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US 6,556,964 B2Granted
Probabilistic system for natural language processing
AssigneeIHC Health Services, Inc.
InventorsPeter J. Haug, Spencer B. Koehler, Lee M. Christensen, Michael L. Gundersen, Rudy E. Van Bree
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A natural language understanding system is described to provide generation of concept codes from free-text medical data. A probabilistic model of lexical semantics, is implemented by means of a Bayesian network, and is used to determine the most probable concept or meaning associated with a sentence or phrase. The inventive method and system includes the steps of checking for synonyms, checking spelling, performing syntactic parsing, transforming text to its “deep” or semantic form, and performing a semantic analysis based on a probabilistic model of lexical semantics.
Claims20
A method for encoding free-text data, comprising:
- (A) receiving free-text data, wherein said free-text data includes:
- words, a grammar, a syntax and a semantic relationship between said words;
- (B) checking for synonyms of said words within said received free-text data;
- (C) checking spelling of said words within said received free-text data;
- (D) parsing said syntax of said received free-text data;
- (E) transforming said grammar of said received free-text data;
- (F) inferring concepts from said received free-text data, using a probabilistic system, wherein said probabilistic system further comprises a Bayesian network for managing one or more probabilistic calculations for use in slotting said words of said free-text data for translation to said inferred concept, and wherein said inferring concepts further comprises:
- (1) identifying possible sets of word level network assignments for low level phrases in a parse tree;
- (2) combining said identified low level phrase assignments to generated assignments for high level phrases;
- (3) binding null states to nodes representing concepts apparently unexpressed;
- and
- (4) selecting a highest probability state to provide an interpretation of said free-text data;
- (G) creating an encoded representation of said received free-text data;
- and
- (H) writing said encoded representation into a database.
12 more elements
A method for providing encoded medical information from free-text data, operating on a computer system, including:
- a digital computer processor executing the steps of the method;
- a mass storage device connected to said digital computer processor for storing the data being worked on by the method;
- an input device, electrically connected to said digital computer processor, for receiving data to be worked on by the method;
- a preservation storage device electrically connected to said digital computer processor, to store resulting coded data;
- the method comprising:
- (A) receiving free-text data, wherein said free-text data includes:
- words, a grammar, a syntax, and a semantic relationship between said words;
- (B) checking for synonyms of said words within said received free-text data;
- (C) checking spelling of said words within said received free-text data;
- (D) parsing said syntax of said received free-text data;
- (E) transforming said grammar of said received free-text data;
- (F) analyzing said semantic relationship of said received free-text data, wherein said analysis is based on a probabilistic model of lexical semantics, wherein said probabilistic model relates said words to one or more concepts, wherein said words are appropriate for translation into a concept, and wherein said analyzing said semantic relationship further comprises:
- (1) identifying possible sets of word level network assignments for low level phrases in a parse tree;
- (2) combining said identified low level phrase assignments to generated assignments for high level phrases;
- (3) binding null states to nodes representing concepts apparently unexpressed;
- and
- (4) selecting a highest probability state to provide an interpretation of said free-text data;
- (G) creating an encoded representation of said received free-text data;
- and
- (H) writing said encoded representation into a database.
17 more elements
A system for encoding free-text information, comprising:
- (A) an input device for receiving free-text information;
- (B) a processor electrically connected to said input device for processing said received free-text information, wherein said processing further comprises probabilistically calculating a relationship between said received free-text information and one or more concepts and wherein said probabilistic calculation further comprises a Bayesian network, and wherein said processing of said free-text information further comprises:
- (1) identifying possible sets of word level network assignments for low level phrases in a parse tree;
- (2) combining said identified low level phrase assignments to generated assignments for high level phrases;
- (3) binding null states to nodes representing concepts apparently unexpressed;
- and
- (4) selecting a highest probability state to provide an interpretation of said free-text data;
- (C) a digital storage device electrically connected to said processor;
- (D) a means for encoding said received free-text information employing said processor;
- and
- (E) a means for storing said encoded free-text information on said digital storage device.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.