Memory system for storing and retrieving experience and knowledge with natural language utilizing state representation data, word sense numbers, function codes and/or directed graphs

• US 6,138,087 A
• Filed: 09/24/1997
• Issued: 10/24/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Robert L. Budzinski
• Inventors: Budzinski, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US08/937,144
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: 704/1, 704/9, 704/10, 704/251, 707/1, 707/104, 707/530, 707/531, 707/532, 707/500, 707/501, 706/45, 706/50, 706/57, 706/59
• US Class Current: 704/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/313 Selection or weighting of terms for indexing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3334 Selection or weighting of terms from queries, including natural language queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3344 using natural language analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/36 Creation of semantic tools, e.g. ontology or thesauri
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/20 Natural language analysis semantic analysis of natural language G06F40/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/242 Dictionaries

Abstract

A memory system for storing and retrieving experience and knowledge with natural language through methods and apparatus is disclosed. The primary components of this memory system include syntactic processes, function word processes, ellipsis processes, morphology processes, meaning word sense number processes, purpose identification processes, plausibility and expectedness processes, communication processes, context storage processes, and text generation processes. The function word processes select and evaluate functions associated with function words which are certain words in each part of speech. Ellipsis processes replace unstated words. Morphology processes replace morphological words with phrases or clauses composed of function words and word sense numbers. A word sense number is an address to the meaning of a word. Certain nouns, verbs, and adjectives are meaning words. Word sense numbers are selected to be consistent with the context of the clause containing the words, the context, and stored experience and knowledge. Experience and knowledge are stored as nodes with associated clause implying word sense numbers organized into paths in a directed graph. Nodes in the directed graph have access conditions which determine if a node is accessible on a path. A path has an associated purpose relation which is any concept that labels the path. Purpose identification processes select: purpose relations, experience and knowledge, processes for setting a verb'"'"'s result states or a state value, object classification paths, and activity selection paths. The communication processes coordinate incoming and outgoing natural language text. Text generation processes generate natural language text from word sense numbers.

Claims

1. A method of processing natural language, which comprises steps

providing electronically encoded data which is representative of said natural language,

providing a dictionary data base wherein said dictionary data base contains a plurality of entries which are comprised of one or more of syntax usage data, associated word sense numbers having associated state representation data,

lexically processing said electronically encoded data to access said dictionary data base,

utilizing said syntax usage data and said word sense numbers which are from entries of said dictionary data base and which are associated with words of said natural language to access said state representation data.

2. A method of processing as defined in claim 1, which comprises processing steps that access said state representation data having a state.

3. A method of processing as defined in claim 1, which comprises processing steps that access said state representation data of said word sense number such that said word sense number'"'"'s said state representation data has a state and that access another said word sense number'"'"'s said state representation data such that said another word sense number'"'"'s said state representation data has said state.

4. A method of processing as defined in claim 1, which comprises steps

providing a relation between two or more said word sense numbers,

accessing said state representation data of said word sense number having said relation.

5. A method of processing as defined in claim 1, which comprises processing steps that access said state representation data of said word sense number such that said word sense number'"'"'s said state representation data has one or more states and values such that said states and values are requirements for another said word sense number'"'"'s said state representation data to meet so as to be associated with said state representation data of said word sense number.

6. A method of processing as defined in claim 1, which comprises processing steps that access said state representation data of said word sense number such that said word sense number'"'"'s said state representation data has one or more states and values such that said states and values are requirements for another said word sense number'"'"'s said state representation data to meet so as to be an instance of said word sense number'"'"'s state representation data.

7. A method of processing as defined in claim 1, which comprises processing steps that access said state representation data having one or more states and changes in values of said states.

8. A method of processing natural language, which comprises steps

providing electronically encoded data which is representative of said natural language,

providing a dictionary data base wherein said dictionary data base contains a plurality of entries which are comprised of one or more of syntax usage data, associated word sense numbers having associated state representation data, and/or function codes having associated functions,

lexically processing said electronically encoded data to access said dictionary data base,

utilizing said syntax usage data and said function codes which are from entries of said dictionary data base and which are associated with words of said natural language to access said functions.

9. A method of processing as defined in claim 8, which comprises processing steps that access said function such that said function processes said state representation data.

10. A method of processing as defined in claim 8, which comprises processing steps that access said function such that said function sets a value of said state representation data.

11. A method of processing as defined in claim 8, which comprises processing steps that access said function such that said function changes a value of said state representation data.

12. A method of processing as defined in claim 8, which comprises steps

providing two or more said word sense numbers which imply clauses,

accessing said function such that said function selects one or more said word sense numbers which imply clauses.

13. A method of processing as defined in claim 8, which comprises processing steps that access said function such that said function associates all or part of said state representation data of said word sense number with said state representation data of another said word sense number.

14. A method of processing as defined in claim 8, which comprises steps

providing storage,

accessing said function such that said function stores all or part of said state representation data of said word sense number in said storage.

15. A method of processing as defined in claim 8, which comprises processing steps that access said function such that said function sets a relation between said state representation data of said word sense number and said state representation data of another said word sense number.

16. A method of processing as defined in claim 8, which comprises processing steps that access said function such that said function selects said word sense number.

17. A method of processing natural language, which comprises steps

providing electronically encoded data which is representative of said natural language,

providing a dictionary data base wherein said dictionary data base contains a plurality of entries which are comprised of one or more of syntax usage data, associated word sense numbers having associated state representation data, and/or function codes,

lexically processing said electronically encoded data to access said dictionary data base,

utilizing said syntax usage data and said word sense numbers and/or said function codes which are from entries of said dictionary data base and which are associated with words of said natural language with reference to said associated state representation data to select word sense numbers and/or function codes for words of said natural language.

18. A method of processing as defined in claim 17, which comprises processing steps wherein said electronically encoded data of said natural language is obtained from speech recognition processing.

19. A method of processing as defined in claim 17, which comprises processing steps wherein said electronically encoded data of said natural language is obtained from optical character recognition processing.

20. A method of processing as defined in claim 17, which comprises processing steps wherein said electronically encoded data of said natural language is obtained from hand writing recognition processing.

21. A method of processing as defined in claim 17, which comprises processing steps wherein said electronically encoded data of said natural language is obtained from gesture recognition processing.

22. A method of processing as defined in claim 17, which comprises processing steps that initiate one or more processes specified or implied from processing of natural language from a network.

23. A method of processing experience and knowledge, which comprises steps

providing an experience and knowledge data base which is comprised of directed graphs comprised of nodes with associated clause implying word sense numbers organized into paths of said nodes,

processing said associated clause implying word sense numbers of said experience and knowledge data base.