Systems and methods for generating markup-language based expressions from multi-modal and unimodal inputs

• US 8,898,202 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2013
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Johnston, Michael J., Bangalore, Srinivas
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi, Yuk Ting
• Application Number:
  US13/873,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20130238320A1
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 707/803, 707/999.003, 707/796, 704/9
• US Class Current: 707/803
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/151 Transformation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/289 Phrasal analysis, e.g. finite state techniques or chunking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/40 Processing or translation of natural language natural language analysis G06F40/20; semantic analysis G06F40/30
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

When using finite-state devices to perform various functions, it is beneficial to use finite state devices representing regular grammars with terminals having markup-language-based semantics. By using markup-language-based symbols in the finite state devices, it is possible to generate valid markup-language expressions by concatenating the symbols representing the result of the performed function. The markup-language expression can be used by other applications and/or devices. Finite-state devices are used to convert strings of words and gestures into valid markup-language, for example, XML, expressions that can be used, for example, to provide an application program interface to underlying system applications.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating an input lattice representing input data having a first modality input and a second modality input;

using a finite-state device to perform a function using the input lattice, the finite-state device having symbols based on markup-language semantics, wherein performing the function comprises mapping a first markup-language expression to a second markup-language expression using a transducer relating the first-markup-language expression to the second-markup-language expression based on a level of coincidence between the first modality input and the second modality input;

generating a result finite-state device representing a result of the function, wherein the result finite-state device relates a set of input symbols to a set of output symbols;

concatenating output symbols in the set of output symbols of the result finite-state device, to yield a markup-language expression; and

outputting the markup-language expression.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the finite-state device uses extensible-markup-language-based symbols.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the input data further comprises a command received via one of a speech input subsystem, a pen input subsystem, a computer vision input subsystem, a haptic input subsystem, a gaze input subsystem, and a body motion input subsystem.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the input data further comprises a command received via two of a speech input subsystem, a pen input subsystem, a computer vision input subsystem, a haptic input subsystem, a gaze input subsystem, and a body motion input subsystem.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of output symbols represents sequences of symbols.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the function performs multimodal integration of the input data.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

recognizing a gesture string in the input data; and

modifying a language model based on the gesture string prior to performing the function.

8. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

generating an input lattice representing input data having a first modality input and a second modality input;

using a finite-state device to perform a function using the input lattice, the finite-state device having symbols based on markup-language semantics, wherein performing the function comprises mapping a first markup-language expression to a second markup-language expression using a transducer relating the first-markup-language expression to the second-markup-language expression based on a level of coincidence between the first modality input and the second modality input;

generating a result finite-state device representing a result of the function, wherein the result finite-state device relates a set of input symbols to a set of output symbols;

concatenating output symbols in the set of output symbols of the result finite-state device, to yield a markup-language expression; and

outputting the markup-language expression.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the finite-state device uses extensible-markup-language-based symbols.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the input data further comprises a command received via one of a speech input subsystem, a pen input subsystem, a computer vision input subsystem, a haptic input subsystem, a gaze input subsystem, and a body motion input subsystem.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the input data further comprises a command received via two of a speech input subsystem, a pen input subsystem, a computer vision input subsystem, a haptic input subsystem, a gaze input subsystem, and a body motion input subsystem.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the set of output symbols represents sequences of symbols.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the function performs multimodal integration of the input data.

14. The system of claim 8, the computer-readable storage medium having additional instruction stored which, when executed by the processor, result in the operations further comprising:

recognizing a gesture string in the input data; and

modifying a language model based on the gesture string prior to performing the function.

15. A computer-readable storage device having instructions stored which, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

generating an input lattice representing input data having a first modality input and a second modality input;

using a finite-state device to perform a function using the input lattice, the finite-state device having symbols based on markup-language semantics, wherein performing the function comprises mapping a first markup-language expression to a second markup-language expression using a transducer relating the first-markup-language expression to the second-markup-language expression based on a level of coincidence between the first modality input and the second modality input;

generating a result finite-state device representing a result of the function, wherein the result finite-state device relates a set of input symbols to a set of output symbols;

concatenating output symbols in the set of output symbols of the result finite-state device, to yield a markup-language expression; and

outputting the markup-language expression.

16. The computer-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein the finite-state device uses extensible-markup-language-based symbols.

17. The computer-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein the input data further comprises a command received via one of a speech input subsystem, a pen input subsystem, a computer vision input subsystem, a haptic input subsystem, a gaze input subsystem, and a body motion input subsystem.

18. The computer-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein the input data further comprises a command received via two of a speech input subsystem, a pen input subsystem, a computer vision input subsystem, a haptic input subsystem, a gaze input subsystem, and a body motion input subsystem.

19. The computer-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein the set of output symbols represents sequences of symbols.

20. The computer-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein the function performs multimodal integration of the input data.