Method and system to answer a natural-language question
First Claim
1. A method for answering a natural-language question from a user by a first computing engine having access to a database with a plurality of phrases and question formats, the method comprising the steps of:
- identifying at least one phrase in the question, based on phrases in the database and at least one grammatical rule;
linking the identified phrase to at least a category based on at least one semantic rule, and a piece of information about the user, other than the fact that the user asked the question; and
identifying at least two question formats in the database based on at least the category;
so that the user is allowed to pick at least one of the question formats for answering the question.
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Abstract
Providing methods and systems to quickly and accurately respond to a natural-language question. The responses to the question can depend on additional information about the user asking the question, and the subject matter of the question the user asked. For example, the system knows that the user understands French, and can supply French answers to the user. Such additional information can improve on relevancy of the responses to the question. More than one responses can be provided to the user to allow the user to pick the more appropriate one. One embodiment uses a computer with a database having many phrases and question formats. The computer identifies phrases in the question based on at least one grammatical rules and phrases in the database. Then the computer links the phrases to categories based on at least one semantic rule, the subject matter of the question, and information about the user, such as previous questions asked by the user. The computer then selects at least two question formats based on at least the scores. After the question formats are selected, the system allows the user to pick at least one of the question formats so as to have an answer to the question generated.
130 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for answering a natural-language question from a user by a first computing engine having access to a database with a plurality of phrases and question formats, the method comprising the steps of:
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identifying at least one phrase in the question, based on phrases in the database and at least one grammatical rule;
linking the identified phrase to at least a category based on at least one semantic rule, and a piece of information about the user, other than the fact that the user asked the question; and
identifying at least two question formats in the database based on at least the category;
so that the user is allowed to pick at least one of the question formats for answering the question. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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9. A method as recited in claim I wherein based on the question format picked, a URL is identified.
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24. A method for answering a natural-language question from a user by a computing engine having access to a database with a plurality of phrases and question formats, the method comprising the steps of:
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identifying at least one phrase in the question, based on phrases in the database and at least one grammatical rule; and
identifying at least two question formats in the database based on the identified phrase and at least one semantic rule;
wherein;
the user is allowed to pick at least one of the question formats for answering the question;
one phrase in the question is being translated into a language different from the language of the question; and
an answer to the question in the different language is identified.
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25. A method for answering a natural-language question from a user by a first computing engine, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting, through a network, the question to a second computing engine having access to a database with a plurality of phrases and question formats, the second computing engine being configured to;
identify at least one phrase in the question, based on phrases in the database and at least one grammatical rule;
link the identified phrase to at least a category based on at least one semantic rule, and a piece of information about the user, other than the fact that the user asked the question; and
identify at least two question formats in the database based on at least the category;
so that the user is allowed to pick at least one of the question formats for answering the question.
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26. A method for answering a natural-language question from a user by a first computing engine, the method comprising the steps of:
transmitting, through a network, the question to a second computing engine having access to a database with a plurality of phrases and question formats, the second computing engine being configured to;
identify at least one phrase in the question, based on phrases in the database and at least one grammatical rule; and
identify at least two question formats in the database based on the identified phrase and at least one semantic rule;
wherein;
the user is allowed to pick at least one of the question formats for answering the question;
one phrase in the question is being translated into a language different from the language of the question; and
an answer to the question in the different language is identified.
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27. An apparatus for answering a natural-language question from a user, the apparatus comprising:
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a phrase identifier configured to identify at least one phrase in the question, based on phrases in a database and at least one grammatical rule;
a linker configured to link the identified phrase to at least a category based on at least one semantic rule, and a piece of information about the user, other than the fact that the user asked the question; and
a format identifier configured to identify at least two question formats in the database based on at least the category;
wherein the user is allowed to pick at least one of the question formats for answering the question.
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28. An apparatus for answering a natural-language question from a user, the apparatus comprising:
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a phrase identifier configured to identify at least one phrase in the question, based on is phrases in a database and at least one grammatical rule; and
a format identifier configured to identify at least two question formats in the database based on the identified phrase and at least one semantic rule;
wherein;
the user is allowed to pick at least one of the question formats for answering the question;
one phrase in the question is being translated into a language different from the language of the question; and
an answer to the question in the different language is identified.
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29. An apparatus for answering a natural-language question from a user comprising:
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a transmitter configured to transmit, through a network, the question to a computing engine having access to a database with a plurality of phrases and question formats, the computing engine being configured to;
identify at least one phrase in the question, based on phrases in the database and at least one grammatical rule; and
link the identified phrase to at least a category based on at least one semantic rule, and a piece of information about the user, other than the fact that the user asked the question; and
identify at least two question formats in the database based on at least the category;
so that the user is allowed to pick at least one of the question formats for answering the question.
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30. An apparatus for answering a natural-language question from a user comprising:
a transmitter configured to transmit, through a network, the question to a computing engine having access to a database with a plurality of phrases and question formats, the computing engine being configured to;
identify at least one phrase in the question, based on phrases in the database and at least one grammatical rule; and
identify at least two question formats in the database based on the identified phrase and at least one semantic rule;
wherein;
the user is allowed to pick at least one of the question formats for answering the question;
one phrase in the question is being translated into a language different from the language of the question; and
an answer to the question in the different language is identified.
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31. A computer readable media containing computer program code that is useful for answering a natural language question from a user, said code when executed by a first computer, having access to a database with a plurality of phrases and question formats, causing the first computer to perform a method comprising the steps of:
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identifying at least one phrase in the question, based on phrases in the database and at least one grammatical rule;
linking the identified phrase to at least a category based on at least one semantic rule, and a piece of information about the user, other than the fact that the user asked the question; and
identifying at least two question formats in the database based on at least the category;
so that the user is allowed to pick at least one of the question formats for answering the question.
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32. A computer readable media containing computer program code that is useful for answering a natural language question from a user, said code when executed by a first computer, having access to a database with a plurality of phrases and question formats, causing the first computer to perform a method comprising the steps of:
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identifying at least one phrase in the question, based on phrases in the database and at least one grammatical rule; and
identifying at least two question formats in the database based on the identified phrase and at least one semantic rule;
wherein;
the user is allowed to pick at least one of the question formats for answering the question;
one phrase in the question is being translated into a language different from the language of the question; and
an answer to the question in the different language is identified.
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33. A method for answering a natural-language question from a user by a first computing engine having access to a database with a plurality of phrases and question formats, the method comprising the steps of:
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identifying at least one phrase in the question, based on phrases in the database and at least one grammatical rule;
linking the identified phrase to at least a category based on at least one semantic rule, and the subject matter of the question the user is asking; and
identifying at least two question formats in the database based on at least the category;
so that the user is allowed to pick at least one of the question formats for answering the question;
wherein the method is applicable to more than one subject matter based on the same database.
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Specification