Method and system for generating operation specification object information

• US 5,551,036 A
• Filed: 08/09/1993
• Issued: 08/27/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kiyama, Tadahiro, Kinukawa, Hiroshi, Tsuji, Hiroshi, Mase, Hisao
• Primary Examiner(s): Heckler, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/104,173
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 395/700, 395/600, 364/419.01, 364/419.02, 364/419.04, 364/419.05, 364/419.06, 364/419.08
• US Class Current: 717/136
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/253 Grammatical analysis; Style critique

Abstract

A system for changing a natural language sentence input by a user. The sentence expresses an operation specification which is translated to an operation specification command in a machine language for an operation specification object such as database. The system has a function to define specific items necessary for changing the natural language input sentence to the operation specification command without forcing the user to decide complicated definitions related to the operation specification object. The system refers to an operation specification object information table which stores at least one of the following acquired from the user:

(1) A unit word or an interrogative word (phrase) with respect to each of the items in the database;

(2) An explanatory sentence with respect to each of the items in the database; and

(3) An item pair which is specifiable as a join condition of each of the items in the database.

Claims

1. A method for generating operation specification object information comprising information about a plurality of items in an operation specification object, in a system having a function for converting an input sentence, input by a user and which represents an operation specification which is input to said operation specification object, wherein said operation specification object has at least one table having said plurality of items, to an operation specification instruction wherein said operation specification instruction comprises a command for executing an operation in the system which may be interpreted by said operation specification object, said method comprising the steps of:

performing at least one of a plurality of defining steps, said defining steps comprising;

defining a first relationship between a word in each of said items in said operation specification object and one of a plurality of unit words;

defining a second relationship between each of said items in said operation specification object and one of a plurality of interrogative pronouns wherein said interrogative pronoun identifies the item as a search object when said operation specification object is searched; and

identifying that an item exists in both a first table and a second table and defining a third relationship comprising a join condition between said item in said first table and said item in said second table; and

generating the operation specification object information on a basis of a result from said step of performing at least one of a plurality of defining steps.

2. The method for generating operation specification object information according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

for each of said items in said operation specification object, storing an explanatory sentence input by the user which explains said item and defines a correspondence between said item and said input sentence.

3. The method for generating operation specification object information according to claim 2, wherein said explanatory sentence setting step comprises, for each item in said operation specification object:

prompting said user for a natural language sentence explaining said item; and

storing said natural language sentence in said item.

4. The method for generating operation specification object information according to claim 3, wherein said natural language sentence comprises at least one word.

5. The method for generating operation specification object information according to claim 3, wherein said natural language sentence comprises a quotation of a second item.

6. The method for generating operation specification object information according to claim 3, wherein said natural language sentence explains said item by quoting a declinable word, said declinable word representing different forms of words having related meanings in said natural language sentence.

7. The method for generating operation specification object information according to claim 1, wherein said step of defining a join condition comprises:

when said word in said item is a second word in a second item in said operation specification object, defining said item and said second item as an item pair which is designated as said join condition.

8. The method for generating operation specification object information according to claim 7, wherein said step of defining a join condition further comprises:

when said word in said first item is equal to said second word in said second item, prompting said user whether to set said item and said second item as said item pair to be designated as said join condition; and

when instructed by said user, defining said item pair as said join condition.

9. The method for generating operation specification object information according to claim 1, wherein said step of defining a first relationship comprises, for each item in said operation specification object, the steps of:

prompting said user for an inputted unit word;

defining the unit word as said inputted unit word; and

storing the unit word in said item.

10. The method for generating operation specification object information according to claim 1, wherein said step of defining a first relationship comprises, for each item in said operation specification object, the steps of:

displaying a list, to said user, having at least one predefined unit word;

prompting the user to select the predefined unit word corresponding with the word in said item;

defining the predefined unit word as the unit word; and

storing the unit word in said item.

11. The method for generating operation specification object information according to claim 1, wherein said step of defining a second relationship comprises, for each item in said operation specification object, the steps of:

prompting said user for the interrogative pronoun;

obtaining the interrogative pronoun from said user; and

storing the interrogative pronoun in said item.

12. The method for generating operation specification object information according to claim 1, wherein said step of defining a second relationship comprises, for each item in said operation specification object, the steps of:

displaying a list of at least one predefined interrogative pronoun to said user and prompting the user to select an inputted interrogative pronoun, from said list, which represents a search term for the item; and

storing the inputted interrogative pronoun in said item.

13. A method for recognizing an operation specification instruction from an input sentence, wherein said operation specification instruction comprises a command for executing an operation in a system having a function for converting the input sentence to said operation specification instruction, wherein said input sentence represents an operation specification being input to an operation specification object having a plurality of items subject to the operation specification instruction, and wherein said operation specification instruction operates on said operation specification object, said method comprising the steps of:

performing at least one of a plurality of defining steps, said defining steps comprising;

defining a first relationship between a word in each of said items in said operation specification object and one of a plurality of unit words;

defining a second relationship between each of said items in said operation specification object and one of a plurality of interrogative pronouns wherein said interrogative pronoun identifies an item as a search object when said operation specification object is searched; and

identifying that said each of said items exists in both a first table and a second table, and defining a third relationship comprising a join condition between each of said items in said first table which also exist in said second table;

generating operation specification object information, said operation specification object information being information in said items of said operation specification object, on a basis of a result from said step of performing at least one of the plurality of defining steps;

detecting said unit word in said input sentence;

obtaining the item corresponding to said unit word by referencing said operation specification object information; and

recognizing said word in said item as representative of said unit word.

14. A method for recognizing an operation specification instruction, wherein said operation specification instruction comprises a command for executing an operation in a system having a function for converting an input sentence, representing an operation specification being input to an operation specification object having a plurality of items, to said operation specification instruction for operating on said operation specification object, said method comprising the steps of:

performing at least one of a plurality of defining steps, said defining steps comprising;

defining a first relationship between a word in each of said items in said operation specification object and one of a plurality of unit words;

defining a second relationship between each of said items in said operation specification object and one of a plurality of interrogative pronouns wherein said interrogative pronoun identifies an item as a search object when said operation specification object is searched; and

identifying that said each of said items exists in both a first table and a second table, and defining a third relationship comprising a join

condition between each of said items in said first table which also exist in said second table;

generating operation specification object information, said operation specification object information being information in said items of said operation specification object, on a basis of a result from said step of performing at least one of a plurality of defining steps;

detecting if said interrogative pronoun exists in said input sentence;

obtaining the item corresponding to said interrogative pronoun by referencing said operation specification object information; and

recognizing said item as a retrieval object item.

15. A method for recognizing an operation specification instruction from a Japanese input sentence, wherein said operation specification instruction comprises a command for executing an operation in a system having a function for converting the Japanese input sentence to said operation specification instruction, wherein said Japanese input sentence represents an operation specification being input to an operation specification object having a plurality of items subject to the operation specification instruction and wherein said operation specification instruction operates on said operation specification object, said method comprising the steps of:

performing at least one of a plurality of defining steps, said defining steps comprising;

defining a first relationship between a word in each of said items in said operation specification object and one of a plurality of unit words;

defining a second relationship between each of said items in said operation specification object and one of a plurality of interrogative pronouns wherein said interrogative pronoun identifies an item as a search object when said operation specification object is searched; and

identifying that said each of said items exists in both a first table and a second table, and defining a third relationship comprising a join condition between each of said items in said first table which also exist in said second table;

generating operation specification object information, said operation specification object information being information in said items of said operation specification object, on a basis of a result from said step of performing at least one of the plurality of defining steps;

detecting if a declinable word, representing different forms of words in said Japanese input sentence, exists in said Japanese input sentence;

obtaining the item corresponding to an explanatory sentence containing said declinable word by referencing said operation specification object information; and

recognizing a word in said item corresponding to said declinable word.

16. A method for recognizing an operation specification instruction from a Japanese sentence, wherein said operation specification instruction comprises a command for executing an operation in a system having a function for converting the Japanese input sentence to said operation specification instruction, wherein said Japanese input sentence represents an operation specification being input to an operation specification object having a plurality of items subject to the operation specification instruction and wherein said operation specification instruction operates on said operation specification object, said method comprising the steps of:

performing at least one of a plurality of defining steps, said defining steps comprising;

defining a first relationship between a word in each of said items in said operation specification object and one of a plurality of unit words;

defining a second relationship between each of said items in said operation specification object and one of a plurality of interrogative pronouns wherein said interrogative pronoun identifies an item as a search object when said operation specification object is searched; and

identifying that said each of said items exists in both a first table and a second table, and defining a third relationship comprising a join condition between each of said items in said first table which exist in said second table;

generating operation specification object information, said operation specification object information being information in said items of said operation specification object, on a basis of a result from said step of performing at least one of a plurality of defining steps;

detecting if a declinable word, representing different forms of words having related meanings in said Japanese input sentence, exists in said Japanese input sentence;

obtaining an explanatory sentence containing said declinable word by referencing said operation specification object information;

detecting whether a postpositional word, said postpositional word describing words in said explanatory sentence, exists in the Japanese input sentence; and

recognizing an input word in the Japanese input sentence, which is accompanied by said postpositional word, as said word in the item.

17. A system for generating operation specification object information, wherein said operation specification object information comprises information about a plurality of items in an operation specification object, in a system having a function for converting an input sentence, representing an operation specification being input to said operation specification object, to an operation specification instruction for operating on said operation specification object, said system comprising:

at least one of a plurality of defining means, said defining means comprising;

a first defining means for defining a first correspondence between a word in each item in said operation specification object and a unit word;

a second defining means for defining a second correspondence between each item in said operation specification object and one of a plurality of interrogative pronouns wherein said interrogative pronoun identifies the item as a search object when said operation specification object is searched; and

a third defining means for defining a join condition between said item, which exists in a first table and a second table of said operation specification object; and

means for generating the operation specification object information on a basis of a result from said at least one of said plurality of defining means.

