate the queries into a description of data to be obtained; 
 collect real time raw data simultaneously for the plurality of applications; 
 process the real time raw data into phenomenon data comprising a smaller volume than the real time raw data and higher level semantics; and 
 communicate at least one of the raw data and phenomenon data to the applications. 
   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the mobile edge capture and analytics middleware is further used to:
 identify common real time raw data and phenomenon data needs across the plurality of applications; and   share at least real time raw data and phenomenon data among the plurality of applications.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the mobile edge capture and analytics middleware is further used to identify edge devices within a multi-layered data capture system to collect the real time raw data. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the edge devices comprise mobile devices. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the mobile edge capture and analytics middleware is further used to use a common software agent executing on each identified edge device to collect the real time raw data. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the mobile edge capture and analytics middleware is used to identify edge devices only associated with a prescribed list of entities and subject to spatial and temporal limitations on the edge devices. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein:
 receiving the queries comprises receiving the queries from a plurality of users; and   the mobile edge capture and analytics middleware considers content of a given query and a state of a given user from whom the given query was received to translate the queries into a description of data to be obtained.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein:
 each query is associated with a given data domain; and   the mobile edge capture and analytics middleware is further used to utilize data domain dependent templates to translate the queries into a description of data relevant to a given data domain.   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the mobile edge capture and analytics middleware is further configured to utilize a knowledge based expert system that uses an ontology describing aspects of information needed to answer queries to translate the queries into the description of data to be obtained. 
     
     
         50 . A computer-readable storage medium containing a computer-readable code that when read by a computer causes the computer to perform a method for question answering, the method comprising:
 receiving queries at a plurality of applications running on computing systems, each query comprising only an identification of a type of event, a geographical scope and a time duration;   communicating the queries from the applications to mobile edge capture and analytics middleware; and   using the mobile edge capture and analytics middleware to:
 translate the queries into a description of data to be obtained; 
 collect real time raw data simultaneously for the plurality of applications; 
 process the real time raw data into phenomenon data comprising a smaller volume than the real time raw data and higher level semantics; and 
 communicate at least one of the raw data and phenomenon data to the applications. 
   
     
     
         51 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 50 , wherein the mobile edge capture and analytics middleware is further used to:
 identify common real time raw data and phenomenon data needs across the plurality of applications; and   share at least real time raw data and phenomenon data among the plurality of applications.   
     
     
         52 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 50 , wherein the mobile edge capture and analytics middleware is further used to identify edge devices within a multi-layered data capture system to collect the real time raw data. 
     
     
         53 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 52 , wherein the edge devices comprise mobile devices. 
     
     
         54 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 52 , wherein the mobile edge capture and analytics middleware is further used to use a common software agent executing on each identified edge device to collect the real time raw data. 
     
     
         55 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 52 , wherein the mobile edge capture and analytics middleware is used to identify edge devices only associated with a prescribed list of entities and subject to spatial and temporal limitations on the edge devices. 
     
     
         56 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 50 , wherein:
 receiving the queries comprises receiving the queries from a plurality of users; and   the mobile edge capture and analytics middleware considers content of a given query and a state of a given user from whom the given query was received to translate the queries into a description of data to be obtained.   
     
     
         57 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 50 , wherein:
 each query is associated with a given data domain; and   the mobile edge capture and analytics middleware is further used to utilize data domain dependent templates to translate the queries into a description of data relevant to a given data domain.   
     
     
         58 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 50 , wherein the mobile edge capture and analytics middleware is further configured to utilize a knowledge based expert system that uses an ontology describing aspects of information needed to answer queries to translate the queries into the description of data to be obtained. 
     
     
         59 . A system for answering questions, the system comprising:
 a plurality of applications running on computing systems, each application receiving queries from users and each query comprising only an identification of a type of event, a geographical scope and a time duration; and   mobile edge capture and analytics middleware in communication with the plurality of applications to communicate the queries from the applications to the mobile edge capture and analytics middleware, the mobile edge capture and analytics middleware comprising a semantic interpreter to translate the queries into a description of data to be obtained, the mobile edge capture and analytics middleware configured to:
 collect real time raw data simultaneously for the plurality of applications; 
 process the real time raw data into phenomenon data comprising a smaller volume than the real time raw data and higher level semantics; and 
 communicate at least one of the raw data and phenomenon data to the applications. 
   
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 59 , wherein the mobile edge capture and analytics middleware is further configured to:
 identify common real time raw data and phenomenon data needs across the plurality of applications; and   share at least real time raw data and phenomenon data among the plurality of applications.