Parsing hierarchical lists and outlines

• US 20060085466A1
• Filed: 11/05/2004
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ye, Ming, Viola, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,698,340 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/171 by use of digital ink
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/205 Parsing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

A system and method for determining hierarchical information is described. Aspects include using the Collins model for parsing non-textual information into hierarchical content. The system and process assign labels to lines that indicate how the lines relate to one another.

Claims

1-36. -36. (canceled)

37. In a computer system having received information and a storage, a user interface as rendered on a display, said user interface comprising:

a first region displaying said information having been parsed; and

a second region receiving user input designating a hierarchical level of said parsed information,

said computer system storing an association between said user input and said information having been parsed.

38. The user interface according to claim 37, wherein said received information is non-textual information.

39. The user interface according to claim 37, wherein said received information includes electronic ink.

40. The user interface according to claim 37, wherein said computer system has parsed said received information.

41. The user interface according to claim 37, wherein said computer system has received said information having been previously parsed.

42. The user interface according to claim 37, wherein said association is used to train model parameters for conditional random field algorithms for analyzing other received information.

43. The user interface according to claim 42, said conditional random field algorithms include a Collins model algorithm.

44. The user interface according to claim 37, further comprising:

a third region, upon whose interaction with, navigates among said information having been parsed.

45. The user interface according to claim 37, further comprising:

a third region, upon whose interaction with, provides at least one alternate view in said first region of said information having been parsed.

46. A process for associating user input with parsed information comprising the steps of:

receiving information;

receiving user input associated with a line of said received information;

associating said user input with said line of said received information;

storing at least said association.

47. The process according to claim 46, wherein said stored association is used as a training example for conditional random field algorithms.

48. The process according to claim 47, wherein said conditional random field algorithms include a Collins model algorithm.

49. The process according to claim 46, wherein said storing step further comprises:

storing multiple associations linking user input to respective lines of information.

50. The process according to claim 46, wherein said receiving step receives information from a storage.

51. The process according to claim 46, wherein said receiving step receives information from a user.

52. The process according to claim 46, wherein said receiving step receives information having been generated by a computer.

53. The process according to claim 46, further comprising the step of:

parsing said received information into lines.

54. The process according to claim 46, wherein said receiving step receives information having previously parsed into lines.

55. A computer-readable medium having a program stored thereon for associating user input with parsed information, said program comprising the steps of:

receiving information;

receiving user input associated with a line of said received information;

associating said user input with said line of said received information;

storing at least said association.

56. The computer-readable medium according to claim 55, wherein said stored association is used as a training example for conditional random field algorithms.

57. The computer-readable medium according to claim 56, wherein said conditional random field algorithms include a Collins model algorithm.

58. The computer-readable medium according to claim 55, wherein said storing step further comprises:

storing multiple associations linking user input to respective lines of information.

59. The computer-readable medium according to claim 55, wherein said receiving step receives information from a storage.

60. The computer-readable medium according to claim 55, wherein said receiving step receives information from a user.

61. The computer-readable medium according to claim 55, wherein said receiving step receives information having been generated by a computer.

62. The computer-readable medium according to claim 55, said program further comprising the step of:

parsing said received information into lines.

63. The computer-readable medium according to claim 55, wherein said receiving step receives information having previously parsed into lines.

64. A computer for associating user input with parsed information comprising:

means for receiving information;

means for receiving user input associated with a line of said received information;

means for associating said user input with said line of said received information;

means for storing at least said association.

65. The computer according to claim 64, wherein said stored association is used as a training example for conditional random field algorithms.

66. The computer according to claim 65, wherein said conditional random field algorithms include a Collins model algorithm.

67. The computer according to claim 64, wherein said means for storing rises:

means for storing multiple associations linking user input to respective lines of information.

68. The computer according to claim 64, wherein said means for receiving receives information from a storage.

69. The computer according to claim 64, wherein said means for receiving receives information from a user.

70. The computer according to claim 64, wherein said means for receiving receives information having been generated by a computer.

71. The computer according to claim 64, said program further comprising:

means for parsing said received information into lines.

72. The computer according to claim 64, wherein said means for receiving receives information having previously parsed into lines.