System and method for automatically verifying the performance of a virtual robot
First Claim
1. A method of verifying the performance of an automated interface program adapted for interacting with a user, the method comprising:
- (a) defining within the automated interface program at least one category associated with actions executable by the automated interface program during interaction with a user, wherein the at least one category includes at least one condition;
(b) defining at least one example statement associated with the at least one category in the automated interface program, wherein the example statement includes at least one example input;
(c) selecting at least one example statement for examination, wherein the example statement selected for examination includes at least one example input;
(d) executing at least one category using at least one example input of the example statement selected for examination as an input, wherein the category is activated if the condition of the category is satisfied; and
(e) determining whether an activated category contains the example statement selected for examination.
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Abstract
In an automated interface program designed to interact and communicate with users, said program executing actions when a category among a predefined set of categories is activated, a method is disclosed for automatically verifying the performance of said program, the steps of said method comprising: specifying inputs under which the program should be tested; associating said inputs with conditions within categories in the program, each said condition comprising at least one response which could be given if said condition is satisfied; executing said program under at least one said input; determining whether the associated condition is satisfied upon said input; and determining whether the response associated with said condition is given upon said input. In another aspect of the present invention, the test inputs are embedded within the script itself, and specifically, within categories that can be automatically listed upon compilation of the script. Such list of test inputs can then be automatically executed to test the program. The execution of a test input can be used to check whether the test input activated the category in which the test input is embedded. The response given upon execution of a test input can then determine whether other categories are erroneously activated; or whether inputs, other than the test input, erroneously activate the category associated with the test input.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of verifying the performance of an automated interface program adapted for interacting with a user, the method comprising:
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(a) defining within the automated interface program at least one category associated with actions executable by the automated interface program during interaction with a user, wherein the at least one category includes at least one condition;
(b) defining at least one example statement associated with the at least one category in the automated interface program, wherein the example statement includes at least one example input;
(c) selecting at least one example statement for examination, wherein the example statement selected for examination includes at least one example input;
(d) executing at least one category using at least one example input of the example statement selected for examination as an input, wherein the category is activated if the condition of the category is satisfied; and
(e) determining whether an activated category contains the example statement selected for examination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for testing a program adapted for interacting with a user in natural language, the system comprising:
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an interface for receiving natural language input from a user; and
a processor comprising a computer useable medium including computer readable program code embodied in said medium for interacting with a user in natural language, said computer readable program code including;
computer readable program code configured to define at least one category associated with actions executable by the automated interface program during interaction with a user, wherein the at least one category includes at least one condition;
computer readable program code configured to define at least one example statement associated with the at least one category, wherein the example statement includes at least one example input;
computer readable program code configured to select at least one example statement for examination, wherein the example statement selected for examination includes at least one example input;
computer readable program code configured to execute at least one category using the at least one example input of the example statement selected for examination as an input;
computer readable program code configured to activate the category if the condition of the category is satisfied; and
computer readable program code configured to determine whether an activated category contains the example statement selected for examination.
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18. A computer program product for interacting with a user in natural language, said computer program product comprising:
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computer readable program code configured to define within the automated interface program at least one category associated with actions executable by the automated interface program during interaction with a user, wherein said at least one category includes at least one condition;
computer readable program code configured to define at least one example statement associated with the at least one category, wherein the example statement includes at least one example input;
computer readable program code configured to select at least one example statement for examination, wherein the example statement selected for examination includes at least one example input;
computer readable program code configured to execute at least one category using the at least one example input of the example statement selected for examination as an input, wherein the category is activated if the condition of the category is satisfied; and
computer readable program code configured to determine whether an activated category contains the example statement selected for examination. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification