System and method for implementing a natural language user interface
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of launching a software application, comprising the steps of:
- entering an abbreviated textual command into a hand-held device;
receiving the abbreviated textual command in a natural language search engine;
searching a natural language database that contains a historical log of previously entered abbreviated textual commands and their associated application commands;
analyzing the historical log to determine if the abbreviated textual command has previously been associated with a probable application command more than a set percentage of the time, and if so, setting the probably application command as a desired application command; and
executing the desired application command.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for implementing a natural language user interface includes a plurality of software applications, a means for entering text, and a natural language search engine. The natural language search engine is configured to receive an abbreviated textual command from the text entering means, match the abbreviated textual command with a desired application command, and launch one of the software applications by executing the desired application command.
330 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A method of launching a software application, comprising the steps of:
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entering an abbreviated textual command into a hand-held device;
receiving the abbreviated textual command in a natural language search engine;
searching a natural language database that contains a historical log of previously entered abbreviated textual commands and their associated application commands;
analyzing the historical log to determine if the abbreviated textual command has previously been associated with a probable application command more than a set percentage of the time, and if so, setting the probably application command as a desired application command; and
executing the desired application command. - View Dependent Claims (2)
manually entering the desired application command if the analysis of the historical log establishes that the abbreviated textual command has not previously been associated with a probable application command more than a set percentage of the time.
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3. A method of executing software commands in a hand-held device, comprising the steps of:
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entering an abbreviated textual command;
searching a natural language database that stores a data set of abbreviated textual commands and associated application commands to determine if the abbreviated textual command has an exact match in the data set;
if the abbreviated textual command has an exact match in the data set, then setting the exact match as a user command;
if the abbreviated textual command does not have an exact match in the data set, then analyzing a user'"'"'s historical preferences to determine if the abbreviated textual command has a probable match in the data set;
if the abbreviated textual command has a probable match in the data set, then setting the probable match as the user command;
if the abbreviated textual command does not have a probable match in the data set, then presenting a list of possible commands to the user, receiving a command choice from the user, and setting the command choice as the user command; and
executing the user command. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
adjusting the set of probability factors each time an abbreviated textual command is entered into the hand-held device.
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7. The method of claim 3, wherein the list of possible commands presented if the abbreviated textual command does not have a probable match in the data set comprises a set of recently executed application commands.
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8. The method of claim 3, wherein the list of possible commands presented if the abbreviated textual command does not have a probable match in the data set comprises a set of generic application commands that the natural language search engine is capable of executing.
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9. The method of claim 3, wherein
the abbreviated textual command has a first component and a second component where the first component represents a desired application command, and the second component represents a desired application tag; - and
the natural language database stores a data set of abbreviated textual command and their associated application commands and tags.
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10. An interface system, comprising:
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a plurality of software applications;
means for entering text; and
a natural language search engine configured to receive an abbreviated textual command from the text entering means, match the abbreviated textual command with a desired application command, and launch one of the software applications by executing the desired application command;
wherein the natural language search engine is configured to perform the steps of;
receiving a two-part abbreviated textual command from the text entering means having a first component and a second component;
matching the first component with a desired application command;
matching the second component with a desired application tag;
launching one of the software applications by executing the desired application command; and
retrieving data associated with the application command using the desired application tag. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 22, 23)
a home screen that is a graphical interface between a user and the natural language search engine.
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14. The interface system of claim 13, wherein the home screen includes an icon ribbon having a plurality of icons, and wherein a user may launch one of the software applications by either selecting one of the icons or entering an abbreviated textual command.
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15. The interface system of claim 10, wherein the natural language search engine is operative to match the abbreviated textual command with the desired application command by presenting a user with a list of likely command choices.
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16. The interface system of claim 15, wherein the software applications are executed on a hand-held device.
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22. The interface system of claim 11, wherein the natural language search engine is operative to match the abbreviated textual command with the desired application command by presenting a user with a list of likely command choices.
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23. The interface system of claim 22, wherein the software applications are executed on a hand-held device.
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17. An interface system, comprising:
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a plurality of software applications;
means for entering text; and
a natural language search engine configured to receive an abbreviated textual command from the text entering means, match the abbreviated textual command with a desired application command, and launch one of the software applications by executing the desired application command;
wherein the natural language search engine is operative to match the abbreviated textual command with the desired application command using a probability factor that is generated by the natural language search engine based on a user'"'"'s historical preferences. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
a home screen that is a graphical interface between a user and the natural language search engine.
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21. The interface system of claim 20, wherein the home screen includes an icon ribbon having a plurality of icons, and wherein a user may launch one of the software applications by either selecting one of the icons or entering an abbreviated textual command.
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24. An interface system, comprising:
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a plurality of software applications;
means for entering text;
a natural language search engine configured to receive an abbreviated textual command from the text entering means, match the abbreviated textual command with a desired application command, and launch one of the software applications by executing the desired application command; and
a natural language database configured to store a data set of abbreviated textual commands and their associated application commands, and that is used by the natural language search engine to match the abbreviated textual command with the desired application command;
wherein the data set includes probability factors that represent the probability that an application command is desired by a user when a corresponding abbreviated textual command is entered. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
a home screen that is a graphical interface between a user and the natural language search engine.
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30. The interface system of claim 29, wherein the home screen includes an icon ribbon having a plurality of icons, and wherein a user may launch one of the software applications by either selecting one of the icons or entering an abbreviated textual command.
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31. The interface system of claim 24, wherein the natural language search engine is operative to match the abbreviated textual command with the desired application command by presenting a user with a list of likely command choices.
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32. The interface system of claim 31, wherein the software applications are executed on a hand-held device.
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33. The interface system of claim 27, wherein the data set comprises:
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a user input record that includes a set of abbreviated textual commands which have been received by the natural language search engine;
a user command record that includes a set of application command an tags, wherein at least one application command and tag correspond to each entry in the set of abbreviated textual commands; and
a probability factor record that includes a set of probability factors that are generated by the natural language search engine based on a user'"'"'s historical preferences, and represent the probability that an application command and tag is desired by the user when a corresponding abbreviated textual command is entered.
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34. An interface system for a hand-held device, comprising:
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a plurality of software applications;
a home screen;
means for entering text that can be accessed by a user either from the home screen or while any of the software applications are executing;
a natural language database that stores a data set of abbreviated textual commands and associated application commands; and
a natural language search engine configured to receive an abbreviated textual command from the text entering means, to match the abbreviated textual command with a desired application command using the natural language database, and to launch one of the software applications by executing the desired application command;
wherein the natural language database also includes a set of probability factors associated with each application command; and
wherein the natural language search engine uses the set of probability factors to match the abbreviated textual command with the desired application command. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A hand-held device, comprising:
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a processing sub-system;
a memory sub-system;
a plurality of software applications stored in the memory sub-system and executable by the processing sub-system;
a user interface for inputting text; and
a natural language search engine executed by the processing sub-system and operable to receive an abbreviated textual command from the user interface, match the abbreviated textual command with a desired application command using a probability factor that is generated based on a user'"'"'s historical preferences, and launch one of the software applications by executing the desired application command. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification