NATURAL LANGUAGE EVENT DETECTION

• US 20160357861A1
• Filed: 09/04/2015
• Published: 12/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: CARLHIAN, Alexandre, DENIAU, Thomas, BORIOS, Guillaume, MARTEL, Mathieu Jean, REKIK, Sabrine, AGARWAL, Sachin, SIAHAAN, Linden B., MOHA, Alexandre, ARRAS, Hafid J., GROSS, Daniel C., BELLEGARDA, Jerome R., MOORE, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US14/846,629
• Publication Number:
  US 20160357861A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/335 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles filtering in web context G06F16/9535, G06F16/9536
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/36 Creation of semantic tools, e.g. ontology or thesauri
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/295 Named entity recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment

Abstract

Systems and processes for detecting an event within natural language are provided. In one example of a process, unstructured natural language information may be received from at least one user. The presence of event information in the unstructured natural language information may be determined. In accordance with a determination that event information is present within the unstructured natural language information, a pseudo-event entry associated with that event information may be generated.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device, cause the device to:

receive unstructured natural language information from at least one user;

in response to receipt of the unstructured natural language information, determine whether event information is present in the unstructured natural language information; and

in accordance with a determination that event information is present within the unstructured natural language information, generate a pseudo-event entry associated with the event information.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the unstructured natural language information comprises input from a plurality of users, and wherein the instructions to determine whether event information is present in the unstructured natural language information, when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device, cause the device to determine whether an agreement regarding the event information is present in the unstructured natural language information.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device, cause the device to:

determine whether a future date is present within the unstructured natural language information;

in response to the determination that a future date is present within the unstructured natural language information, determine whether at least one keyword in the unstructured natural language information is located in proximity to the future date;

in response to the determination that at least one keyword in the unstructured natural language information is located in proximity to a future date, determine the polarity of the unstructured natural language information in proximity to the keyword;

in response to a determination that the polarity of the unstructured natural language information is positive, determine that event information is present in the unstructured natural language information.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 3, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device, cause the device to:

detect sentences within the unstructured natural language information;

wherein the proximity is within a predefined number of sentences of the future date.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 3, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device, cause the device to:

detect sentences within the unstructured natural language information;

wherein the proximity is within a predefined number of sentences of the keyword.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 3, wherein the instructions to determine the polarity, when executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device, cause the device to:

determine for at least one sentence a probability that the sentence is associated with one of the polarity characteristics of proposal, acceptance, rejection, or ambiguity;

determine whether the calculated probability exceeds one or more predetermined thresholds; and

in accordance with the determination, associate one of the characteristics of proposal, acceptance, or rejection with the unstructured natural language information.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, further in accordance with a determination that event information is present within the unstructured natural language information, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprises instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device, cause the device to:

determine whether location information is present within the unstructured natural language information;

in accordance with a determination that location information is present within the unstructured natural language information, associate the location information with the pseudo-event entry.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device, cause the device to:

detect sentences within the unstructured natural language information; and

determine whether the location information is present within the unstructured natural language information within a predefined number of sentences of the future date.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the location information is based on the location of the electronic device.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the unstructured natural language information comprises an electronic mail message.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the unstructured natural language information comprises a text message.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the unstructured natural language information comprises a voicemail message.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the unstructured natural language information comprises a telephone conversation.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the unstructured natural language information comprises an instant message.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, further in accordance with a determination that event information is present within the unstructured natural language information, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprises instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device, cause the device to

determine whether the event information corresponds to one of a plurality of predefined event categories;

and

in accordance with a determination that the event information corresponds to one of a plurality of predefined event categories, associate the category with the pseudo-event entry.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is associated with a calendar;

wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device, cause the device to;

in conjunction with generating a pseudo-event entry associated with the event information, transmit the pseudo-event entry to the calendar.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is associated with a calendar;

wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device, cause the device to, in accordance with the generating a pseudo-event entry associated with the event information;

display to the user an affordance associated with transmitting the pseudo-event entry to the calendar;

receive input corresponding to selection of the affordance, and

in accordance with the receipt of input corresponding to selection of the affordance, transmit the pseudo-event entry to the calendar.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device, cause the device to:

further in accordance with a determination that event information is present within the unstructured natural language information, determine whether a name is associated with the unstructured natural language information; and

in accordance with a determination that a name is associated with the unstructured natural language information, after generation of the pseudo-event,

generate an invitation associated with the pseudo-event entry;

determine whether an electronic address is associated with the name; and

in accordance with a determination that an electronic address is associated with the name, transmit the invitation to the electronic address.

19. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the display and the memory, the processor configured to;

receive unstructured natural language information from at least one user;

in response to receipt of the unstructured natural language information, determine whether event information is present in the unstructured natural language information; and

in accordance with a determination that event information is present within the unstructured natural language information, generate a pseudo-event entry associated with the event information.

