System and method of generating responses to text-based messages

• US 8,296,140 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2011
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interactions, LLC
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bangalore, Srinivas, Gilbert, Mazin, Gupta, Narendra
• Primary Examiner(s): Abebe, Daniel D
• Application Number:
  US13/300,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20120065963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• Field of Search: 704/251, 704/257, 709/223
• US Class Current: 704/251
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/30 Semantic analysis

Abstract

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an automated method of and system for generating a response to a text-based natural language message is disclosed. The method includes identifying a first selected input clause in a sentence in the text-based natural language message. Also, assigning a semantic tag to the first selected input clause and matching the semantic tag to a historical input tag. The historical input tag associated with a first previously generated response clause. Further; generating an output response message based on the historical response clause, the output response message derived from the historical input tag and a second previously generated response clause. The system includes means for performing the method steps.

Claims

1. A method of generating a response to a text-based natural language message, comprising:

identifying a first selected input clause in a sentence in the text-based natural language message;

assigning a semantic tag to the first selected input clause;

matching the semantic tag to a historical input tag, the historical input tag associated with a first previously generated response clause; and

generating an output response message based on the historical input tag and a second previously generated response clause.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising storing the historical input tag and the first and second previously generated response clauses in a database.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising parsing the first selected input clause, thereby defining a relationship between words in the first selected input clause.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising identifying a best match clause for the first selected input clause, the best match clause having a threshold degree of match and being non-identical to the first selected input clause, the best match clause being associated with the historical input tag.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the semantic tag is an abbreviation associated with the first selected input clause.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising identifying a second selected input clause in the sentence.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying the output response message.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to generate a response to a text-based natural language message by performing a computer process comprising:

identifying a first selected input clause in a sentence in the text-based natural language message;

assigning a semantic tag to the first selected input clause;

matching the semantic tag to a historical input tag, the historical input tag associated with a first previously generated response clause; and

generating an output response message based on the historical input tag and a second previously generated response clause.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the computer process further comprises storing the historical input tag and the first and second previously generated response clauses in a database.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the computer process further comprises parsing the first selected input clause, thereby defining a relationship between words in the first selected input clause.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the computer process further comprises identifying a best match clause for the first selected input clause, the best match clause having a threshold degree of match and being non-identical to the first selected input clause, the best match clause being associated with the historical input tag.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the semantic tag is an abbreviation associated with the first selected input clause.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the computer process further comprises identifying a second selected input clause in the sentence.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the computer process further comprises displaying the output response message.

15. A system to generate a response to a text-based natural language message, the system comprising:

a user interface;

a processing device operatively coupled to the user interface; and

a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by the processing device cause the processing device to generate the response to the text-based natural language message by performing a computer process comprising;

identifying a first selected input clause in a sentence in the text-based natural language message;

assigning a semantic tag to the first selected input clause;

matching the semantic tag to a historical input tag, the historical input tag being associated with a first previously generated response clause; and

generating an output response message based on the historical input tag and a second previously generated response clause.

16. The system as defined by claim 15, wherein the computer process further comprises storing the historical input tag and the first and second previously generated response clauses in a database.

17. The system as defined by claim 15, wherein the computer process further comprises parsing the first selected input clause, thereby defining a relationship between words in the first selected input clause.

18. The system as defined by claim 15, wherein the computer process further comprises identifying a best match clause for the first selected input clause, the best match clause having a threshold degree of match and being non-identical to the first selected input clause, the best match clause being associated with the historical input tag.

19. The system as defined by claim 15, wherein the semantic tag is an abbreviation associated with the first selected input clause.

20. The system as defined by claim 15, wherein computer process further comprises displaying the output response message on the user interface.