Answering verbal questions using a natural language system

• US 20010039493A1
• Filed: 12/19/2000
• Published: 11/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LingoMotors, Inc.
• Original Assignee: LingoMotors, Inc.
• Inventors: Ingria, Robert J. P., Pustejovsky, James D.
• Application Number:
  US09/742,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20010039493A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/235
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/18 using natural language modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence

Abstract

According to the present invention, a technique including a method and system for managing information is provided. In an exemplary embodiment a method and a system is provided for answering voice questions using a remote mobile device, e.g., cell phone, by a natural language system.

Claims

1. A method for responding to a verbal question sent by a remote user to a natural language system via a communications network, comprising:

receiving the verbal question from the remote user;

transforming the verbal question into a textual format;

processing the textual format using a natural language system; and

returning an answer to the user.

2. The method of

claim 1

wherein the communications network comprises a cellular telephone for receiving the verbal question from the remote user.

3. The method of

claim 1

wherein the natural language system comprises a type structure.

4. The method of

claim 3

wherein the type structure includes a qualia.

5. A method for obtaining an answer to a verbal question from a natural language system by a user using a remote device comprising:

sending the verbal question by the remote device to a service provider system via a communications network; and

receiving the answer from the service provider system after the answer to the verbal question is determined by the natural language system.

6. The method of

claim 5

wherein the natural language system comprises a type structure.

7. The method of

claim 5

wherein the remote user uses a remote device selected from a group consisting of a radio, a transceiver, a cell phone, a mobile phone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a telephone, a computer, an interactive TV, or an Internet phone.

8. A method for responding to a verbal question sent by a remote user to a natural language system via a communications network, comprising:

receiving a verbal question from the remote user;

converting the verbal question to a text question;

processing said text question using the natural language system; and

returning to the remote user a plurality of related categories generated by the natural language system.

9. The method of

claim 8

, wherein the user verbally selects a related category.

10. A natural language question and answer system for receiving a query from a remote user over a communications network and returning a result to the remote user, comprising:

a cellular telephone for receiving the query from the remote user; and

a computer system connected to the cellular telephone by the communications network for processing the question, wherein the computer system comprises;

a database comprising information to respond to the question; and

natural language software for analyzing the query and determining an answer using the database.

11. The system of

claim 10

wherein the information comprises type information.

12. The system of

claim 10

wherein the answer includes related category information.

13. A natural language system for responding to a verbal question sent by a remote user via a communications network, said system including a memory comprising:

code directed to receiving the verbal question from the remote user;

code directed to transforming the verbal question into a textual format;

code directed to processing the textual format using a natural language system; and

code directed to returning a result to the user.

14. The system of

claim 13

further comprising code representing type information.