METHOD FOR COMBINING A QUERY AND A COMMUNICATION COMMAND IN A NATURAL LANGUAGE COMPUTER SYSTEM

• US 20150149152A1
• Filed: 11/28/2013
• Published: 05/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Soundhound AI IP LLC
• Original Assignee: SoundHound Incorporated
• Inventors: MOHAJER, KEYVAN, MONT-REYNAUD, BERNARD
• Granted Patent: US 9,507,849 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/332 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3329 Natural language query formulation or dialogue systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3344 using natural language analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/279 Recognition of textual entities

Abstract

A method for processing a natural language input to a computerized system. The method parses the input to identify a query portion and a communication portion of the input. The system then determines an answer to the query portion, including identifying communication parameters from the communication portion. Upon determining the answer, the system prepares an answer to the communication and transmits that answer. If the answer requires information from a remote source, the system creates a subsidiary query to obtain that information and then submits the subsidiary query to the remote source. A response to the query is used to compose the answer to the query from the answer to the subsidiary query. If the system concludes that the query portion does not require information from a remote source, analyzing and answering the query locally.

Claims

1. A method for processing a natural language input to a computerized system, comprising

parsing the input to identify a query portion and a communication portion;

determining an answer to the query portion;

identifying communication parameters from the communication portion;

preparing the answer for communication;

transmitting the answer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the parsing and determining occur in combination.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication parameters include at least one destination, where a destination may be

a contact;

an email address;

a mobile phone number for SMS;

a phone number for a text-to-speech voice message

a computer socket;

or

a distribution list,

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication parameters include at least one communication channel, where a communication channel may be

email;

SMS;

instant messaging;

a proprietary message service;

telephone service;

or

facsimile.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining includes

analyzing whether the query portion requires information from a source remote from the system;

upon concluding that the query portion does require information from a remote source,

opening a communication channel to the remote source;

creating a subsidiary query to obtain the information required;

submitting the subsidiary query to the remote source;

receiving an answer to the subsidiary query from the remote source;

composing the answer to the query from the answer to the subsidiary query

upon concluding that the query portion does not require information from a remote source, analyzing and answering the query locally.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying communication parameters includes

identifying communication parameters expressly set out in the query;

supplying communication parameters not set out in the query from preset preferences; and

providing an alert upon determining that a required communication parameters is neither expressly set out in the query nor contained in preset preferences.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the parsing and determining occur in combination.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication parameters include at least one destination, where a destination may be

a contact;

an email address;

a mobile phone number for SMS;

a phone number for a text-to-speech voice message

a computer socket;

or

a distribution list.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication parameters include at least one communication channel, where a communication channel may be

email;

SMS;

instant messaging;

a proprietary message service;

telephone service;

or

facsimile.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining includes

analyzing whether the query portion requires information from a source remote from the system;

upon concluding that the query portion does require information from a remote source,

opening a communication channel to the remote source;

creating a subsidiary query to obtain the information required;

submitting the subsidiary query to the remote source;

receiving an answer to the subsidiary query from the remote source;

composing the answer to the query from the answer to the subsidiary query

upon concluding that the query portion does not require information from a remote source, analyzing and answering the query locally.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying communication parameters includes

identifying communication parameters expressly set out in the query;

supplying communication parameters not set out in the query from preset preferences; and

providing an alert upon determining that a required communication parameters is neither expressly set out in the query nor contained in preset preferences.

7. Means for processing a natural language input, comprising

a computer system, configured for

parsing the input to identify a query portion and a communication portion;

determining an answer to the query portion;

identifying communication parameters from the communication portion;

preparing the answer for communication;

transmitting the answer.