A method and device for improving the efficiency of pattern recognition in natural language

A computer-implemented method for recognizing patterns in natural language using a data processing device, the method comprising the steps of:

• by the data processing device, defining a plurality of tokens, each token defining a group of words or a specific word instance,
• by the data processing device, defining a plurality of moderators, each moderator defining a number of times a specific token is to occur,
• by the data processing device, defining at least one qualifier,
• by the data processing device, associating the at least one qualifier with at least one token, or at least one group of tokens, of the plurality of tokens, the at least one qualifier defining at least one criterion or property for at least one word of the group of words or of the specific word instance of the at least one token, or the at least one group of tokens,
• by the data processing device, based on the plurality of tokens and the plurality of moderators defining at least one pattern, the at least one pattern comprising at least the at least one token, or the at least one group of tokens, associated with the at least one qualifier and at least one moderator, and the at least one pattern defining a sequence of natural language words,
• by the data processing device, providing an input comprising a text string of natural language,
• by the data processing device, comparing the at least one pattern and the input to determine whether the input matches the at least one pattern, wherein the step of comparing comprises:
• determining whether a match with the at least one token, or the at least one group of tokens, associated with the at least one qualifier is found in the input,
• if a match with the at least one token associated with the at least one qualifier is found in the input, testing whether the match found matches the criterion or property defined by the qualifier, and
• determining that the input matches the least one pattern only if the match found matches the criterion or property defined by the qualifier,
• and wherein the method further comprises, by the data processing device, adding to the at least one token, or to the at least one group of tokens, at least one capture associated with at least one of a group of words or a specific word instance, wherein the capture is a variable in which data of a particular predefined type may be stored, and wherein the at least one capture is associated with a variable and wherein the step of comparing comprises searching for the at least one of the group of words or the specific word instance associated with a capture and, if found, store the at least one of the group of words or the specific word instance in the variable associated with the capture.