Suggesting intent frame(s) for user request(s)

• US 9,583,104 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2015
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Landry, Shane J., Sullivan, Anne K., Stifelman, Lisa J., Elman, Adam D., Heck, Larry Paul, Parthasarathy, Sarangarajan
• Primary Examiner(s): SAINT CYR, LEONARD
• Application Number:
  US14/953,377
• Publication Number:
  US 20160078868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 457 Days
• Field of Search: 704 7- 9, 704/257
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3329 Natural language query formulation or dialogue systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/20 Natural language analysis semantic analysis of natural language G06F40/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/289 Phrasal analysis, e.g. finite state techniques or chunking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/35 Discourse or dialogue representation
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/06 Elementary speech units used in speech synthesisers; Concatenation rules
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue

Abstract

Techniques are described herein that are capable of suggesting intent frame(s) for user request(s). For instance, the intent frame(s) may be suggested to elicit a request from a user. An intent frame is a natural language phrase (e.g., a sentence) that includes at least one carrier phrase and at least one slot. A slot in an intent frame is a placeholder that is identified as being replaceable by one or more words that identify an entity and/or an action to indicate an intent of the user. A carrier phrase in an intent frame includes one or more words that suggest a type of entity and/or action that is to be identified by the one or more words that may replace the corresponding slot. In accordance with these techniques, the intent frame(s) are suggested in response to determining that natural language functionality of a processing system is activated.

Claims

1. A processing system comprising:

at least one element including at least one of (a) one or more processors or (b) hardware logic/electrical circuitry;

activation logic, implemented using the at least one element, configured to determine whether natural language functionality of the processing system is activated, the natural language functionality for enabling the processing system to interpret natural language requests;

suggestion logic, implemented using the at least one element, configured to generate one or more intent frames in response to a determination that the natural language functionality of the processing system is activated, each of the one or more intent frames including at least one carrier phrase and at least one slot;

an interface configured to provide the one or more intent frames for perception by a user;

assignment logic, implemented using the at least one element, configured to assign a plurality of probabilities to a plurality of respective possible intent frames, each probability indicating a likelihood that the user is to select the corresponding possible intent frame if the corresponding possible intent frame is suggested to the user; and

identification logic, implemented using the at least one element, configured to identify a high-probability intent frame from the plurality of possible intent frames, the high-probability intent frame being assigned a probability that is not less than a probability that is assigned to each other possible intent frame in the plurality of possible intent frames,

the suggestion logic configured to include the high-probability intent frame in the one or more intent frames based on the high-probability intent frame being assigned a probability that is not less than a probability that is assigned to each other possible intent frame in the plurality of possible intent frames.

2. The processing system of claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to suggest the one or more intent frames to the user to elicit a request from the user.

3. The processing system of claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to provide at least one of a visual representation or an audio representation of the one or more intent frames for perception by the user.

4. The processing system of claim 1, wherein the suggestion logic is configured to generate at least one of the one or more intent frames based on one or more topics that are accessed by the user with respect to a software application.

5. The processing system of claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to provide the one or more intent frames for perception by the user based on a request not being received by the processing system since a time instance at which the natural language functionality of the processing system is activated.

6. The processing system of claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to display at least one dynamic suggested textual phrase that moves with reference to a first slot with which the dynamic suggested textual phrase is associated, the first slot being included in a first intent frame of the one or more intent frames.

7. The processing system of claim 1, wherein the suggestion logic is configured to provide a plurality of suggested textual phrases to replace a designated slot in a specified intent frame that is included in the one or more intent frames, the plurality of suggested textual phrases configured to rotate about the designated slot clockwise or counterclockwise.

8. A processing system comprising:

a memory for storing executable program code; and

a processor, functionally coupled to the memory, the processor being responsive to computer-executable instructions contained in the program code and operative to;

determine whether natural language functionality of the processing system is activated, the natural language functionality for enabling the processing system to interpret natural language requests;

generate one or more intent frames in response to a determination that the natural language functionality of the processing system is activated, each of the one or more intent frames including at least one carrier phrase and at least one slot, and each of the one or more intent frames indicating a form of request that is supported by the natural language functionality of the processing system;

provide a plurality of suggested textual phrases to replace a designated slot in a specified intent frame that is included in the one or more intent frames; and

cause the one or more intent frames to be displayed.

9. The processing system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further operative to suggest the one or more intent frames to the user to elicit a request from the user.

10. The processing system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further operative to provide an audio representation of the one or more intent frames.

11. The processing system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further operative to generate at least one of the one or more intent frames based on one or more topics that are accessed by the user with respect to a software application.

12. The processing system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further operative to provide the plurality of suggested textual phrases based on a request not being received by the processing system since a time instance at which the natural language functionality of the processing system is activated.

13. The processing system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further operative to cause at least one dynamic suggested textual phrase that moves with reference to a first slot with which the dynamic suggested textual phrase is associated to be displayed, the first slot being included in a first intent frame of the one or more intent frames.

14. The processing system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of suggested textual phrases is configured to rotate about the designated slot clockwise or counterclockwise.

15. A processing system comprising:

a memory for storing executable program code; and

a processor, functionally coupled to the memory, the processor being responsive to computer-executable instructions contained in the program code and operative to;

determine whether natural language functionality of the processing system is activated, the natural language functionality for enabling the processing system to interpret natural language requests;

generate one or more intent frames in response to a determination that the natural language functionality of the processing system is activated, each of the one or more intent frames including at least one carrier phrase and at least one slot, and each of the one or more intent frames indicating a form of request that is supported by the natural language functionality of the processing system;

generate at least one of the one or more intent frames based on one or more topics that are accessed by the user with respect to a software application; and

cause the one or more intent frames to be displayed.

16. The processing system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further operative to suggest the one or more intent frames to the user to elicit a request from the user.

17. The processing system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the one or more intent frames includes at least one slot that is audibly represented using at least one of one or more spoken words or one or more tones.

18. The processing system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further operative to provide at least one of the one or more intent frames for perception by the user based on a request not being received by the processing system since a time instance at which the natural language functionality of the processing system is activated.

19. The processing system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further operative to cause at least one dynamic suggested textual phrase that moves with reference to a first slot with which the dynamic suggested textual phrase is associated to be displayed, the first slot being included in a first intent frame of the one or more intent frames.

20. The processing system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further operative to provide a plurality of suggested textual phrases to replace a designated slot in a specified intent frame that is included in the one or more intent frames, the plurality of suggested textual phrases configured to rotate about the designated slot clockwise or counterclockwise.