Method of using a natural language interface to retrieve information from one or more data resources
First Claim
1. A method of using a natural language query to retrieve information from one or more data resources and using said information to perform a requested action comprising:
- receiving a natural language query directed to retrieving said information;
creating one or more semantic representations from said natural language query, said semantic representations extracting identified objects from within said natural language query;
processing the natural language query to generate at least one database query, said processing step including making a determination based on the identified objects as to which data resources should be queried;
using said at least one database query to retrieve said information from said plurality of data resources; and
using said retrieved information to perform said requested action.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of using at least one natural language query to retrieve information from one or more data resources and further performing a requested action using the retrieved information is disclosed. At least one natural language query directed to retrieving particular information is received. At least one object from the natural language query is extracted. The relationship between each of the at least one extracted objects is determined. A semantic representation is created from the at least one extracted objects. The semantic representation is compared to a knowledge structure. The knowledge structure is comprised of one or more grammars which are extracted from a plurality of data resources. The semantic representations are matched to the grammar. A database query is generated based on the matched objects. The query is applied to one or more of the data resources and information is retrieved. The requested action is then performed using the retrieved information.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of using a natural language query to retrieve information from one or more data resources and using said information to perform a requested action comprising:
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receiving a natural language query directed to retrieving said information;
creating one or more semantic representations from said natural language query, said semantic representations extracting identified objects from within said natural language query;
processing the natural language query to generate at least one database query, said processing step including making a determination based on the identified objects as to which data resources should be queried;
using said at least one database query to retrieve said information from said plurality of data resources; and
using said retrieved information to perform said requested action. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
determining the action requested based on the identified objects and the relationship between each object;
merging the information retrieved from each database query based on said determined relationship; and
performing the requested action.
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3. The method of claim 1 wherein said information is a telephone number.
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4. The method of claim 3 wherein said requested action is the placement of a call to a particular destination using said telephone number.
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5. The method of claim 3 wherein said requested action is the sending of a facsimile transmission to a particular destination using said telephone number.
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6. The method of claim 1 wherein said natural language query is in text form.
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7. The method of claim 1 wherein said natural language query is received as speech.
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8. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the data resources is an Internet site.
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9. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the data resources is an intranet site.
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10. A method of retrieving a telephone number for a particular destination from a plurality of Internet sites and using said telephone number to place a call to the particular destination comprising:
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receiving a natural language query directed to retrieving a telephone number for a particular destination;
extracting at least one object from the natural language query;
creating one or more semantic representations from the at least one extracted objects;
comparing the one or more semantic representations to a knowledge structure, said knowledge structure comprised of objects and relations categorized from a plurality of data resources;
generating at least one search query based on said comparison;
transmitting said at least one search query to said plurality of Internet sites;
matching the at least one search query to one or more callable objects, at least one of said callable objects being associated with a telephone number; and
placing a telephone call to the destination associated with the matched callable object. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
establishing a connection between said personal computer and said destination.
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15. The method of claim 13 wherein said step of matching the search query to one or more callable objects further comprising the steps of:
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determining if more than one match arises from said matching step, and if more than one match occurs generating one or more queries which are transmitted to the personal computer.
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16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of:
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receiving additional information from said personal computer in response to said one or more queries, and using said additional information to eliminate at least some of the matches.
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17. A method of using a natural language query to receive information from a plurality of Internet sites, each Internet site comprising a particular type of information comprising:
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receiving said natural language query;
identifying objects from said query;
categorizing each object by type of information;
matching each object to a particular Internet site based on its categorization;
generating a database query for each object;
applying each database query to the particular Internet site identified;
retrieving the requested information from each Internet site;
using the identified objects to interpret the information requested for by the natural language query;
merging the information retrieved from each database query based on said interpretation; and
providing the requested information. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
identifying information extracted from an Internet site in response to a previous database query; and
integrating said extracted information with the identified object to generate a new database query.
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19. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of:
using said retrieved information to perform a requested action.
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20. The method of claim 19 wherein said retrieved information is a telephone number and said requested action is initiation of a telephone call using said telephone number.
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21. The method of claim 19 wherein said retrieved information is a telephone number and said requested action is initiation of a facsimile transmission using said telephone number.
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22. A method of using a natural language query to retrieve information from a plurality of Internet sites and using said information to perform a requested action comprising:
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receiving a natural language query directed to retrieving said information;
processing the natural language query to generate at least one database query, said processing step including identifying objects within the natural language query and, based on the identified objects, determining to which Internet sites each database query should be sent;
using said at least one database query to retrieve said information from said plurality of identified Internet sites; and
using said retrieved information to perform said requested action. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
determining the action requested based on the identified objects and the relationship between each object;
merging the information retrieved from each database query based on said determined relationship; and
performing the requested action.
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24. The method of claim 22 wherein said information is a telephone number.
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25. The method of claim 24 wherein said requested action is the placement of a call to a particular destination using said telephone number.
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26. The method of claim 24 wherein said requested action is the sending of a facsimile transmission to a particular destination using said telephone number.
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27. The method of claim 22 wherein said natural language query is in text form.
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28. The method of claim 22 wherein said natural language query is received as speech.
Specification