Self-Annotating Identifiers

• US 20070213985A1
• Filed: 03/13/2007
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lexikos Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lexikos Corporation
• Inventors: Corwin, Daniel W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,962,328 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/257
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/183 using context dependencies, e.g. language models
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue

Abstract

A computer-implemented method provides, to a user, representations of a plurality of discriminants of meanings of a plurality of symbols in a natural language. Each of the plurality of discriminants is associated with a corresponding finite set of mutually exclusive answers to the discriminant. The discriminants are orthogonal to each other. The method receives, from the user, input representing a plurality of answers to the plurality of discriminants. Each of the plurality of answers from the user is selected from the finite set of mutually exclusive answers to the corresponding discriminant. The method generates, in response to the input, a data structure tangibly stored in a computer-readable memory. The data structure includes data representing the plurality of answers from the user and thereby represents a meaning of one of the plurality of symbols in the natural language.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

(A) providing, to a user, representations of a plurality of discriminants of meanings of a plurality of symbols in a natural language, wherein each of the plurality of discriminants is associated with a corresponding finite set of mutually exclusive answers to the discriminant, and wherein the plurality of discriminants are orthogonal to each other;

(B) receiving, from the user, input representing a plurality of answers to the plurality of discriminants, wherein each of the plurality of answers from the user is selected from the finite set of mutually exclusive answers to the corresponding discriminant; and

(C) generating, in response to the input, a data structure tangibly stored in a computer-readable memory, the data structure comprising data representing the plurality of answers from the user and thereby representing a meaning of one of the plurality of symbols in the natural language.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the finite set of mutually exclusive answers to at least one of the plurality of discriminants consists of exactly two answers.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein (B) comprises:

(B)(1) receiving first input from the user representing a first answer to a first one of the plurality of discriminants; and

(B)(2) receiving second input, independent of the first input, from the user representing a second answer to a second one of the plurality of discriminants.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of symbols comprises a plurality of words in the natural language.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of symbols comprises a plurality of grammar forms in the natural language.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein (C) comprises generating the data structure to include a plurality of fields, wherein each of the plurality of fields represents a corresponding one of the plurality of answers.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the computer-readable memory comprises a computer-readable memory in a computer including a processor, and wherein (C) comprises generating the data structure to consist of bits equal in number to a number of bits of a data type native to the processor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of discriminants includes at least two of a discriminant for distinguishing between individual and collective meanings in the natural language, a discriminant for distinguishing between specific and indefinite meanings in the natural language, a discriminant for distinguishing between natural and artificial meanings in the natural language, and a discriminant for distinguishing between concrete and information meanings in the natural language.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of discriminants further includes at least one of a discriminant for distinguishing between real and imaginary meanings in the natural language, a discriminant for distinguishing between basic and mediating meanings in the natural language, and a discriminant for distinguishing between static and dynamic meanings in the natural language.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(D) providing, to the user, a representation of a type tree including a plurality of types;

wherein (B) further comprises receiving, from the user, input representing a branch of the type tree selected by the user; and

wherein (C) comprises generating a data structure comprising data representing the plurality of answers from the user and the branch of the type tree selected by the user.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the data representing the plurality of answers from the user consists of at most one byte of data.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein (C) further comprises storing, in the data structure, data representing a creation time of the data structure.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein (C) further comprises storing, in the data structure, the one of the plurality of symbols.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein (C) comprises generating a code for a category set defined by a version of Roget'"'"'s Thesaurus, and wherein the code is representable in not more than 2 bytes.

15. A computer-readable memory tangibly storing a data structure generated by the method of claim 1.

16. An apparatus comprising:

discriminant representation means for providing, to a user, representations of a plurality of discriminants of meanings of a plurality of symbols in a natural language, wherein each of the plurality of discriminants is associated with a corresponding finite set of mutually exclusive answers to the discriminant, and wherein the plurality of discriminants are orthogonal to each other;

means for receiving, from the user, input representing a plurality of answers to the plurality of discriminants, wherein each of the plurality of answers from the user is selected from the finite set of mutually exclusive answers to the corresponding discriminant; and

means for generating, in response to the input, a data structure tangibly stored in a computer-readable memory, the data structure comprising data representing the plurality of answers from the user and thereby representing a meaning of one of the plurality of symbols in the natural language.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the finite set of mutually exclusive answers to at least one of the plurality of discriminants consists of exactly two answers.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for receiving comprises:

means for receiving first input from the user representing a first answer to a first one of the plurality of discriminants; and

means for receiving second input, independent of the first input, from the user representing a second answer to a second one of the plurality of discriminants.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of symbols comprises a plurality of words in the natural language.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of symbols comprises a plurality of grammar forms in the natural language.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for generating comprises means for generating the data structure to include a plurality of fields, wherein each of the plurality of fields represents a corresponding one of the plurality of answers.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the computer-readable memory comprises a computer-readable memory in a computer including a processor, and wherein the means for generating comprises means for generating the data structure to consist of bits equal in number to a number of bits of a data type native to the processor.

23. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of discriminants includes at least two of a discriminant for distinguishing between individual and collective meanings in the natural language, a discriminant for distinguishing between specific and indefinite meanings in the natural language, a discriminant for distinguishing between natural and artificial meanings in the natural language, and a discriminant for distinguishing between concrete and information meanings in the natural language.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the plurality of discriminants further includes at least one of a discriminant for distinguishing between real and imaginary meanings in the natural language, a discriminant for distinguishing between basic and mediating meanings in the natural language, and a discriminant for distinguishing between static and dynamic meanings in the natural language.

25. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

type tree provision means for providing, to the user, a representation of a type tree including a plurality of types;

wherein the discriminant representation means for providing further comprises means for receiving, from the user, input representing a branch of the type tree selected by the user; and

wherein the means for generating comprises means for generating a data structure comprising data representing the plurality of answers from the user and the branch of the type tree selected by the user.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the data representing the plurality of answers from the user consists of at most one byte of data.

27. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for generating further comprises storing, in the data structure, data representing a creation time of the data structure.

28. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for generating further comprises storing, in the data structure, the one of the plurality of symbols.

29. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for generating comprises means for generating a code for a category set defined by a version of Roget'"'"'s Thesaurus, and wherein the code is representable in not more than 2 bytes.