Representing a computer system state to a user

• US 20070168922A1
• Filed: 11/07/2005
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP SE
• Inventors: Kaiser, Matthias
• Granted Patent: US 8,805,675 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/56 Natural language generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/454 Multi-language systems; Localisation; Internationalisation

Abstract

Operations to represent a computer system state to a user include maintaining a model in a computer system. The model is updated at times and represents a current state of the computer system. The model uses formal-language statements to associate each of several predefined goals with at least one of several predefined actions that can be performed in the computer system to accomplish the associated predefined goal. The operations comprise providing an output to a user regarding the current state of the computer system, the output comprising a natural-language statement generated using at least one of the formal-language statements. A statement generating module may include a text planner, a grammar, a lexicon, a translator or a text post-processor.

Claims

1. A computer-program product tangibly embodied in an information carrier, the computer-program product comprising instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform operations to represent a computer system state to a user, the operations comprising:

maintaining a model in a computer system, the model being updated at times and representing a current state of the computer system, wherein the model uses formal-language statements to associate each of several predefined goals with at least one of several predefined actions that can be performed in the computer system to accomplish the associated predefined goal; and

providing an output to a user regarding the current state of the computer system, the output comprising a natural-language statement generated using at least one of the formal-language statements.

2. The computer-program product of claim 1, wherein providing the output comprises processing several of the formal-language statements.

3. The computer-program product of claim 2, wherein the several formal-language statements are processed using a grammar.

4. The computer-program product of claim 2, wherein the processing of the several formal-language statements comprises reordering at least one of them using a planning sequence.

5. The computer-program product of claim 2, wherein the several formal-language statements are processed using a natural-language dictionary.

6. The computer-program product of claim 2, wherein the operations further comprise post-processing the natural-language statement before providing the output to the user.

7. The computer-program product of claim 6, wherein the post-processing comprises substituting an equivalent for the natural-language statement.

8. The computer-program product of claim 6, wherein at least two natural-language statements are generated using at least one of the formal-language statements, and wherein the post-processing comprises joining the at least two natural-language statements.

9. The computer-program product of claim 6, wherein the post-processing comprises inserting a connective into the natural-language statement.

10. The computer-program product of claim 6, wherein the post-processing comprises replacing a noun in the natural-language statement with a pronoun.

11. The computer-program product of claim 1, wherein the output indicates to the user how the computer system came to assume the current state.

12. The computer-program product of claim 11, wherein the natural-language statement describes at least one of the several predefined actions, wherein the current state was assumed upon performing the described action.

13. The computer-program product of claim 1, wherein the output indicates to the user another state that the computer system can be caused to assume based on the current state.

14. The computer-program product of claim 13, wherein the natural-language statement describes at least one of the predefined goals as being possible to accomplish.

15. A computer system comprising:

a model that is updated at times and that represents a current state of the computer system, the model using formal-language statements to associate each of several predefined goals with at least one of several predefined actions that can be performed in the computer system to accomplish the associated predefined goal; and

a statement generating module providing an output to a user regarding the current state of the computer system, the output comprising a natural-language statement generated using at least one of the formal-language statements.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the statement generating module comprises a text planner that reorders at least one of the formal-language statements using a planning sequence.

17. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the statement generating module comprises a translator translating the at least one of the formal-language statements into the natural-language statement.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the translator uses one selected from the group consisting of:

a grammar, a natural-language lexicon, and combinations thereof.

19. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the statement generating module processes several of the formal-language statements to provide the output and wherein the statement generating module comprises a text post-processor that generates the output.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the text post-processor performs an action selected from the group consisting of:

(a) wherein at least two natural-language statements are generated, joining the at least two natural-language statements before the output is provided;

(b) substituting an equivalent for the natural-language statement before the output is provided;

(c) inserting a connective into the natural-language statement before the output is provided;

(d) replacing a noun with a pronoun in the natural-language statement before the output is provided; and

(e) combinations thereof.