Method and system for responding to queries in an imprecise syntax

• US 8,788,524 B1
• Filed: 05/14/2010
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wolfram Alpha LLC (Wolfram Research Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wolfram Alpha LLC (Wolfram Research Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wolfram, Stephen, Tafjord, Oyvind
• Primary Examiner(s): Fan, Shiow-Jy
• Application Number:
  US12/780,705
• Time in Patent Office: 1,530 Days
• Field of Search: 707/779, 707/769, 707/736, 707/737, 707/748, 707/749, 707/754
• US Class Current: 707/779
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3322 using system suggestions G06F16/3325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3338 Query expansion
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90324 using system suggestions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90335 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/30 Semantic analysis

Abstract

A query in an imprecise syntax is received, and a plurality of assumptions relating to the meaning of the query are determined. One of the assumptions is chosen from the determined plurality of assumptions, and a first response to the query is generated based on the chosen assumption. A user interface mechanism is provided to permit a user to change the assumption on which the first response was based, and a second response to the query is generated based on the changed assumption.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a query in an imprecise syntax;

determining one or more meanings or senses corresponding to a word in the query;

selecting a meaning or sense to apply to the query;

determining, according to the selected meaning or sense, a formula relating to the query, the formula for calculating an answer to the query and having one or more parameters;

determining, according to the selected meaning or sense, one or more assumptions relating to the query, wherein the one or more assumptions includes an assumption that a term of the query corresponds to a value of a parameter of the formula;

choosing one or more of the assumptions from the determined assumptions, including assigning the term of the query to the value;

calculating a first answer to the query in response to the query and according to (i) the formula and (ii) the value of the parameter;

providing, in association with the first answer, user interface mechanisms to (1) permit a user to change the selected meaning or sense or the chosen one or more assumptions on which the first answer was based, and (2) change the value of the parameter; and

calculating a second answer to the query in response to and based on the changed meaning or sense or the changed assumption, including calculating the second answer based on a changed value of the parameter.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user interface mechanisms permit the user to select a different assumption from the determined assumptions.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user interface mechanisms comprise at least one of a link, a button, a text box, or a pull-down menu.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising generating a web page or window that includes the first answer to the query.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the web page or window includes an indication of the chosen assumption.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the web page or window includes the user interface mechanism.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more determined assumptions include assumptions corresponding to a plurality of different formulas;

wherein one of the chosen assumptions corresponds to one formula from the different formulas,

wherein the user interface mechanism permits a user to select another one of the different formulas.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more determined assumptions include assumptions corresponding to a plurality of different parameters of a formula for which to calculate a value;

wherein one of the chosen assumptions corresponds to a first parameter for which to calculate a value;

wherein the user interface mechanisms permit a user to select a second parameter for which to calculate a value.

9. A tangible, non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon machine executable instructions, the machine executable instructions, when executed by one or more machines, to:

receive a query in an imprecise syntax;

determine one or more meanings or senses corresponding to a word in the query;

select a meaning or sense to apply to the query;

determining, according to the selected meaning or sense, a formula relating to the query, the formula for calculating an answer to the query and having one or more parameters;

determine, according to the selected meaning or sense, one or more assumptions relating to the query, wherein the one or more assumptions includes an assumption that a term of the query corresponds to a value of a parameter of the formula;

choose one or more of the assumptions from the determined assumptions, including assigning the term of the query to the value;

calculate a first answer to the query in response to the query and according to (i) the formula and (ii) the value of the parameter;

provide, in association with the first answer, user interface mechanisms to (1) permit a user to change the selected meaning or sense or the chosen one or more assumptions on which the first answer was based, and (2) change the value of the parameter; and

calculate a second answer to the query in response to and based on the changed meaning or sense or the changed assumption, including calculating the second answer based on a changed value of the parameter.

10. A method, comprising:

transmitting, via a network, a query in an imprecise syntax;

receiving, via the network, a query answer generated by performing a calculation in response to the query based on a formula relating to the query, the formula determined according to a meaning or sense of a word in the query, and wherein the calculation is performed based on (1) an assumption chosen from one or more assumptions relating to the meaning of the query, and (2) an assumption chosen from one or more assumptions that a term of the query corresponds to a value of a parameter of the formula;

receiving, via the network, an indication of the determined meaning or sense of the word in the query, and an indication of the chosen assumption of the term of the query that corresponds to the value of the parameter of the formula;

receiving, via the network and with the query answer, user interface mechanisms to permit selection of another meaning or sense of the word in the query or of another assumption from the one or more assumptions, including a first user interface mechanism to change the value of the parameter;

displaying the query answer, the indication of the determined meaning or sense of the word in the query, the indication of the chosen assumption, and the user interface mechanisms to permit selection of another meaning or sense of the word in the query or another assumption from the one or more assumptions on a display device;

permitting selection, using the user interface mechanisms, of another assumption from the one or more assumptions;

transmitting, via the network, an indication of the selected another assumption; and

receiving a different query answer in response to and based on the selected another assumption.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the user interface mechanisms comprise at least one of a link, a button, a text box, or a pull-down menu.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the query answer, the indication of the chosen assumption, and the user interface mechanisms are displayed in a web page or window.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the one or more assumptions include assumptions corresponding to a plurality of different formulas;

wherein the chosen assumption corresponds to one formula from the different formulas

wherein the user interface mechanism permits a user to select another one of the different formulas.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the one or more assumptions include assumptions corresponding to a plurality of different parameters of a formula for which to calculate a value;

wherein the chosen assumption corresponds to a first parameter for which to calculate a value;

wherein the user interface mechanism permits a user to select a second parameter for which to calculate a value.

15. A tangible, non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon machine executable instructions, the machine executable instructions, when executed by one or machines, to:

cause a query in an imprecise syntax to be transmitted via a network;

receive, via the network, a query answer generated by performing a calculation in response to the query, based on a formula relating to the query, the formula determined according to a meaning or sense of a word in the query, and wherein the calculation is performed based on (1) an assumption chosen from one or more assumptions relating to the meaning of the query, and (2) an assumption chosen from one or more assumptions that a term of the query corresponds to a value of a parameter of the formula;

receive, via the network and with the query answer, an indication of the determined meaning or sense of the word in the query and an indication of the chosen assumption of the term of the query that corresponds to the value of the parameter of the formula;

receive, via the network, user interface mechanisms to permit selection of another meaning or sense of the word in the query or of another assumption from the one or more assumptions, including a first user interface mechanism to change the value of the parameter;

cause the query answer, the indication of the determined meaning or sense of the word in the query, the indication of the chosen assumption, and the user interface mechanisms to permit selection of another meaning or sense of the word in the query or another assumption from the one or more assumptions to be displayed on a display device;

receive a selection, using the user interface mechanisms, of another assumption from the one or more assumptions;

transmit, via the network, an indication of the selected another assumption; and

receive a different query answer in response to and based on the selected another assumption.