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 utilizing temporal indicators to weight semantic values. A set of temporal characteristics is identified of a set of initial candidate answers. For each initial candidate answer in the set of initial candidate answers: a distance value is generated for each of the set of temporal characteristics of the set of initial candidate answers, a multiplier value is determined with which to weight an initial confidence score associated with the initial candidate answer using the distance value; a sentiment value is determined of the initial candidate answer, and a final weight value is determined using the multiplier value, the sentiment value, and the initial confidence score associated with the initial candidate answer. A set of temporally refined candidate answers is then provided using the determined final weight values.
Please help me write a proper abstract based on the patent claims. CLAIM: 1. A method, in a data processing system comprising a processor and a memory configured to implement a question and answer system (QA), for utilizing temporal indicators to weight semantic values, the method comprising: identifying a set of temporal characteristics of a set of initial candidate answers; for each initial candidate answer in the set of initial candidate answers: generating a distance value for each of the set of temporal characteristics of the set of initial candidate answers; determining a multiplier value with which to weight an initial confidence score associated with the initial candidate answer using the distance value; determining a sentiment value of the initial candidate answer; and determining a final weight value using the multiplier value, the sentiment value, and the initial confidence score associated with the initial candidate answer; and providing a set of temporally refined candidate answers using the determined final weight values. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the distance value is determined based on a reference time associated with a submitted question. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the multiplier value is determined using a multiplier function: Multiplier value=1/(2 distance value+0.5) 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the final weight value is determined using a distance function: Final Weight=Initial confidence score*Multiplier Value*Sentiment Value 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sentiment value is +1 if the determined sentiment is positive. 6. The method of claim I, wherein the sentiment value is −1 if the determined sentiment is negative. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of temporally refined candidate answers is ranked according to the determined final weight values. 8-20. (canceled)