Data processing: speech signal processing – linguistics – language – Linguistics
Patent
1998-03-24
2000-03-07
Thomas, Joseph
Data processing: speech signal processing, linguistics, language
Linguistics
704 9, 704275, 707 2, G06F 1720, G06F 1728
Patent
active
060352671
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an interactive processing apparatus for use in a man-machine interface using natural languages, and more particularly relates to an interactive processing apparatus capable of performing processes utilizing context information thereby allowing users to interact with a system comprising the apparatus with a higher degree of freedom than conventional one.
BACKGROUND ART
With a system having an interactive processing apparatus in a man-machine interface that uses natural language, the user first inputs data to the system. The system responds to the user's input. In reply to responses from the system, the user makes further entries in an interactive manner, until the user achieves a goal. For the user to interact with such an interactive processing apparatus smoothly and efficiently requires that two situations be suitably controlled: a user-initiated situation in which the user takes the initiative in demanding actions of the system, and a system-initiated situation where the system asks questions of the user to solicit responses and information. The requirement is met by use of a man-machine interface capable of controlling interaction with the user by setting appropriate action goals fit for the user's intentions.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Number JP-A-63/153631, for example, illustratively discloses an interactive processing apparatus for use with the above-described type of man-machine interface using natural language. FIG. 1 is a function block diagram of the disclosed interactive processing apparatus.
In FIG. 1, the reference numeral 1 is an information providing system such as an information retrieval system that retrieves from storage the kind of information that is just fit for the user's needs; 2 is information output by the information providing system 1; 3 is an input statement in natural language entered by a user; 4 is natural language interpreting means for interpreting the meaning of the input statement 3 in natural language; 5 is command generating means for generating commands to the information providing system 1; 6 is topic managing means for extracting objects attracting the user's attention from the information output by the information providing system 1 in response to the command generated from the command generating means 5, the topic managing means further managing the extracted objects to be referenced during the interpretation by the natural language interpreting means 4; and 7 is object storing means for storing the objects currently attracting the user's attention and managed by the topic managing means 6 as well as a history of such objects.
In the conventional interactive processing apparatus outlined above, commands from the information providing system 1 corresponding to input statements 3 in natural language entered by the user allow the user to interact with the system. Where objects attracting the user's attention are extracted and stored in the object storing means 7, any of these objects may be retrieved and used in context analysis. The feature is intended to facilitate making interpretations in the context and minimize interpretive errors, thus rendering interaction smoother.
What characterizes the conventional interactive processing apparatus above is that it has the information providing system 1 generating the commands corresponding to the input statements 3 in natural language entered by the user and that the apparatus simply carries out the commands thus generated. There are no action goals set for the system, and control is not switched from the user-initiated to the system-initiated interactive situation. This results in the inability of the system to maintain smooth interaction if the information for the system to act on is insufficient or if any input statement 3 from the user contains an error.
Natural language input entails frequent uses of abbreviations and referring expressions. To identify what is abbreviated or referred to requires that the user reenter in more specific and substantive terms
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Nagai Akito
Watanabe Keisuke
Mitsubishi Denki & Kabushiki Kaisha
Thomas Joseph
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