Method and system for responding to user-input based on semantic evaluations of user-provided expressions

• US 7,809,724 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2007
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Information Research and Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: SAS Institute Incorporated
• Inventors: Schabes, Yves, Roche, Emmanuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Vital; Pierre M
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIAO, JASON G
• Application Number:
  US11/622,841
• Publication Number:
  US 20070219780A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,362 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/736
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/30 of unstructured textual data document management systems G06F16/93
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/30 Semantic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/56 Natural language generation

Abstract

A method for processing user input includes the step of receiving, during a session, via one of a plurality of media gateways, from a user, an expression having a semantic structure. The semantic structure of the expression is evaluated. An expression type is identified, responsive to the evaluation of the semantic structure. Based on the expression type, a response to the expression is generated. A determination is made as to whether to store the received expression, the response, and an identification of the user.

Claims

1. A method of processing at least two types of user input to an information repository comprising:

(a) receiving user input in the form of a natural language expression, the natural language expression having a semantic structure that can be characterized by an expression type, wherein the expression type is representative of at least two types of input that can be supplied to the information repository including a query and a statement;

(b) determining an expression type for the received natural language expression by evaluating the semantic structure of the expression to determined whether the received expression is a statement comprised of new information or a query seeking an answer to the query from the information repository wherein evaluating the semantic structure of the expression includes syntactic and morphological analysis;

(c) responding to input expressions having an expression type determined to be a statement by adding the new information in the statement to the information repository;

(d) responding to input expressions having an expression type determined to be a query by (i) searching the information repository for an answer to the query, and (ii) returning the answer to the query if a matching answer is determined; and

(e) determining whether to store the received natural language input expression, the response and an identification of the user in the information repository.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) further comprises receiving input via one of the plurality of media gateways.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the natural language input expression comprises one of a character string having a semantic structure and a plurality of words having a semantic structure.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein steps (b) and (d) further comprise evaluating a linguistic pattern of the natural language expression.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein steps (b) and (d) further comprises evaluating a word order of the natural language expression.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the computer program code for receiving user input further comprises computer program code for receiving input via one of the plurality of media gateways.

7. A system for processing at least two types of user input to an information repository comprising:

a computer hardware server hosting;

an information retrieval component in communication with a search index and a collection of information; and

a user interface module in communication with the information retrieval component, the user interface module comprising a transceiver for receiving user input in the form of a natural language expression, the natural language expression having a semantic structure that can be characterized by an expression type, wherein the expression type is representative of at least two types of input that can be supplied to the information repository including a query and a statement;

a semantic evaluator for evaluating the semantic structure of the natural language expression to determine whether (i) the expression type is a statement comprised of new information; and

(ii) the expression type is a query seeking an answer to the query from the information repository wherein evaluating the semantic structure of the natural language expression includes syntactic and morphological analysis;

a response generating component for responding to the natural language input expression based on the determined expression type wherein a response to natural language input expressions having an expression type determined to be a query is to (i) search the information repository for an answer to the query, and (ii) return the answer to the query if a matching answer is determined.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the transceiver receives input via one of a plurality of media gateways.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the natural language input expression is in the form of an e-mail message.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the natural language input expression is in the form of an SMS text message.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the natural language input expression is in the form of an instant messaging (IM) message.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein the natural language input expression comprises one of a character string having a semantic structure and a plurality of words having a semantic structure.

13. The system of claim 7 wherein the semantic evaluator evaluates a linguistic pattern of the natural language expression.

14. The system of claim 7 wherein the semantic evaluator evaluates a word order of the natural language expression.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein the natural language input expression comprises one of a character string having a semantic structure and a plurality of words having a semantic structure.

16. A computer readable medium storing a computer program product for processing at least two types of user input to an information repository, the computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for receiving user input in the form of a natural language expression, the natural language expression having a semantic structure that can be characterized by an expression type, wherein the expression type is representative of at least two types of input that can be supplied to the information repository including a query and a statement;

computer program code for determining an expression type for the received natural language expression by evaluating the semantic structure of the expression to determine whether the received expression is a statement comprised of new information wherein evaluating the semantic structure of the expression includes syntactic and morphological analysis;

computer program code for responding to input expressions having an expression type determined to be a statement by adding the new information in the statement to the information repository;

computer program code for determining an expression type for the received natural language expression by evaluating the semantic structure of the expression to determine whether the received expression is a query seeking an answer to the query from the information repository;

computer program code for responding to input expressions having an expression type determined to be a query by (i) searching the information repository for an answer to the query, and (ii) returning the answer to the query if a matching answer is determined; and

computer program code for determining whether to store the received natural language input expression, the response and an identification of the user in the information repository.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the computer program code for evaluating the semantic structure of the natural language expression further comprises computer program code for evaluating a linguistic pattern of the natural language expression.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the computer program code for evaluating the semantic structure of the natural language expression further comprises computer program code for evaluating a word order of the natural language expression.