Patent · US Expired

Methods for creating and editing topics for virtual robots conversing in natural language

US6629087B1 · kind B1 · utility

35Cited by
32References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 18, 1999
Grant dateSep 30, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 18, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F40/35
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Automated methods are provided for the editing and authoring of topic scripts for the dynamic operation of virtual robots. A virtual robot, or BOT, processes natural language input from a user to effect certain actions according to user input. Typically, BOTs are constructed using topic scripts. Topic scripts may comprise example statements that typify the topic in question and patterns that are matched against user input to determine if the topic is activated by the user input. The steps of one embodiment of the present invention comprise: for an example statement associated with a topic script; testing said example statement against patterns in the topic script to determine if said example statement activates said topic; then for a word in an example statement not activating said topic: identifying zero or more pattern lists matching said word; then choosing one action from among a group of actions comprising: keeping said word; and replacing said word with a pattern list; then adding zero or more revised patterns to said topic script.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.