UofM Research Foundation Receives Patent for Evaluating Meaning from Structures of Text

November 10, 2015 - The University of Memphis Research Foundation (UMRF) has been granted United States patent No. 9,158,841, "Methods that Systematically Evaluate Semantic Differences, Methods of Identifying Related Sets of Items in Semantic Spaces and Systems and Computer Program Products for Implementing the Same." It is the 22nd patent granted to UMRF. The product covered by this patent was invented in the University of Memphis' FedEx Institute of Technology. The inventors, all members of the Institute for Intelligent Systems, are Dr. Xiangen Hu, Dr. Arthur Graesser, Dr. Zhiqiang Cai and Dr. Scotty Craig.

The patent covers a quantitative method for analyzing the structure of text that provides users with improved tools for information retrieval, scoring of writing samples and improving the cohesion of text.

"We are very pleased to receive a patent on this exciting technology that is based on cutting-edge science from our faculty," said UofM President M. David Rudd. "It validates the real-world impact of the work of our researchers in the Institute of Intelligent Systems, and demonstrates the leading role played by the FedEx Institute in bridging the gap between the lab and the marketplace."

Dr. Jasbir Dhaliwal, executive director of the FedEx Institute of Technology and the University's chief innovation officer, said, "The FedEx Institute has been hard at work building up its portfolio of technology patents and intellectual property by supporting basic research and development of proof-of-concepts underlying innovations such as this text analysis tool. We are now ready to work with national partners across several industries that recognize the value of improving quality of their communications and business intelligence enabled by these innovations."

The University of Memphis Research Foundation is a 501(c) corporation that supports the research and technology transfer objectives of the U of M and its faculty and students.

Contact: Gabrielle Maxey
901.678.2843
gmaxey@memphis.edu