Widget searching utilizing task framework

• US 20070209013A1
• Filed: 03/02/2006
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Katariya, Sanjeev, Ramsey, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,996,783 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation

Abstract

A task framework and a semantic reasoning engine are combined to provide a scalable mechanism for dealing with extremely large numbers of widgets, allowing users to both find a widget and automatically fill-in whatever functionality is available on the widget. Calling applications are employed to obtain task information from each widget. The calling application also receives user queries that can be resolved by a widget. A task reasoning process based on an adaptive semantic reasoning engine utilizes the task information to select a widget best suited to respond to a user'"'"'s query. The task reasoning process can also be employed to determine “best-guess” slot filling of the selected widget. The calling application can then invoke the selected widget and, if available, fill appropriate slots with information to facilitate user interaction with the selected widget. Instances can be client- and/or server-side based.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates widget searching, comprising:

a calling application that receives a widget-associated query; and

an adaptive task reasoning component that receives the query from the calling application, selects an appropriate widget in response to the query, and then provides the widget selection to the calling application.

2. The system of claim 1, the adaptive task reasoning component determines appropriate slot filling for the selected widget and provides the slot filling to the calling application.

3. The system of claim 1, the adaptive task reasoning component employs user feedback regarding at least one selected widget to facilitate in subsequent widget selections.

4. The system of claim 1, the calling application invokes the selected widget to allow a user to interface with the widget.

5. The system of claim 1, the calling application receives the widget-associated query directly from a user and/or via a Web browser.

6. The system of claim 1, the calling application and/or the adaptive task reasoning component resides on a server.

7. The system of claim 1, the widget-associated query comprising a modality independent query input.

8. A client-side widget search system that employs the system of claim 1.

9. A server-side widget search system that utilizes the system of claim 1 to facilitate in providing at least one appropriate widget to a user via a Web browser.

20. A device employing the system of claim 1 comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of a computer, a server, and a handheld electronic device.

10. A method for facilitating widget searching, comprising:

obtaining task associated data from at least one widget; and

employing adaptive task reasoning and the task associated data to facilitate in selecting an appropriate widget for a given user widget-associated query.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

receiving the given user widget-associated query directly from a user and/or via a Web browser.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

utilizing the task associated data to determine slot filling for the selected widget; and

calling the selected widget with appropriate slots filled.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

employing a calling application to obtain the task associated data from the widget;

passing the task associated data from the calling application to a task reasoning process based, at least in part, on an adaptive semantic reasoning engine;

utilizing the task reasoning process to facilitate in selecting the appropriate widget and to determine best-guess slot filling for the selected widget;

relaying the selected widget and slot filling to the calling application; and

invoking the selected widget with filled slots for utilization by a user.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

employing selected widget feedback from a user to facilitate in determining appropriate widgets.

15. A widget search method that employs the method of claim 10 to facilitate server-side widget searching and/or client-side widget searching.

19. A device employing the method of claim 10 comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of a computer, a server, and a handheld electronic device.

16. A system that facilitates widget searching, comprising:

means for receiving a query processible by a widget;

means for selecting an appropriate widget to process the query that employs a an adaptive task reasoning process; and

means for invoking the selected widget for interaction with a user.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

means for determining appropriate slot filling for the selected widget to facilitate in filling out widget input fields.

18. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

means for employing user feedback relating to the selected widget to facilitate in widget selections.