Prose style morphing

• US 8,428,934 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2010
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HoloVisions LLC
• Original Assignee: HoloVisions LLC
• Inventors: Connor, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOZNIAK, JAMES S
• Application Number:
  US12/806,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20110184727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 704/1, 704/9, 434/156, 434/167, 715/255
• US Class Current: 704/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/253 Grammatical analysis; Style critique

Abstract

This invention is a method for incrementally and multi-dimensionally adjusting prose style in the following steps: creating a database of sets of phrase synonyms; assigning rankings and/or values to phrases in the database for each phrase'"'"'s ranking and/or value with respect to a selected dimension of prose style, for at least two different dimensions of prose style; receiving input prose from a user; receiving a style adjustment preference from a user for at least one dimension of prose style through a multi-dimensional style-adjusting interface; and making adjustments to the style of the input prose using the database of phrase synonyms and phrase rankings and/or values in order to achieve the style adjustment preference specified by the user.

Claims

1. A method for incrementally and multi-dimensionally adjusting prose style comprising:

creating a database of sets of phrase synonyms within a data processing environment wherein a phrase is defined as a character string including one or more words, numbers, abbreviations or combinations thereof, and wherein set of phrase synonyms is defined as a set of phrases in which there is at least one phrase in the set for which all other phrases in the set can be substituted in prose usage without causing significant changes in the meaning of the prose or grammatical errors in the prose;

assigning rankings and/or values to phrases in the database for each phrase'"'"'s ranking and/or value with respect to a dimension of prose style, for at least two different dimensions of prose style;

receiving input prose selected by a user via an interface between the user and a computer selected from a group consisting of;

direct entry of prose by means of a physical or virtual keyboard, keypad, touchpad, or touch screen;

importing prose from a file, document, or website;

highlighting or identifying a portion of prose using a cursor;

voice, speech, or gesture recognition; and

selection of a file, document, or website in response to a search request;

receiving a style adjustment preference from a user for multiple dimensions of prose style through a multi-dimensional style-adjusting interface having multiple dimensions of prose style each assigned to an incrementally adjustable control between the user and the computer selected from one or more control elements in a group consisting of;

virtual or physical slider bar;

virtual or physical buttons, keyboard, keypad, or touch screen;

virtual or physical dials or knobs;

popup menu, drop down menu, or other virtual menu;

data entry box, line, or space;

mouse and/or cursor movement;

voice or speech recognition; and

gesture or posture recognition; and

making adjustments to the style of the input prose within a data processing environment according to the style adjustment preference specified by the user through the multi-dimensional style-adjusting interface, wherein style adjustments are done (a) searching for phrases in the input prose that are in the database of phrase synonyms and (b) replacing the phrases in the input prose with intra-set phrase synonyms from the database with higher rankings and/or values in a dimension of style for which the user has indicated an increased preference through the multi-dimensional style-adjusting interface and/or replacing the phrases in the input prose with intra-set phrase synonyms from the database with lower rankings and/or values in a dimension of style for which the user has indicated a decreased preference through the multi-dimensional style-adjusting interface.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one dimension of prose style is selected from the group consisting of:

first, second, or third person perspective;

past, present or future tense; and

active or passive voice.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one dimension of prose style is prose length.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one dimension of prose style is selected from the group consisting of:

vocabulary level;

formality level;

level of use of colloquial expressions; and

level of grammatical simplicity or complexity.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one dimension of prose style is selected from the group consisting of:

level of emotionality;

use of emoticons;

use of romantic words; and

level of positivity or negativity in tone.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one dimension of prose style is selected from the group consisting of:

weak or strong words;

ambiguous or precise words; and

words conveying uncertainty or certainty.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one dimension of prose style is selected from the group consisting of:

use of alliteration; and

use of humor.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one dimension of prose style is selected from the group consisting of:

level of use of national-specific and/or regional-specific expressions; and

geographic specification of national-specific and/or regional-specific expressions.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one dimension of prose style is selected from the group consisting of:

level of use of gender-specific terms; and

gender specification of gender-specific terms.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one dimension of prose style is a level of use of obscene words.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one dimension of prose style is a level of use of specific academic jargon, business jargon, legal jargon, medical jargon, scientific jargon, and/or electronic-connectivity jargon.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein a multi-dimensional style-adjusting interface enables a user to adjust a percentage or proportion of total possible style-adjusting synonym substitutions which are actually substituted when adjustments are made to the style of the input prose.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein a multi-dimensional style-adjusting interface includes a virtual slider bar, dial, knob, or button that enables a user to adjust a proportion or quantity of style-adjusting synonym substitutions which are made when adjustments are made to the style of the input prose.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein a multi-dimensional style-adjusting interface includes a virtual menu that enables a user to adjust a proportion or quantity of style-adjusting synonym substitutions which are made when adjustments are made to the style of the input prose.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein a multi-dimensional style-adjusting interface includes voice recognition or gesture recognition that enables a user to adjust a proportion or quantity of style-adjusting synonym substitutions which are made when adjustments are made to the style of the input prose.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein a multi-dimensional style-adjusting interface includes a touch screen that enables a user to adjust a proportion or quantity of style-adjusting synonym substitutions which are made when adjustments are made to the style of the input prose.