Programming in a precise syntax using natural language
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving, via a user interface device, user input for inclusion in a workspace document, wherein the workspace document is displayed in a graphical user interface of a software development application that, when executed by one or more computer processors, is configured to evaluate instructions in a precise syntax;
after receiving the user input, displaying, on a display device, the user input in the workspace document;
determining, at the one or more computer processors, whether at least a portion of the user input i) is in the precise syntax, or ii) is in an imprecise syntax;
when it is determined that at least the portion of the user input is in the precise syntax,evaluating, at the one or more computer processors, at least the portion of the user input according to the precise syntax;
when it is determined that at least the portion of the user input is in the imprecise syntax,generating, at the one or more computer processors, an application programming interface (API) call that includes i) the at least the portion of the user input in the imprecise syntax, and ii) information indicating a result of a previous evaluation, by the software development application, of a user input previously entered into the workspace document,sending, by the one or more computer processors, the API call to a natural language processing (NLP) system implemented by one or more computer processors,processing, at the NLP system, the API call to determine the instruction in the precise syntax that corresponds to the user input in the imprecise syntax, wherein the instruction in the precise syntax is for generating a modification of the result of the previous evaluation,formatting, at the NLP system, the instruction in the precise syntax according to a format recognized by the software development application,receiving, at the one or more computer processors, the instruction in the precise syntax from the NLP system, wherein receiving the instruction in the precise syntax from the NLP system is responsive to sending the API call to the NLP system,including, by one or more computer processors, the instruction in the precise syntax in the workspace document such that the software development application executed by one or more computer processors can evaluate the instruction in the precise syntax, andafter including the instruction in the precise syntax in the workspace document, evaluating, at one or more computing devices, the instruction in the precise syntax.
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Abstract
A method facilitates development of instructions in a precise syntax, such as built-in functions of a computational system such as a spreadsheet application, using natural language (NL) input. A user may enter NL input in a workspace. An NL processing system may process the NL input to generate instruction(s) in a precise syntax that corresponds to the NL input. The instruction(s) in the precise syntax then may be included in the workspace.
113 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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receiving, via a user interface device, user input for inclusion in a workspace document, wherein the workspace document is displayed in a graphical user interface of a software development application that, when executed by one or more computer processors, is configured to evaluate instructions in a precise syntax; after receiving the user input, displaying, on a display device, the user input in the workspace document; determining, at the one or more computer processors, whether at least a portion of the user input i) is in the precise syntax, or ii) is in an imprecise syntax; when it is determined that at least the portion of the user input is in the precise syntax, evaluating, at the one or more computer processors, at least the portion of the user input according to the precise syntax; when it is determined that at least the portion of the user input is in the imprecise syntax, generating, at the one or more computer processors, an application programming interface (API) call that includes i) the at least the portion of the user input in the imprecise syntax, and ii) information indicating a result of a previous evaluation, by the software development application, of a user input previously entered into the workspace document, sending, by the one or more computer processors, the API call to a natural language processing (NLP) system implemented by one or more computer processors, processing, at the NLP system, the API call to determine the instruction in the precise syntax that corresponds to the user input in the imprecise syntax, wherein the instruction in the precise syntax is for generating a modification of the result of the previous evaluation, formatting, at the NLP system, the instruction in the precise syntax according to a format recognized by the software development application, receiving, at the one or more computer processors, the instruction in the precise syntax from the NLP system, wherein receiving the instruction in the precise syntax from the NLP system is responsive to sending the API call to the NLP system, including, by one or more computer processors, the instruction in the precise syntax in the workspace document such that the software development application executed by one or more computer processors can evaluate the instruction in the precise syntax, and after including the instruction in the precise syntax in the workspace document, evaluating, at one or more computing devices, the instruction in the precise syntax. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. One or more tangible, non-transitory computer readable storage media, storing machine readable instructions that, when executed by one or more computer processors, cause the one or more processors to:
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receive, via a user interface device, user input for inclusion in a workspace document, wherein the workspace document is displayed in a graphical user interface of a software development application that, when executed by one or more computer processors, is configured to evaluate instructions in a precise syntax; after receiving the user input, display, on a display device, the user input in the workspace document; determine whether at least a portion of the user input i) is in the precise syntax, or ii) is in an imprecise syntax; when it is determined that at least the portion of the user input is in the precise syntax, evaluate at least the portion of the user input according to the precise syntax; when it is determined that at least the portion of the user input is in the imprecise syntax, generate an application programming interface (API) call that includes i) the at least the portion of the user input in the imprecise syntax, and ii) information indicating a result of a previous evaluation, by the software development application, of a user input previously entered into the workspace document, send the API call to a natural language processing (NLP) system implemented by the one or more computer processors, process, at the NLP system, the API call to determine the instruction in the precise syntax that corresponds to the user input in the imprecise syntax, wherein the instruction in the precise syntax is for generating a modification of the result of the previous evaluation, format, at the NLP system, the instruction in the precise syntax according to a format recognized by the spreadsheet application, receive the instruction in the precise syntax from the NLP system, wherein receiving the instruction in the precise syntax from the NLP system is responsive to sending the API call to the NLP system, include the instruction in the precise syntax in the workspace document such that the spreadsheet application executed by one or more computer processors can evaluate the instruction in the precise syntax, and after including the instruction in the precise syntax in the workspace document, evaluate the instruction in the precise syntax. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system, comprising:
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one or more computer processors; one or more tangible, non-transitory computer readable storage media storing machine readable instructions that, when executed by one or more computer processors, cause the one or more processors to; receive, via a user interface device, user input for inclusion in a workspace document, wherein the workspace document is displayed in a graphical user interface of a software development application that, when executed by one or more computer processors, is configured to evaluate instructions in a precise syntax; after receiving the user input, display, on a display device, the user input in the workspace document; determine whether at least a portion of the user input i) is in the precise syntax, or ii) is in an imprecise syntax; when it is determined that at least the portion of the user input is in the precise syntax, evaluate at least the portion of the user input according to the precise syntax; when it is determined that at least the portion of the user input is in the imprecise syntax, generate an application programming interface (API) call that includes i) the at least the portion of the user input in the imprecise syntax, and ii) information indicating a result of a previous evaluation, by the software development application, of a user input previously entered into the workspace document, send the API call to a natural language processing (NLP) system implemented by the one or more computer processors, process, at the NLP system, the API call to determine the instruction in the precise syntax that corresponds to the user input in the imprecise syntax, wherein the instruction in the precise syntax is for generating a modification of the result of the previous evaluation, format, at the NLP system, the instruction in the precise syntax according to a format recognized by the spreadsheet application, receive the instruction in the precise syntax from the NLP system, wherein receiving the instruction in the precise syntax from the NLP system is responsive to sending the API call to the NLP system, include the instruction in the precise syntax in the workspace document such that the spreadsheet application executed by one or more computer processors can evaluate the instruction in the precise syntax, and after including the instruction in the precise syntax in the workspace document, evaluate the instruction in the precise syntax. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification