System and methods for frame-based augmentative communication

• US 5,956,667 A
• Filed: 11/08/1996
• Issued: 09/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Research Foundation for The State University of New York (State University of New York)
• Original Assignee: The Research Foundation for The State University of New York (State University of New York)
• Inventors: Wilkins, David Parker, Higginbotham, D. Jeffery
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US08/745,992
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 704/9, 704/1, 704/10, 704/271, 704/270, 704/275, 340/825.19, 434/112, 434/118, 434/169, 707/2, 400/87
• US Class Current: 704/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/10 Text processing natural language analysis G06F40/20; semantic analysis G06F40/30; processing or translation of natural language G06F40/40

Abstract

The invention pertains to the field of Augmentative Communication Technology. The invention addresses the problem of providing a communication device for producing message output reflecting a user'"'"'s intended message which minimizes the amount of user input required to produce a message. The invention pertains to an augmentative communication system in which user input may specify attributes of a predefined subject of desired communication. Responsive to such input, a system in accordance with the invention may provide to the user a set of predefined messages which are pertinent to the specified subject. From this set of messages the user may specify a message to be produced as output for purposes of communication. Alternatively, the user may alter the specified attributes and receive a different set of predefined messages based on the revised specifications.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for providing augmentative communication comprising:

receiving specification of a predefined subject of communication;

determining a predefined communication frame associated with said predefined subject;

automatically determining a component frame from a plurality of component frames, said determined component frame having a predefined association with said communication frame; and

determining a message specified with said communication frame and specified with said determined component frame.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a set of predefined messages, each message of said set of predefined messages having a predefined association with said predefined communication frame.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein providing a set of predefined messages comprises:

determining a base version of a message having a predefined association with said determined component frame;

determining pragmatic parameters of communication; and

producing a message from said base version and said pragmatic parameters.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining a lexical field having a predefined association with a message frame and said determined component frame; and

determining a lexical item of said lexical field having a predefined default association with said message frame and said determined component frame.

5. A system for providing augmentative communication comprising:

means for receiving specification of a predefined subject of communication;

means for determining a predefined communication frame associated with said predefined subject;

means for automatically determining a component frame from a plurality of component frames, said determined component frame having a predefined association with said communication frame; and

means for determining a message specified with said communication frame and specified with said determined component frame.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

means for providing a set of predefined messages, each message of said set of predefined messages having a predefined association with said predefined communication frame.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said means for providing a set of predefined messages comprises:

means for determining a base version of a message having a predefined association with said determined component frame;

means for determining pragmatic parameters of communication; and

means for producing a message from said base version and said pragmatic parameters.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

means for determining a lexical field having a predefined association with a message frame and said determined component frame; and

means for determining a lexical item of said lexical field having a predefined default association with said message frame and said determined component frame.

9. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means therein for providing augmentative communication, the computer readable program code means in the computer program product comprising:

computer readable program code means for receiving specification of a predefined subject of communication;

computer readable program code means for determining a predefined communication frame associated with said predefined subject;

computer readable program code means for automatically determining a component frame from a plurality of component frames, said determined component frame having a predefined association with said communication frame; and

computer readable program code means for determining a message specified with said communication frame and specified with said determined component frame.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising:

computer readable program code means for providing a set of predefined messages, each message of said set of predefined messages having a predefined association with said predefined communication frame.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein said computer readable program code means for providing a set of predefined messages comprises:

computer readable program code means for determining a base version of a message having a predefined association with said determined component frame;

computer readable program code means for determining pragmatic parameters of communication; and

computer readable program code means for producing a message from said base version and said pragmatic parameters.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising:

computer readable program code means for determining a lexical field having a predefined association with a message frame and said determined component frame; and

computer readable program code means for determining a lexical item of said lexical field having a predefined default association with said message frame and said determined component frame.

13. A computer implemented method for providing augmentative communication comprising:

providing a first set of predefined messages, each message of said set of predefined messages having a predefined association with a first predefined communication frame;

receiving specification of a second predefined communication frame having a predefined association with said first communication frame;

automatically determining a component frame from a plurality of component frames, said determined component frame having a predefined association with said second communication frame; and

providing a second set of predefined messages, each message of said second set of predefined messages having a predefined association with said second predefined communication frame, a message of said second set of predefined messages specified with said second communication frame and specified with said determined component frame.

14. A system for providing augmentative communication comprising:

means for providing a first set of predefined messages, each message of said set of predefined messages having a predefined association with a first predefined communication frame;

means for receiving specification of a second predefined communication frame having a predefined association with said first communication frame;

means for automatically determining a component frame from a plurality of component frames, said determined component frame having a predefined association with said second communication frame; and

means for providing a second set of predefined messages, each message of said second set of predefined messages having a predefined association with said second predefined communication frame, a message of said second set of predefined messages specified with said second communication frame and specified with said determined component frame.

15. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means therein for providing augmentative communication, the computer readable program code means in the computer program product comprising:

computer readable program code means for providing a first set of predefined messages, each message of said set of predefined messages having a predefined association with a first predefined communication frame;

computer readable program code means for receiving specification of a second predefined communication frame having a predefined association with said first communication frame;

computer readable program code means for automatically determining a component frame from a plurality of component frames, said determined component frame having a predefined association with said second communication frame; and

computer readable program code means for providing a second set of predefined messages, each message of said second set of predefined messages having a predefined association with said second predefined communication frame, a message of said second set of predefined messages specified with said second communication frame and specified with said determined component frame.