# US 2018/0025076 A1 · Collaborative Question Interceptor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0025076 A1 - Document ID: US20180025076A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/214,735 - Filed: 2016-07-20 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-20 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Paul R. Bastide; Lisa Seacat DeLuca; Dana L. Price; Shelbee D. Smith-Eigenbrode - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180025076A1 ## CPC - G06F 16/3344: {using natural language analysis} - G06F 16/3329: Natural language query formulation - H04L 51/216: Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads - H04L 51/52: for supporting social networking services - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Question interception is provided. It is determined that a first user corresponding to a data processing system is composing a message to be transmitted to a second data processing system corresponding to a second user. It is determined whether a question for the second user is identified in the message prior to transmitting the message to the second data processing system. In response to determining that a question is identified in the message, an answer to the question is retrieved from a plurality of data sources. A confidence score is calculated for the answer. It is determined whether the confidence score is greater than or equal to a confidence level threshold value. In response to determining that the confidence score is greater than or equal to the confidence level threshold value, the answer is displayed to the first user prior to transmitting the message to the second data processing system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method for question interception, the computer-implemented method comprising: determining, by a data processing system, that a first user corresponding to the data processing system is composing an electronic message to be transmitted via a network to a second data processing system corresponding to a second user; determining, by the data processing system, whether a question for the second user is identified in the electronic message prior to transmitting the electronic message to the second data processing system; responsive to the data processing system determining that a question for the second user is identified in the electronic message prior to transmitting the electronic message to the second data processing system, retrieving, by the data processing system, an answer to the question from at least one of a plurality of data sources; calculating, by the data processing system, a confidence score for the answer to the question; determining, by the data processing system, whether the confidence score for the answer to the question is greater than or equal to a defined confidence level threshold value; and responsive to the data processing system determining that the confidence score for the answer to the question is greater than or equal to the defined confidence level threshold value, displaying, by the data processing system, the answer to the question to the first user prior to transmitting the electronic message to the second data processing system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising: responsive to the data processing system determining that the confidence score for the answer to the question is less than the defined confidence level threshold value, transmitting, by the data processing system, the electronic message to the second data processing system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising: determining, by the data processing system, whether the question is a personal question regarding the second user; responsive to the data processing system determining that the question is a personal question regarding the second user, transmitting, by the data processing system, the electronic message to the second data processing system; and responsive to the data processing system determining that the question is not a personal question regarding the second user, searching, by the data processing system, the plurality of data sources for answers to the question. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the data processing system displays the answer to the question to the first user in a pop up notification that includes the confidence score for the answer, a first input button for cancelling transmission of the electronic message to the second data processing system, and a second input button for continuing transmission of the electronic message to the second data processing system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the confidence score for the answer is based, at least in part, on one or more previous electronic messages between the first user and the second user. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of data sources includes search engine results, social media discussions associated with the question, and historical electronic messages between the first user and the second user. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the electronic message is one of a group consisting of an email, a short message service text message, a direct electronic message, a social media textual message, a social networking service message, and an instant text message. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the confidence score is a percentage of relevance the answer is to the question. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the data processing system is one of a group consisting of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a smart phone, a smart watch, a personal digital assistant, a gaming device, and a set-top box. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the answer is a set of answers, and wherein the data processing system selects an answer that is most relevant to the question from the set of answers based on the confidence score corresponding to the selected answer. ### Claim 11 A data processing system for question interception, the data processing system comprising: a bus system; a storage device connected to the bus system, wherein the storage device stores program instructions; and a processor connected to the bus system, wherein the processor executes the program instructions to: determine that a first user corresponding to the data processing system is composing an electronic message to be transmitted via a network to a second data processing system corresponding to a second user; determine whether a question for the second user is identified in the electronic message prior to transmitting the electronic message to the second data processing system; retrieve an answer to the question from at least one of a plurality of data sources in response to determining that a question for the second user is identified in the electronic message prior to transmitting the electronic message to the second data processing system; calculate a confidence score for the answer to the question; determine whether the confidence score for the answer to the question is greater than or equal to a defined confidence level threshold value; and display the answer to the question to the first user prior to transmitting the electronic message to the second data processing system in response to determining that the confidence score for the answer to the question is greater than or equal to the defined confidence level threshold value. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the processor further executes the program instructions to: transmit the electronic message to the second data processing system in response to determining that the confidence score for the answer to the question is less than the defined confidence level threshold value. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the processor further executes the program instructions to: determine whether the question is a personal question regarding the second user; transmit the electronic message to the second data processing system in response to determining that the question is a personal question regarding the second user; and search the plurality of data sources for answers to the question in response to determining that the question is not a personal question regarding the second user. ### Claim 14 A computer program product for question interception, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a data processing system to cause the data processing system to perform a method comprising: determining, by the data processing system, that a first user corresponding to the data processing system is composing an electronic message to be transmitted via a network to a second data processing system corresponding to a second user; determining, by the data processing system, whether a question for the second user is identified in the electronic message prior to transmitting the electronic message to the second data processing system; responsive to the data processing system determining that a question for the second user is identified in the electronic message prior to transmitting the electronic message to the second data processing system, retrieving, by the data processing system, an answer to the question from at least one of a plurality of data sources; calculating, by the data processing system, a confidence score for the answer to the question; determining, by the data processing system, whether the confidence score for the answer to the question is greater than or equal to a defined confidence level threshold value; and responsive to the data processing system determining that the confidence score for the answer to the question is greater than or equal to the defined confidence level threshold value, displaying, by the data processing system, the answer to the question to the first user prior to transmitting the electronic message to the second data processing system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The computer program product of claim 14 further comprising: responsive to the data processing system determining that the confidence score for the answer to the question is less than the defined confidence level threshold value, transmitting, by the data processing system, the electronic message to the second data processing system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The computer program product of claim 14 further comprising: determining, by the data processing system, whether the question is a personal question regarding the second user; responsive to the data processing system determining that the question is a personal question regarding the second user, transmitting, by the data processing system, the electronic message to the second data processing system; and responsive to the data processing system determining that the question is not a personal question regarding the second user, searching, by the data processing system, the plurality of data sources for answers to the question. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the first data processing system displays the answer to the question to the first user in a pop up notification that includes the confidence score for the answer, a first input button for cancelling transmission of the electronic message to the second data processing system, and a second input button for continuing transmission of the electronic message to the second data processing system. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the confidence score for the answer is based, at least in part, on one or more previous electronic messages between the first user and the second user. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the plurality of data sources includes search engine results, social media discussions associated with the question, and historical electronic messages between the first user and the second user. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the electronic message is one of a group consisting of an email, a short message service text message, a direct electronic message, a social media textual message, a social networking service message, and an instant text message.