Method and apparatus for abstracting concepts from natural language
First Claim
1. A method for automatically determining a meaning from a sequence of words in a machine, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a sequence of words in the machine;
using said machine to access a database that includes a prestored plurality of categories of meaning for each said word, to obtain at least one category of meaning for each of said words of said sequence; and
using said machine to select certain ones of said plurality of categories of meanings by determining ones of said categories of meanings which are common for different ones of said respective words, said common categories of meanings being used as abstracted meanings for the sequence.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for abstracting meanings from natural language words. Each word is analyzed for its semantic content by mapping into its category of meanings within each of four levels of abstraction. The preferred embodiment uses Roget'"'"'s Thesaurus and Index of Classification to determine the levels of abstraction and category of meanings for words. Each of a sequence of words is mapped into the various levels of abstraction, forming a file of category of meanings for each of the words. The common categories between words are determined, and these common elements are output as data indicative of the most likely categories of meaning in each of the levels of abstraction to indicate the proper meaning intended to be conveyed. This data is then processed according to a rule to obtain a result.
328 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for automatically determining a meaning from a sequence of words in a machine, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a sequence of words in the machine; using said machine to access a database that includes a prestored plurality of categories of meaning for each said word, to obtain at least one category of meaning for each of said words of said sequence; and using said machine to select certain ones of said plurality of categories of meanings by determining ones of said categories of meanings which are common for different ones of said respective words, said common categories of meanings being used as abstracted meanings for the sequence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 17, 18)
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8. A method for automatically abstracting a meaning from a sequence of words using a machine, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a sequence of words in said machine; accessing a database with said machine of the type that includes a plurality of categories of meanings at different levels of abstraction for each said word, each said level of abstraction ranging progressively from a first level which is a more specific category of meaning of the word to a last level which is a more general category of meaning of the word, to obtain a plurality of categories of meanings for each said word which includes categories of meanings from each said level of abstraction for each said word of said sequence; using said machine to determine ones of said categories of meanings within each said level of abstraction which are common for different ones of said respective words; and using said common categories of meanings as abstracted meanings for the sequence. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for automatically using a Roget-type database that includes a plurality of categories of meanings at different levels of abstraction for a plurality of words, each said level of abstraction ranging progressively from a first level which is a more specific category of meaning of the word to a last level which is a more detailed category of meaning of the word to abstract a category of meaning from a sequence of words in natural language, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a sequence of words in natural language in a machine; accessing said Roget-type database to obtain a plurality of categories of meanings for each said word from each said level of abstraction for reach said word of said sequence; using said machine to determine commonality by determining ones of said categories of meanings within each said level of abstraction which are common for different ones of said respective words at said each level of abstraction; and using said common categories of meanings as abstracted meanings for the sequence.
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14. A method for automatically abstracting a category of meaning from a sequence of words using a machine, comprising the steps of:
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using said machine to obtain for each of a sequence of words, pointers to all categories of meanings which said each word can convey; and determining which are the most likely categories of meanings to be intended by the sequence, by determining ones of said categories of meanings which are common for different ones of said respective words. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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19. An apparatus for automatically abstracting a meaning from a sequence of words, using a machine comprising:
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means for receiving a sequence of words; database means, including a prestored plurality of categories of meaning for each said word, for producing at least one category of meaning for each of said words of said sequence; and processing means for automatically selecting certain ones of said plurality of categories of meanings by determining categories of meanings which are common for different ones of said respective words, said common categories of meanings being used as abstracted meanings for the sequence. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus for automatically abstracting a meaning from a sequence of words using a machine, comprising:
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means for receiving a sequence of words; a database processor of the type that includes a plurality of categories of meanings at different levels of abstraction for each said word, each said level of abstraction ranging progressively from a lowest level which is a more specific category of meaning of the word to a last level which is a more general category of meaning of the word, for receiving said sequence of words and analyzing each said word to obtain a plurality of categories of meaning for each said word which includes category of meanings from each said level of abstraction for each said word of said sequence; and processing means for automatically determining ones of said categories of meanings within each said level of abstraction which are common for different ones of said respective words and using said common categories of meanings as abstracted meanings for the sequence. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. An apparatus for automatically abstracting a category of meaning from a sequence of words using a machine, comprising:
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means for obtaining, for each of a sequence of words, pointers to all categories of meanings which said each word can convey; and means for automatically determining which are the most likely categories of meanings to be intended by the sequence, by determining ones of said categories of meanings which are common for different ones of said respective words. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification