Methods and systems for determining a formula

• US 8,589,869 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2007
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wolfram Alpha LLC (Wolfram Research Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wolfram Alpha LLC (Wolfram Research Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wolfram, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Qing
• Application Number:
  US11/852,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20080066052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,265 Days
• Field of Search: 717/100, 717104-113, 717/125, 717/136, 717/137, 707/723, 715/255, 715/256, 715/267
• US Class Current: 717/109
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/111 Mathematical or scientific formatting; Subscripts; Superscripts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/30 Creation or generation of source code
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G16C 20/70 Machine learning, data mining or chemometrics

Abstract

In a method to help a user determine a formula, (e.g., a fact, rule, or principle expressed in scientific, mathematical, technical, etc. symbols), a user may input an indication of the formula in an imprecise syntax. The inputted indication may be in ASCII text, for example, and may include technical shorthand, technical abbreviations, pseudocode, etc. In response, one or more formulas corresponding to the user'"'"'s input are determined. Optionally, other outputs related to the determined formula(s) may be generated. In one implementation, software programming code corresponding to the formula is generated. Then, the formula(s) and the output(s) are presented to the user.

Claims

1. A method, implemented in a computer system, of determining a result according to a formula, comprising:

electronically receiving a user input in an imprecise syntax, wherein the user input includes (i) an indication of a desired formula having a plurality of mathematical or scientific parameters, and (ii) an indication of one or more respective values of one or more parameters in the plurality of mathematical or scientific parameters, and wherein the imprecise syntax is expressed using natural language and terms;

after receiving the user input in the imprecise syntax, determining, at the computer system, one or more possible formulas corresponding to the indication of the desired formula, wherein the one or more possible formulas are expressed in mathematical or scientific symbols;

calculating, at the computer system, one or more results according to the one or more possible formulas with the one or more parameters set to the respective one or more values; and

generating electronic display information to display at least one of the one or more possible formulas and at least one of the one or more results on a display device.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

ranking the one or more possible formulas;

selecting a subset of the one or more possible formulas based on the ranking; and

generating the electronic display information corresponding to the subset.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein generating the electronic display information comprises generating web page information.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

electronically transmitting the electronic display information to a user computer.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

presenting the electronic display information on the display device of a user computer.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating an electronic display output corresponding to a first possible formula of the one or more possible formulas, wherein the electronic display output includes a user interface mechanism for adjusting a parameter of the first possible formula of the one or more possible formulas.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user input including an indication of one or more respective new values of the one or more parameters in the plurality of mathematical or scientific parameters;

calculating, at the computer system, a new result according to a first possible formula of the one or more possible formulas with the one or more parameters set to the respective one or more new values; and

generating electronic display information to display the new result on the display device.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein generating the electronic display information includes generating a user interface mechanism for adjusting at least one of the plurality of mathematical or scientific parameters of a first possible formula of the one or more possible formulas.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein generating the electronic display information includes generating another user interface mechanism for adjusting another of the plurality of mathematical or scientific parameters of the first possible formula of the one or more possible formulas.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining software programming code for calculating a result according to a first possible formula of the one or more possible formulas when the software programming code is executed by a processor configured to execute machine readable instructions.

11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising:

electronically transmitting the software programming code to a user computer.

12. A method according to claim 10, further comprising:

providing a user interface mechanism to allow a user to insert the software programming code in a file.

13. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating electronic display information corresponding to a prompt for additional information from a user; and

electronically receiving additional information indicative of the desired formula in response to the prompt;

wherein determining the one or more possible formulas is based on the additional information indicative of the desired formula.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein generating the electronic display information corresponding to the prompt and electronically receiving the additional information are performed only if a possible formula cannot be determined based on the indication of the desired formula.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein generating the electronic display information corresponding to the prompt comprises generating at least one of a prompt to enter additional text, a prompt to select from a plurality of items in a list, or a prompt to answer a question.

16. A method, implemented in a computer system, of dynamically determining software programming code instructions, comprising:

electronically receiving a user input in an imprecise syntax, wherein the user input includes an indication of a desired set of software programming code instructions;

dynamically determining, at the computer system, a plurality of possible sets of software programming code instructions, wherein each possible set of software programming code instructions corresponds to the indication of the desired set of software programming code instructions;

evaluating, at the computer system, the plurality of possible sets of software programming code instructions according to a metric that provides a quantitative measurement of a property related to execution of the plurality of possible sets of software programming code instructions;

selecting, at the computer system and based on evaluating the plurality of possible sets of software programming code instructions, a subset of the plurality of possible sets of software programming code instructions; and

after selecting the subset of the plurality of possible sets of software programming code instructions, electronically providing the subset of the plurality of possible sets of software programming code instructions to a user.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein electronically receiving the user input includes receiving software programming pseudo code.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein electronically receiving the user input includes receiving software programming code having incorrect syntax.

19. A method according to claim 16, wherein electronically receiving the user input includes receiving software programming code having correct syntax in a first programming language;

and

wherein dynamically determining the plurality of possible sets of software programming code instructions comprises dynamically determining a set of software programming code instructions in a second programming language that corresponds to the software programming code having correct syntax in the first programming language.

20. A method according to claim 16, wherein electronically providing the subset of the plurality of possible sets of software programming code instructions comprises generating web page information.

21. A method according to claim 16, wherein electronically providing the subset of the plurality of possible sets of software programming code instructions comprises transmitting the subset of the plurality of possible sets of software programming code instructions to a user computer.

22. A method according to claim 16, wherein electronically providing the subset of the plurality of possible sets of software programming code instructions comprises presenting display information corresponding to the indication of the desired set of software programming code instructions on a display of a user computer.

23. A method according to claim 16, wherein electronically providing the subset of the plurality of possible sets of software programming code instructions comprises providing a user interface mechanism to allow a user to insert one of possible sets of the subset of the plurality of possible sets of software programming code instructions in a file.

24. A method according to claim 16, further comprising:

generating electronic display information corresponding to a prompt for additional information from a user; and

electronically receiving additional information indicative of the desired set of software programming code instructions in response to the prompt;

wherein dynamically determining the plurality of possible sets of software programming code instructions is based on the additional information indicative of the desired set of software programming code instructions.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein generating the electronic display information corresponding to the prompt and electronically receiving the additional information are performed only if a possible set of software programming code instructions cannot be dynamically determined based on the indication of the desired set of software programming code instructions.

26. A method according to claim 24, wherein generating the electronic display information corresponding to the prompt comprises generating at least one of a prompt to enter additional text, a prompt to select from a plurality of items in a list, or a prompt to answer a question.

27. A system for determining a formula, comprising:

one or more processors configured to;

(a) generate one or more expressions in precise syntax based on received user input in an imprecise syntax, wherein the received user input includes (i) an indication of a desired formula having a plurality of mathematical or scientific parameters, and (ii) an indication of one or more respective values of one or more parameters in the plurality of mathematical or scientific parameters, and wherein the imprecise syntax is expressed using natural language and terms;

(b) generate one or more possible formulas corresponding to the indication of the desired formula based on the one or more expressions in precise syntax, wherein the one or more possible formulas are expressed in mathematical or scientific symbols;

(c) calculate one or more results according to the one or more possible formulas with the one or more parameters set to the respective one or more values; and

(d) generate electronic display information to display at least one of the one or more results on a display device.

28. A system according to claim 27, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to generate a first possible formula based on a second possible formula generated by the one or more processors.

29. A system according to claim 27, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to generate a first possible formula based on a plurality of second possible formulas generated by the one or more processors.

30. A system according to claim 27, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to generate outputs mathematically or otherwise related to the one or more possible formulas.

31. A system according to claim 30, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to generate outputs mathematically or otherwise related to the one or more possible formulas based on a plurality of possible formulas generated by the one or more processors.

32. A system according to claim 27, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to generate rankings of a plurality of possible formulas generated by the one or more processors.

33. A system according to claim 32, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to output a subset of formulas from the plurality of possible formulas generated by the one or more processors based on the rankings.

34. A method of obtaining a result according to a formula, comprising:

electronically transmitting a user input in an imprecise syntax, wherein the user input includes (i) an indication of a desired formula having a plurality of mathematical or scientific parameters, and (ii) an indication of one or more respective values of one or more parameters in the plurality of mathematical or scientific parameters, and wherein the imprecise syntax is expressed using natural language and terms; and

electronically receiving electronic display information corresponding to one or more results calculated according to one or more possible formulas with the one or more parameters set to the respective one or more values, wherein the one or more possible formulas are determined to correspond with the indication of the desired formula, and wherein the one or more possible formulas are expressed in mathematical or scientific symbols.

35. A method according to claim 34, wherein electronically receiving the electronic display information comprises electronically receiving the electronic display information corresponding to the one or more possible formulas.

36. A method according to claim 34, wherein the electronic display information includes a display output including a user interface mechanism for adjusting a parameter of a first possible formula of the one or more possible formulas.

37. A method according to claim 36, wherein the display output includes a user interface mechanism for adjusting another parameter of the possible formula.

38. A method according to claim 34, further comprising:

electronically receiving software programming code for calculating a result according to a first possible formula of the one or more possible formulas.

39. A method according to claim 38, further comprising:

electronically receiving a user interface mechanism to allow a user to insert the software programming code in a file.

40. A method according to claim 34, further comprising:

electronically receiving a prompt for additional information; and

electronically transmitting additional information indicative of the desired formula in response to the prompt;

wherein the one or more possible formulas are determined based on the additional information indicative of the desired formula.