Providing answers to questions using multiple models to score candidate answers

An article of manufacture, comprising:

• at least one tangible computer readable device having computer readable program code logic tangibly embodied therein to generate answers to questions, and for use with a memory device storing a plurality of candidate scoring models, the computer readable program code logic, when executing, performing the following:
• receiving an input query;
• using a candidate answer generation module to conduct a search, based on said query, in one or more data sources to identify candidate answers to the input query;
• using a candidate answer scoring module to determine a plurality of first scores for each of the candidate answers;
• for each of the candidate answers,
• selecting one of the candidate scoring models based on defined criteria to determine a second, classification score for said each candidate answer;
• and
• for each of the candidate answers, outputting the plurality of first scores determined for the candidate answer from the candidate answer scoring module, transmitting said first scores to the selected one of the candidate scoring models, and using said selected one of the candidate scoring models to process said first scores for said each candidate answer to determine said second, classification score for said each candidate answer;
• and
• selecting one or more of the candidate answers, based on the second, classification scores for the candidate answers, as one or more answers to the input query.

A system for generating answers to questions, comprising:

• a computer device comprising:
• at least one distinct software module, each distinct software module being embodied on a tangible computer-readable medium;
• a memory device storing a plurality of candidate scoring models;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the memory device and operative for:
• receiving a plurality of input queries;
• for each query, using a candidate answer generation module to conduct a search, based on said each query, in one or more data sources to identify candidate answers to said each query;
• using a candidate answer scoring module to determine a plurality of first scores for each of the candidate answers;
• for each of the candidate answers,
• selecting one of the candidate scoring functions based on defined criteria to determine a second, classification score for said each candidate answer;
• and
• for each of the candidate answers, outputting the plurality of first scores determined for the candidate answer from the candidate answer scoring module, transmitting said first scores to the selected one of the candidate scoring functions, and using selected one of the candidate scoring functions to process said first scores for said each candidate answer to determine said second, classification score for said each candidate answer;
• and
• selecting one or more of the candidate answers, based on the second, classification scores for the candidate answers, as one or more answers to the input query;
• and wherein:
• for the candidate answers to each of a first group of the input queries, the selecting one of the candidate scoring functions includes selecting one of the candidate scoring functions based on the input query;
• and
• for the candidate answers to each of a second group of the input queries, the selecting one of the candidate ranking functions includes selecting one of the candidate ranking functions based on said each candidate answer.