# US 8,788,262 B2 · Incorporation of variables into textual content > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,788,262 B2 - Document ID: US8788262B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/757,534 - Filed: 2013-02-01 - Published: 2013-06-06 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2009-01-30 - Assignees: Facebook, Inc. - Applicants: Facebook, Inc. - Inventors: David C. Ellis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8788262B2 ## CPC - G06F 40/10: Text processing (natural language analysis G06F40/20; semantic analysis G06F40/30; processing or translation of natural language G06F40/40) - G06F 40/186: Templates - G06F 40/56: Natural language generation - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for incorporating variable values into textual content. In one embodiment, an abstract phrase including a text phrase and a variable at a particular position in the text phrase is received. The abstract phrase may include multiple variables. A text value for the variable is received. The text phrase of the abstract phrase is combined with the text value according to the particular position of the variable. An integration rule is applied at a boundary of the text phrase of the abstract phrase and the text value, where the integration rule is based on a language rule. The integration rule modifies a portion of the text phrase of the abstract phrase or a portion of the text value to produce an integrated phrase. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer implemented method comprising: receiving an abstract phrase comprising a text phrase and a variable at a particular position in the text phrase; receiving a text value for the variable; combining the text phrase of the abstract phrase and the text value according to the particular position of the variable; and applying, by a computer system, an integration rule at a boundary of the text phrase of the abstract phrase and the text value to produce an integrated phrase, the integration rule based on a language rule, wherein the integration rule changes a portion of a word of the text phrase of the abstract phrase or a portion of a word of the text value so that the text phrase and the text value comply with the integration rule. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1: wherein combining the text phrase of the abstract phrase and the text value comprises: creating a delimited phrase, comprising: inserting the text value into the abstract phrase at the particular position indicated by the variable; and inserting a delimiter before and/or after the inserted text value; wherein applying the integration rule comprises: determining whether the delimited phrase satisfies a condition of the rule, the determining based at least in part on the location of a delimiter within the delimited phrase; responsive to the determination, performing an action of the rule, the action comprising modifying the delimited phrase; and wherein the method further comprises: creating an integrated phrase, comprising removing delimiters from the delimited phrase. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein determining whether the text of the delimited phrase satisfies a condition of the rule comprises determining whether a particular pattern of characters is present in the delimited phrase, the particular pattern including a delimiter character, and wherein modifying the delimited phrase comprises modifying the particular pattern of characters. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the particular pattern of characters includes a delimiter character and a character from the abstract phrase. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the particular pattern of characters is specified by a regular expression. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: prior to applying the rule, removing a markup element from the delimited phrase, the markup element at a particular markup location within the delimited phrase; and after applying the rule, re-inserting the markup element in the delimited phrase at the particular markup location. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the integration rule prevents one or more further rules from being applied to a portion of the delimited phrase. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the abstract phrase is a translation of an original abstract phrase in a different dialect, the original abstract phrase comprising the same variable. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the integration rule is based on a phonological rule of a language. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the integration rule is based on an orthographic rule of a language. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein multiple rules are applied, and wherein a subsequent rule is applied to text modified by a previously applied rule. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the integration rule is selected based on at least gender information indicated by a social network user profile of a user associated with the text value. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the integration rule is selected based on at least locale information indicated by a social network user profile of a viewing user to be provided with the integrated phrase. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving metadata describing the text value for the variable, and wherein applying an integration rule at a boundary further comprises determining whether the metadata satisfies a condition of the rule. ### Claim 15 A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing computer program code for: receiving an abstract phrase comprising a text phrase and a variable at a particular position in the text phrase; receiving a text value for the variable; combining the text phrase of the abstract phrase and the text value according to the particular position of the variable; applying an integration rule at a boundary of the text phrase of the abstract phrase and the text value to produce an integrated phrase, the integration rule based on a language rule, wherein the integration rule changes a portion of a word of the text phrase of the abstract phrase or a portion of a word of the text value so that the text phrase and the text value comply with the integration rule. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The computer program product of claim 15: wherein combining the text phrase of the abstract phrase and the text value comprises: creating a delimited phrase, comprising: inserting the text value into the abstract phrase at the particular position indicated by the variable; and inserting a delimiter before and/or after the inserted text value; wherein applying the integration rule comprises: determining whether the delimited phrase satisfies a condition of the rule, the determining based at least in part on the location of a delimiter within the delimited phrase; responsive to the determination, performing an action of the rule, the action comprising modifying the delimited phrase; and wherein the computer program code is further configured for: creating an integrated phrase, comprising removing delimiters from the delimited phrase. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The computer program product of claim 16, wherein determining whether the text of the delimited phrase satisfies a condition of the rule comprises determining whether a particular pattern of characters is present in the delimited phrase, the particular pattern including a delimiter character, and wherein modifying the delimited phrase comprises modifying the particular pattern of characters. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the particular pattern of characters includes a delimiter character and a character from the abstract phrase. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the particular pattern of characters is specified by a regular expression. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the computer code is further configured for: prior to applying the rule, removing a markup element from the delimited phrase, the markup element at a particular markup location within the delimited phrase; and after applying the rule, re-inserting the markup element in the delimited phrase at the particular markup location. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the integration rule prevents one or more further rules from being applied to a portion of the delimited phrase. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the abstract phrase is a translation of an original abstract phrase in a different language, the original abstract phrase comprising the same variable. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the integration rule is based on a phonological rule of a language. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the integration rule is based on an orthographic rule of a language. ### Claim 25 (depends on 15) The computer program product of claim 15, wherein multiple rules are applied, and wherein a subsequent rule is applied to text modified by a previously applied rule. ### Claim 26 (depends on 15) The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the integration rule is selected based on at least gender information indicated by a social network user profile of a user associated with the text value. ### Claim 27 (depends on 15) The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the integration rule is selected based on at least locale information indicated by a social network user profile of a viewing user to be provided with the integrated phrase. ### Claim 28 (depends on 15) The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the computer code is further configured for: receiving metadata describing the text value for the variable, and wherein applying an integration rule at a boundary further comprises determining whether the metadata satisfies a condition of the rule.