FRAME GOALS FOR DIALOG SYSTEM

• US 20070282606A1
• Filed: 05/30/2006
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: THOMPSON, WILLIAM K., BLISS, HARRY M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,657,434 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/256
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/1822 Parsing for meaning understanding

Abstract

A frame definition for use by dialog system during an interaction with a user, the frame definition includes at least one data field and at least one goal comprising a Boolean function of one or more filled predicates, each of which takes a reference to a field of the frame as its argument. A goal is satisfied during a dialog if the Boolean function evaluates to true. A goal may be used to control the focus of the interaction.

Claims

1. A method for interpreting a frame definition, the frame definition comprising at least one data field and at least one goal, to control a dialog with a user, the method comprising:

receiving information input from the user;

updating frame data associated with the frame definition dependent upon the information input from the user;

selecting an activated goal of the at least one goal of the frame definition;

if the activated goal is satisfied;

evaluating final rules of the frame definition; and

completing the interpretation of the frame definition; and

if the activated goal is not satisfied;

selecting an unfilled data field in the goal; and

generating an output to the user using information in the frame definition that is associated with the unfilled data field.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the information input from the user is a speech utterance.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein generating an output to the user using information in the frame definition that is associated with the unfilled data field comprises generating a prompt associated with the unfilled data field.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein updating the frame dependent upon the information input from the user comprises processing the information input in accordance with grammar associated with the unfilled data field.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein unfilled data field is a complex data field comprises a further frame definition and wherein generating an output to the user using information in the frame definition that is associated with the unfilled data field comprises:

selecting a goal of the further frame definition;

selecting an unfilled data field of the further frame definition in the goal of the further frame definition; and

generating an output to the user using information associated with the unfilled data field of the further frame definition.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a plurality of goals, further comprising:

detecting if an alternative goal of the plurality of goals is activated as a result of user input; and

using the alternative goal to guide the dialog.

7. A dialog system operable to perform the method of claim 1.

8. A computer readable medium containing computer instructions that, when executed on a programmed processor, perform the method of claim 1.

9. A system operable to control a dialog with a user to update frame data associated with a frame definition, the system comprising:

a memory operable to store at least one data field and at least one goal of the frame definition;

a user input module;

a user output module; and

a processor operable to receive user information from the user input module, update the frame data dependent upon the user information and generate an output to the user output module dependent upon a goal of the at least one goal of the frame definition.

10. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the processor is further operable to:

select an activated goal of the at least one goal of the frame definition dependent upon the user information;

evaluate final rules of the frame definition and end update of the frame data if the activated goal is satisfied; and

select an unfilled data field in the goal and generate the output to the user using frame information associated with the unfilled data field if the activated goal is not satisfied.

11. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the user input module comprises a microphone.

12. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the user input module is operable to sense tactile input.

13. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the user input module is operable to sense motion.

14. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the user output module comprises a computer screen.

15. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the user output module comprises a loudspeaker.

16. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the frame definition comprises:

at least one data field; and

a goal comprising a Boolean function of one or more filled predicates, each of which takes a reference to a field of the at least one data field as its argument, wherein the goal is satisfied during a dialog if the Boolean function evaluates to true.

17. A system in accordance with claim 16, wherein the frame definition further comprises prompts and grammars associated with the at least one data field.

18. A system in accordance with claim 16, wherein the frame definition further comprises rules associated with the at least one data field.

19. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein a data field of the at least one data field is a complex data field comprising a frame information structure.