Graphical feedback for semantic interpretation of text and images

• US 20040117173A1
• Filed: 12/18/2002
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Pollack, Kristal Tiana, Ford, Daniel Alexander
• Application Number:
  US10/323,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20040117173A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3344 using natural language analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/583 using metadata automatically derived from the content
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/30 Semantic analysis

Abstract

Indication of an interpreted meaning of a portion of a document by displaying an indication of the interpreted meaning near the document portion, where the portion may be text, nor non-text such as an image. The indication may be a symbol (without associated code) or an icon (with associated code to activate a specified function). Also included is disambiguation of a portion of a document, involving presenting indications of at least two alternative interpreted meanings of the document portion and displaying an indication of a selected interpreted meaning in response to one of the interpreted meanings being selected

Claims

1. A method for indicating an interpreted meaning of a portion of a document, comprising displaying an indication of the interpreted meaning near the document portion.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the portion is text.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the indication is an icon with associated code to activate a specified function.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the meaning is interpreted by looking up a keyword.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the meaning is interpreted by examining context within the document.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the meaning is interpreted by using words in the text as a source for queries into a database.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the portion is an image.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the indication of the interpreted meaning is overlaid on the image.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the indication of the interpreted meaning is overlaid on the image so that a substantial part of the image cannot be seen.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the indication is a symbol without any associated code.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the indication is an icon with associated code to activate a specified function.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the indication indicates that there is more than one possible meaning.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the indication comprises at least one of an arrow and a plus sign.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the possible meanings are ordered based on context within the document.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the possible meanings are ordered based on related information external to the document.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the document portion is interpreted as it is being created.

17. A method for disambiguating a portion of a document, comprising:

presenting indications of at least two alternative interpreted meanings of the document portion;

displaying an indication of a selected interpreted meaning in response to one of the interpreted meanings being selected.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the selection is by a user choosing one of the indications by means of an input device.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the selection is automatic.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the selection is determined by accepting the first listed interpretation in the absence of user input.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein the disambiguation of the document portion causes the interpreted meaning of another portion of the document to be updated.

22. A program storage device accessible by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instruction executable by the machine to perform the method step for indicating an interpreted meaning of a portion of a document, said method step comprising displaying an indication of the interpreted meaning near the document portion.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the portion is text.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the indication is an icon with associated code to activate a specified function.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the meaning is interpreted by looking up a keyword.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the meaning is interpreted by examining context within the document.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein the meaning is interpreted by using words in the text as a source for queries into a database.

28. The method of claim 22 wherein the portion is an image.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the indication of the interpreted meaning is overlaid on the image.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the indication of the interpreted meaning is overlaid on the image so that a substantial part of the image cannot be seen.

31. The method of claim 22 wherein the indication is a symbol without any associated code.

32. The method of claim 22 wherein the indication is an icon with associated code to activate a specified function.

33. The method of claim 22 wherein the indication indicates that there is more than one possible meaning.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the indication comprises at least one of an arrow and a plus sign.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein the possible meanings are ordered based on context within the document.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein the possible meanings are ordered based on related information external to the document.

37. The method of claim 22 wherein the document portion is interpreted as it is being created.

38. A program storage device accessible by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instruction executable by the machine to perform the method step for disambiguating a portion of a document, said method steps comprising:

presenting indications of at least two alternative interpreted meanings of the document portion;

displaying an indication of a selected interpreted meaning in response to one of the interpreted meanings being selected.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the selection is by a user choosing one of the indications by means of an input device.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the selection is automatic.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the selection is determined by accepting the first listed interpretation in the absence of user input.

42. The method of claim 38 wherein the disambiguation of the document portion causes the interpreted meaning of another portion of the document to be updated.