18. A system for recognizing an operation specification instruction, wherein said operation specification instruction comprises a command for executing an operation in a system having a function for converting an input sentence, representing an operation specification being input to an operation specification object having a plurality of items, to said operation specification instruction for operating on said operation specification object, said system comprising:

at least one of a plurality of defining means, said defining means comprising;

a first defining means for defining a first correspondence between a word in each item in said operation specification object and a unit word;

a second defining means for defining a second correspondence between each item in said operation specification object and one of a plurality of interrogative pronouns wherein said interrogative pronoun identifies each item as a search object when said operation specification object is searched; and

a third defining means for defining a join condition between said item, which exists in a first table and a second table of said operation specification object;

means for generating operation specification object information, wherein said operation specification object information is information about said plurality of items in said operation specification object, on a basis of a result from said at least one of said plurality of defining means;

means for detecting if the unit word exists in said input sentence;

means for obtaining the item corresponding to said unit word by referencing said operation specification object information; and

means for recognizing a word in said item representative of said unit word.

19. A system for recognizing an operation specification instruction, wherein said operation specification instruction comprises a command for executing an operation in a system having a function for converting an input sentence, representing an operation specification being input to an operation specification object having a plurality of items, to said operation specification instruction for operating on said operation specification object, said system comprising:

at least one of a plurality of defining means, said defining means comprising;

a first defining means for defining a first correspondence between a word in each item in said operation specification object and a unit word;

a second defining means for defining a second correspondence between each item in said operation specification object and one of a plurality of interrogative pronouns wherein said interrogative pronoun identifies each item as a search object when said operation specification object is searched; and

a third defining means for defining a join condition between said item, which exists in a first table and a second table of said operation specification object;

means for generating operation specification object information, wherein said operation specification object information is information about said plurality of items in said operation specification object, on a basis of a result from said at least one of said plurality of defining means;

means for detecting if said interrogative pronoun exists in said input sentence;

means for obtaining the item corresponding to said interrogative pronoun by referencing said operation specification object information; and

means for recognizing said item as a retrieval object item.

20. A system for recognizing an operation specification instruction, wherein said operation specification instruction comprises a command for executing an operation in a system having a function for converting a Japanese input sentence, representing an operation specification being input to an operation specification object having a plurality of items, to said operation specification instruction for operating on said operation specification object, said system comprising:

at least one of a plurality of defining means, said defining means comprising;

a first defining means for defining a first correspondence between a word in each item in said operation specification object and a unit word;

a second defining means for defining a second correspondence between each item in said operation specification object and one of a plurality of interrogative pronouns wherein said interrogative pronoun identifies the item as a search object when said operation specification object is searched; and

a third defining means for defining a join condition between said item, which exists in a first table and a second table of said operation specification object;

means for generating operation specification object information, wherein said operation specification object information is information about said plurality of items in said operation specification object, on a basis of a result from said at least one of said plurality of defining means;

means for detecting if a declinable word, representing different forms of words having related meanings in said Japanese input sentence, exists in said Japanese input sentence;

means for obtaining the item corresponding to an explanatory sentence containing said declinable word which references said operation specification object information; and

means for recognizing said declinable word in said item.

21. A system for recognizing an operation specification instruction, wherein said operation specification instruction comprises a command for executing an operation in a system having a function for converting a Japanese input sentence, representing an operation specification being input to an operation specification object having a plurality of items, to operation specification instruction for operating on said operation specification object, said system comprising:

at least one of a plurality of defining means, said defining means comprising;

a first defining means for defining a first correspondence between a word in each item in said operation specification object and a unit word;

a second defining means for defining a second correspondence between each item in said operation specification object and one of a plurality of interrogative pronouns wherein said interrogative pronoun identifies the item as a search object when said operation specification object is searched; and

a third defining means for defining a join condition between said item, which exists in a first table and a second table of said operation specification object;

means for generating operation specification object information, wherein said operation specification object information is information about said plurality of items in said operation specification object, on a basis of a result from said at least one of said plurality of defining means;

means for detecting if a declinable word, representing different forms of words having related meanings in said Japanese input sentence, exists in said Japanese input sentence;

means for obtaining an explanatory sentence containing said declinable word which references said operation specification object information;

means for detecting a postpositional word, said postpositional word describing a word in said Japanese input sentence, which exists in both said explanatory sentence and the Japanese input sentence; and

means for recognizing the word in the Japanese input sentence, which is accompanied by said postpositional word, as said word in the item which is accompanied by the postpositional word.