System & method for natural language processing of sentence based queries
First Claim
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1. A natural language processing system adapted for assisting recognition of a query presented in text form, the system comprising:
- a natural language routine which performs a first linguistic analysis of query text by analyzing a plurality of word phrases associated with said query text;
a database query composition routine which processes said first linguistic analysis to identify a candidate set of potential matches for said query utterance, and said natural language routine being further configured for generating one or more second linguistic analyses of text contained in said candidate set of potential matches;
an answer routine adapted for comparing said first linguistic analysis with each of said one or more second linguistic analyses to identify a match for said user query.
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Abstract
Sentence based queries from a user are analyzed using a natural language engine to determine appropriate answers from an electronic database. The system and methods are useful for Internet based search engines, as well as distributed speech recognition systems such as a client-server system. The latter are typically implemented on an intranet or over the Internet based on user queries at his/her computer, a PDA, or a workstation using a speech input interface.
148 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A natural language processing system adapted for assisting recognition of a query presented in text form, the system comprising:
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a natural language routine which performs a first linguistic analysis of query text by analyzing a plurality of word phrases associated with said query text;
a database query composition routine which processes said first linguistic analysis to identify a candidate set of potential matches for said query utterance, and said natural language routine being further configured for generating one or more second linguistic analyses of text contained in said candidate set of potential matches;
an answer routine adapted for comparing said first linguistic analysis with each of said one or more second linguistic analyses to identify a match for said user query. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A query recognition system operating on a server coupled to the Internet comprising:
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a natural language routine configured to generate a first linguistic analysis of words contained in a text query, including an identification of any word phrases present in said text query;
a query formulation routine adapted to convert said words and said word phrases into a structured query suitable for locating matches for said text query;
wherein said first linguistic analysis is used to identify a candidate set of potential matches for said text query; and
an answer identification routine configured for comparing said first linguistic analysis with one or more second linguistic analyses of words contained in said candidate set of potential matches;
wherein a matching answer is determined and communicated over the Internet in response to said text query in real time. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An Internet based query recognition and response system comprising:
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a search engine for receiving a user query in text form;
a natural language routine configured to generate a first linguistic analysis of words contained in said user query, including an identification of first word phrases present in said text query;
wherein said first word phrases are extracted and stored in ranked order in an array;
a query formulation routine adapted to convert said first word phrases along with a list of all words in said text query into a structured query including search predicates for locating a set of potential query/answer pairs responsive to said text query;
wherein second word phrases are extracted from said set of potential query/answer pairs and stored in ranked order in a second array an answer identification routine configured for comparing said first word phrases with second word phrases to identify a responsive answer to said text query.
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17. A method of recognizing and responding to a natural language based query comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving query text for a user query; and
(b) linguistically processing said query text to generate search predicates and recognized phrases;
(c) forming a database query to identify a potential match for said user query, said database query being based on said recognized phrases and said search predicates;
(d) determining a match for said user query by linguistically comparing any potential matches identified by said database query with said query text. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of recognizing a query comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving query text for a user query; and
(b) linguistically processing said query text to generate search terms based on phrase analysis;
(c) generating a preliminary query to identify a potential match for said speech utterance, said preliminary query being based on said query text;
(d) generating a final query to identify a potential match for said speech utterance, said final query being based on said query text and said search terms;
(e) determining a final match for said speech utterance by linguistically comparing any potential matches identified by said preliminary and/or final query with said user query;
wherein said preliminary query is made based on said query text to determine a match during a time when linguistic processing is still being done on said query text. - View Dependent Claims (23, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A distributed method of recognizing and responding in real time to a user question posed within an application program executing on a client device, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving query data generated by the client device over a network;
(b) processing said query data at a server device to form a query text associated with the user question;
wherein at least during step (b) a context experienced by the user within the application program is considered for loading appropriate dictionaries and/or grammars to facilitate formulating said query text;
(c) submitting said query text to a database query engine and a natural language engine;
(d) linguistically processing said query text with said natural language engine during a first linguistic process to identify word phrases contained therein;
(e) forming a query to a question/answer pair database based on said query text and said word phrases;
(f) locating a set of question/answer pairs based on said query text, including an initial set of question/answer pairs based on a preliminary query;
(g) evaluating said set of question/answer pairs, using a second linguistic analysis to compare word phrases in said set of question/answer pairs with word phrases identified in said query text;
(h) identifying a question/answer pair best matching the user question based on step (g);
(i) providing an answer determined from said single question/answer pair in step (h) to the user over the network;
wherein an answer is provided to the user question in real-time over a distributed query system. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification