# US 10,311,145 B2 · Method and apparatus for expressing time in an output text > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,311,145 B2 - Document ID: US10311145B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/872,826 - Filed: 2018-01-16 - Published: 2018-09-27 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-16 - Assignees: Arria Data2Text Limited - Applicants: Arria Data2Text Limited - Inventors: Gowri Somayajulu Sripada; Neil Burnett - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10311145B2 ## CPC - G06F 40/40: Processing or translation of natural language (natural language analysis G06F40/20; semantic analysis G06F40/30) - G06F 40/268: Morphological analysis - G06F 40/274: Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs - G06F 40/279: Recognition of textual entities - G06F 40/30: Semantic analysis - G06F 40/35: Discourse or dialogue representation - G06F 40/56: Natural language generation - G06Q 10/06: Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are described herein that are configured to express a time in an output text. In some example embodiments, a method is provided that comprises identifying a time period to be described linguistically in an output text. The method of this embodiment may also include identifying a communicative context for the output text. The method of this embodiment may also include determining one or more temporal reference frames that are applicable to the time period and a domain defined by the communicative context. The method of this embodiment may also include generating a phrase specification that linguistically describes the time period based on the descriptor that is defined by a temporal reference frame of the one or more temporal reference frames. In some examples, the descriptor specifies a time window that is inclusive of at least a portion of the time period to be described linguistically. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method comprising: identifying, using a processor, a time period to be described linguistically in an output text and one or more linguistic resources for the output text; and generating, using the processor, a linguistic description of the time period based on a descriptor that is defined by a temporal reference frame of one or more temporal reference frames, the one or more temporal reference frames applicable to the time period and a domain defined by the one or more linguistic resources, the temporal reference frame enabling a greater variation in descriptors for generating the linguistic description than had the descriptor not been defined by the temporal reference frame. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, further comprising: determining, using the processor, the one or more temporal reference frames; instantiating or aligning, using the processor, the one or more temporal reference frames to the one or more linguistic resources; and selecting, using the processor, the descriptor defined by the temporal reference frame of the one or more temporal reference frames based on the time period and one or more previously generated linguistic descriptions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, further comprising: determining, using the processor, a temporal relationship between the time period and the descriptor, wherein the linguistic description is further based on the temporal relationship between the time period and the descriptor, wherein the descriptor specifies a time window that is inclusive of at least a portion of the time period to be described. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A method according to claim 3, further comprising: verifying, using the processor, the linguistic description using one or more constraints. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, further comprising: identifying, using the processor, another time period to be described linguistically; and determining, using the processor, a descriptor that is defined by another temporal reference frame of the one or more temporal reference frames. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A method according to claim 5, wherein the descriptor for the another time period is different from the descriptor used for the time period. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein each temporal reference frame of the one or more temporal reference frames are partitioned, such that a descriptor is configured to linguistically describe each partition. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A method according to claim 7, wherein the one or more linguistic resources is defined by at least one of a domain model, a current time or a current location. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the time period comprises at least one of a time point or a series of time points. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A method of claim 1, further comprising: determining, using the processor, that a single descriptor does not specify a time window that is inclusive of the time period to be described linguistically; and determining, using the processor, two or more descriptors that are defined by a temporal reference frame of the one or more temporal reference frames, wherein the two or more descriptors specify a time window that is inclusive of the time period to be described linguistically. ### Claim 11 An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: identify a time period to be described linguistically in an output text and one or more linguistic resources for the output text; and generate a linguistic description of the time period based on a descriptor that is defined by a temporal reference frame of one or more temporal reference frames, the one or more temporal reference frames applicable to the time period and a domain defined by the one or more linguistic resources, the temporal reference frame enabling a greater variation in descriptors for generating the linguistic description than had the descriptor not been defined by the temporal reference frame. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the at least one memory including the computer program code is further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: determine the one or more temporal reference frames; align the one or more temporal reference frames to the one or more linguistic resources; and select the descriptor defined by the temporal reference frame of the one or more temporal reference frames based on the time period and one or more previously generated linguistic descriptions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the at least one memory including the computer program code is further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: determine a temporal relationship between the time period and the descriptor, wherein the linguistic description is further based on the temporal relationship between the time period and the descriptor, wherein the descriptor specifies a time window that is inclusive of at least a portion of the time period to be described. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the at least one memory including the computer program code is further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: verify the linguistic description using one or more constraints. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the at least one memory including the computer program code is further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: identify another time period to be described linguistically; and determine a descriptor that is defined by another temporal reference frame of the one or more temporal reference frames. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the descriptor for the another time period is different from the descriptor used for the time period. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein each temporal reference frame of the one or more temporal reference frames are partitioned, such that a descriptor is configured to linguistically describe each partition. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the one or more linguistic resources is defined by at least one of a domain model, a current time or a current location. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the time period comprises at least one of a time point or a series of time points. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one memory including the computer program code is further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: determine that a single descriptor does not specify a time window that is inclusive of the time period to be described linguistically; and determine two or more descriptors that are defined by a temporal reference frame of the one or more temporal reference frames, wherein the two or more descriptors specify a time window that is inclusive of the time period to be described linguistically. ### Claim 21 A computer program product comprising at least one computer readable non-transitory memory medium having program code instructions stored thereon, the program code instructions which when executed by an apparatus cause the apparatus at least to: identify a time period to be described linguistically in an output text and one or more linguistic resources for the output text; and generate a linguistic description of the time period based on a descriptor that is defined by a temporal reference frame of one or more temporal reference frames, the one or more temporal reference frames applicable to the time period and a domain defined by the one or more linguistic resources, the temporal reference frame enabling a greater variation in descriptors for generating the linguistic description than had the descriptor not been defined by the temporal reference frame.