System and method for automated answering of natural language questions and queries
DCFirst Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for producing answers to a question or query issued to an information repository containing natural language data, executable in a computer system, comprising the steps of:
- a. receiving a search question or query containing at least one variable expression, said at least one variable expression being representative of desired answer data that is to be searched for in said information repository;
b. initiating a search of said information repository for information containing terms present in said search question or query and receiving a first data set comprising information containing terms present in said search question or query;
c. searching said first data set for answer phrases present in syntactically similar form to said search question or query and containing answer data which may replace said variable expression to provide an answer to said search question or query, and retrieving answer phrases resulting from such search; and
d. modifying said answer phrases and providing output derived from said answer phrases in the form of one or more direct answers to said search question or query.
5 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for searching an information repository to find answers to natural language questions by generating an expected answer form based upon the form of the natural language question or query, searching for an answer meeting the specification of the expected answer form, and rendering an answer to a user.
-
Citations
32 Claims
-
1. A method for producing answers to a question or query issued to an information repository containing natural language data, executable in a computer system, comprising the steps of:
-
a. receiving a search question or query containing at least one variable expression, said at least one variable expression being representative of desired answer data that is to be searched for in said information repository; b. initiating a search of said information repository for information containing terms present in said search question or query and receiving a first data set comprising information containing terms present in said search question or query; c. searching said first data set for answer phrases present in syntactically similar form to said search question or query and containing answer data which may replace said variable expression to provide an answer to said search question or query, and retrieving answer phrases resulting from such search; and d. modifying said answer phrases and providing output derived from said answer phrases in the form of one or more direct answers to said search question or query. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method for producing answers to a question or query, executable in a computer system, comprising the steps of:
-
a. receiving a search question or query comprising data indicative of a subject to be searched; b. initiating a key words and/or phrases search of an information repository for data containing terms present in said search question or query, and receiving a first data set comprising data from said information repository containing terms present in said search question or query; c. retrieving answer phrases from said first data set having a syntactic form matching an expected answer to said search question or query; and d. providing output in the form of one or more of said answer phrases. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A method for processing a natural language question or query, executable in a computer system, comprising the steps of:
-
a. receiving a natural language question or query comprising generic question terms and substantive data terms; b. converting said natural language question or query to a generic question form; c. converting said generic question form to an expected answer form; d. initiating a key words and/or phrases search of an information repository containing natural language data for information containing key words and/or phrases present in said key words and/or phrases search, and receiving a results set comprising information containing key words and/or phrases present in said key words and/or phrases search; e. filtering said results set to retrieve answer phrases syntactically matching said expected answer form; and f. formatting said answer phrases as direct answers to said natural language question or query, and producing output in the form of formatted answer phrases. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
-
32. A system for producing answers to a question or query comprising:
-
a server computer hosting a data search service accessible via client computers to a plurality of potential users, said server computer having computer readable program code means embodied therein and means for communicating with an information repository containing natural language data, said computer readable program code means further comprising; a. program code means for converting a natural language question or query comprising generic question terms and substantive data terms into an expected answer form comprising said substantive data terms and answer variable phrases; b. program code means for extracting said substantive data terms from said expected answer form, generating a key words and/or phrases search query comprising the extracted substantive data terms, and initiating a key words and/or phrases search of said information repository using said key words and/or phrases search query; c. program code means for filtering results of said key words and/or phrases search to retrieve answer phrases syntactically matching said expected answer form; and d. program code means for formatting said answer phrases as direct answers to said natural language question or query, and for producing output in the form of formatted answer phrases.
-
Specification