US 6,629,087 B1 · Methods for creating and editing topics for virtual robots conversing in natural language

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.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A method for editing a topic script that controls how a virtual robot processes user input to interact with the user providing the user input, wherein:

the topic script includes an example statement and a pattern,
the example statement has one or more words, wherein the example statement is representative of user input;
and
the virtual robot matches the pattern and the user input to determine whether to activate the topic script in response to the user input,
the editing method comprising:
matching the example statement and the pattern to determine if the user input of which the example statement is representative will cause the virtual robot to activate the topic script;
and
if it is determined that the user input of which the example statement is representative will not cause the virtual robot to activate the topic script, creating a revised pattern for the topic script, wherein the revised pattern creating step includes:
for one or more words in the example statement,
identifying a pattern list for the one or more words in the example statement, wherein the pattern list includes one or more elements that are substitutes for the one or more words in the example statement, and
adding into the revised pattern the one or more words in the example statement or the pattern list.

8 more elements

A method of creating a topic script that controls how a virtual robot processes user input to interact with the user providing the user input, wherein:

the topic script includes a first example statement,
the first example statement has one or more words, wherein the example statement is representative of user input,
the method comprising:
for one or more words in the first example statement,
identifying a pattern list for the one or more words in the first example statement, wherein the pattern list includes one or more elements that are substitutes for the one or more words in the first example statement, and
creating a pattern using the one or more words in the first example statement or the pattern list,
wherein the virtual robot matches the pattern and the user input to determine whether to activate the topic script in response to the user input.

4 more elements

A computer-readable storage medium containing computer executable code to edit a topic script that controls how a virtual robot processes user input to interact with the user providing the user input, wherein:

the topic script includes an example statement and a pattern,
the example statement has one or more words, wherein the example statement is representative of user inputs, and
the virtual robot matches the pattern and the user input to determine whether to activate the topic script in response to the user input,
the computer being instructed to operate as follows:
matching the example statement and the pattern to determine if the user input of which the example statement is representative will cause the virtual robot to activate the topic script;
and
if it is determined that the user input of which the example statement is representative will not cause the virtual robot to activate the topic script, creating a revised pattern for the topic script, wherein the revised pattern creating step includes:
for one or more words in the example statement,
identifying a pattern list for the one or more words in the example statement, wherein the pattern list includes one or more elements that are substitutes for the one or more words in the example statement, and
adding into the revised pattern the one or more words in the example statement or the pattern list.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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

Life of this patent

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

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26