20. A method, comprising:

at an electronic device including at least one processor;

receiving unstructured natural language information from at least one user;

in response to receiving the unstructured natural language information, determining whether event information is present in the unstructured natural language information; and

in accordance with a determination that event information is present within the unstructured natural language information, generating a pseudo-event entry associated with the event information.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an electronic device, cause the electronic device to:

process a message including both unstructured natural language information and structured information, wherein the structured information includes sender information, recipient information, and a send date; and

wherein the unstructured natural language information includes at least one of subject information and body information;

determine whether a rejection keyword is present in the subject information;

in accordance with a determination that a rejection keyword is not present in the subject information;

determine whether the body information includes time information that is in the future relative to a reference date;

in accordance with a determination that the body information includes time information that is in the future relative to the reference date;

utilize the time information as a considered date;

determine whether sentences in proximity to the considered date include a positive keyword; and

in accordance with a determination that a positive keyword is located in proximity to the considered date;

promote the considered date to an event date; and

generate a pseudo-event entry based on the event date.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device, cause the device to:

determine whether date information is present in the subject information;

in accordance with a determination that date information is present within the subject information;

determine whether the date information comprises a future date;

in accordance with a determination that the date information comprises a future date, utilize the date information as the considered date, and

in accordance with a determination that the date information does not comprise a future date, utilize the send date of the message as the considered date.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device, cause the device to:

in accordance with a determination that the body information includes no time information that is in the future relative to the reference date, generate no pseudo-event entry.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device, cause the device to:

in accordance with a determination that a rejection keyword is present in the subject information, generate no pseudo-event entry.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the message comprises an electronic mail message.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the message comprises a text message.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the message comprises an instant message.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device, cause the device to

determine whether the time information includes one or more time values associated with the event date, wherein:

in accordance with a determination that the time information includes one or more time values associated with the event date, generate the pseudo-event entry with the event date and the one or more time values; and

in accordance with a determination that the time information does not include one or more time values associated with the event date, generate the pseudo-event entry without a time value.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device, cause the device to:

in response to a determination that the time information includes one or more time values associated with the event date, determine whether the one or more time values include more than one time value;

in accordance with a determination that the one or more time values include more than one time value, determine whether a first time value of the one or more time values and a second time value of the one or more time values are within a predetermined time interval; and

in accordance with a determination that a first time value of the one or more time values and a second time value of the one or more time values are within a predetermined time interval;

generate a combined time value based on the first time value and the second time value, wherein the generated pseudo-event entry includes the event date and the combined time value.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device, cause the device to:

determine whether location information is associated with the event date, wherein;

in accordance with a determination that no location information is associated with the event date, generate the pseudo-event entry with the event date and without location information; and

in accordance with a determination that a location information is associated with an event date, generate the pseudo-event entry with the event date and the location information.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 30, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device, cause the device to:

generate the location information based on the location of the electronic device.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the electronic device is associated with a calendar;

wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device, cause the device to;

display to the user an affordance associated with transmitting the pseudo-event entry to the calendar; and

receive input associated with a selection of the affordance; and

in accordance with the receipt of input associated with a selection of the affordance, transmit the pseudo-event entry to the calendar.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 32, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device, cause the device to:

in conjunction with transmitting the pseudo-event entry to the calendar, transmit to a second electronic device an invitation based on at least one of the sender information and the recipient information.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the instructions to process a message including both unstructured natural language information and structured information comprises instructions to transmit the message from the electronic device.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the instructions to process a message including both unstructured natural language information and structured information comprises instructions to receive the message at the electronic device.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the instructions to process a message including both unstructured natural language information and structured information comprises instructions to transmit unstructured natural language information from the electronic device to a second electronic device.

37. A method, comprising:

at an electronic device including at least one processor;

processing a message including both unstructured natural language information and structured information, wherein the structured information includes sender information, recipient information, and a send date; and

wherein the unstructured natural language information includes at least one of subject information and body information;

determining whether a rejection keyword is present in the subject information;

in accordance with a determination that a rejection keyword is not present in the subject information;

determining whether the body information includes time information that is in the future relative to a reference date;

in accordance with a determination that the body information includes time information that is in the future relative to the reference date;

utilizing the time information as a considered date;

determining whether sentences in proximity to the considered date include a positive keyword; and

in accordance with a determination that a positive keyword is located in proximity to the considered date;

 

promoting the considered date to an event date; and

 

generating a pseudo-event entry based on the event date.

38. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the display and the memory, the processor configured to;

process a message including both unstructured natural language information and structured information, wherein the structured information includes sender information, recipient information, and a send date; and

wherein the unstructured natural language information includes at least one of subject information and body information;

determine whether a rejection keyword is present in the subject information;

in accordance with a determination that a rejection keyword is not present in the subject information;

determine whether the body information includes time information that is in the future relative to a reference date;

in accordance with a determination that the body information includes time information that is in the future relative to the reference date;

utilize the time information as a considered date;

determine whether sentences in proximity to the considered date include a positive keyword; and

in accordance with a determination that a positive keyword is located in proximity to the considered date;

 

promote the considered date to an event date; and

 

generate a pseudo-event entry based on the event date.