US5960384A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and device for parsing natural language sentences and other sequential symbolic expressions
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1997-09-03
•
Granted: 1999-09-28
•
Expires: 2017-09-03
Abstract
Abstract A parsing method and apparatus for symbolic expressions of thought such as English-language sentences is provided. The basic procedure distinguishes only between symbols for picture-like entities (such as "squirrel" or "justice") and symbols for relations (such as "above" or "pushed"). For example, to the cognitive parser the sentences "The squirrel buried a nut" and "My aunts sent a telegram" are equivalent. The parser thus operates at a level more basic than syntactic parsing, making it simpler. The illustrative embodiment, a cognitive parser for English sentences, comprises: a microprocessor, a stored lexicon including symbols and associated entity-types (picture or relation), an input device for a symbol sequence, and a procedure executing on the microprocessor for grouping the inputted picture-designating and relation-designating symbols according to rules based on entity type. A method comprising operation of the cognitive parser is also provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas E. Brash
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 12:32
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F40/00; G06F40/20; G06F40/205; G06F40/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for parsing symbol sequences such as natural language sentences into an organized symbol hierarchy, comprising: a microprocessor; a memory addressable by said microprocessor; a lexicon, stored in said memory, including symbols and an entity-type corresponding to each symbol, the entity-type selected from the group consisting of a picture-like entity, a relation, and a picture-like entity accompanied by a relation; an input device for inputting the symbol sequence to said microprocessor; a procedure, executing on said microprocessor, for determining the entity-type corresponding to each inputted symbol by searching said lexicon, and for grouping the inputted symbols according to rules based on entity-type; and an output device for outputting the symbol grouping.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for parsing symbol sequences such as natural language sentences into an organized symbol hierarchy, comprising: a microprocessor; a memory addressable by said microprocessor; a lexicon, stored in said memory, including symbols and an entity-type corresponding to each symbol, the entity-type selected from the group consisting of a picture-like entity, a relation, and a picture-like entity accompanied by a relation; an input device for inputting the symbol sequence to said microprocessor; a procedure, executing on said microprocessor, for determining the entity-type corresponding to each inputted symbol by searching said lexicon, and for grouping the inputted symbols according to rules based on entity-type; and an output device for outputting the symbol grouping.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said input device comprises a keyboard.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said input device comprises a voice-recognition system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said output device comprises a display screen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said output device comprises a software program for using the symbol grouping.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said software program operates a control unit of another device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said output device comprises an information storage device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lexicon includes a cognitive category valuation for each symbol that designates a picture-like entity, the cognitive category substantially ranging from sensation-related to abstract concepts; and wherein said program includes a consecutive picture-symbol routine that uses the cognitive category valuation for inserting a relation-designating symbol between consecutive symbols which designate picture-like entities.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said procedure includes routines selected from the group consisting of a picture-symbol grouping routine, a hierarchy-building routine, and a track-utilization routine; and wherein said procedure uses said routines for building a symbol group consisting of picture-designating symbols and relation-designating symbols.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lexicon includes symbol-grouping properties corresponding to at least some of the symbols; and wherein said procedure also determines the symbol-grouping properties corresponding to an inputted symbol and also groups the inputted picture-designating and relation-designating symbols into a symbol group according to the symbol-grouping properties.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
A lexicon for use in a parser for symbol sequences such as natural language sentences comprising: a memory device; and a table, stored in said memory device, including a plurality of symbols and an entity-type corresponding to each symbol of the plurality of symbols, the entity-type selected from the group consisting of a picture-like entity, a relation, and a picture-like entity accompanied by a relation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
A lexicon for use in a parser for symbol sequences such as natural language sentences comprising: a memory device; and a table, stored in said memory device, including a plurality of symbols and an entity-type corresponding to each symbol of the plurality of symbols, the entity-type selected from the group consisting of a picture-like entity, a relation, and a picture-like entity accompanied by a relation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The lexicon of claim 11, wherein said table further comprises a cognitive category valuation for each symbol of the plurality of symbols which designates a picture-like entity, the cognitive category valuation substantially ranging from sensation-related to abstract concepts.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The lexicon of claim 11, wherein said table further comprises symbol-grouping properties associated with at least one of the plurality of symbols, said symbol-grouping properties applying to picture-designating and relation-designating symbols of said symbol sequences.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
113 words
An apparatus operated by symbol sequences such as natural language sentences, comprising: a microprocessor; a memory addressable by said microprocessor; a lexicon, stored in said memory, including symbols and an entity-type corresponding to each symbol, the entity-type selected from the group consisting of a picture-like entity, a relation, and a picture-like entity accompanied by a relation; an input device for inputting the symbol sequence to said microprocessor; and a program, executing on said microprocessor, for determining the entity-type corresponding to each inputted symbol by searching said lexicon, for grouping the inputted symbols according to rules based on entity-type, and for generating an instruction for operating the apparatus in response to the symbol grouping.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
113 words
An apparatus operated by symbol sequences such as natural language sentences, comprising: a microprocessor; a memory addressable by said microprocessor; a lexicon, stored in said memory, including symbols and an entity-type corresponding to each symbol, the entity-type selected from the group consisting of a picture-like entity, a relation, and a picture-like entity accompanied by a relation; an input device for inputting the symbol sequence to said microprocessor; and a program, executing on said microprocessor, for determining the entity-type corresponding to each inputted symbol by searching said lexicon, for grouping the inputted symbols according to rules based on entity-type, and for generating an instruction for operating the apparatus in response to the symbol grouping.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said input device comprises a keyboard.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said input device comprises a voice-recognition system.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for parsing symbol sequences such as natural language sentences into an organized symbol hierarchy, comprising the steps of: receiving a symbol sequence; extracting a symbol from the received symbol sequence; searching a lexicon with the extracted symbol and retrieving an entity-type corresponding to the symbol, the entity-type selected from the group consisting of a picture-like entity, a relation, and a picture-like entity accompanied by a relation; grouping the symbols according to the retrieved entity-types; repeating the extracting, searching, retrieving, and grouping steps for each symbol in the received symbol sequence; and outputting said symbol grouping.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for parsing symbol sequences such as natural language sentences into an organized symbol hierarchy, comprising the steps of: receiving a symbol sequence; extracting a symbol from the received symbol sequence; searching a lexicon with the extracted symbol and retrieving an entity-type corresponding to the symbol, the entity-type selected from the group consisting of a picture-like entity, a relation, and a picture-like entity accompanied by a relation; grouping the symbols according to the retrieved entity-types; repeating the extracting, searching, retrieving, and grouping steps for each symbol in the received symbol sequence; and outputting said symbol grouping.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the retrieving step comprises retrieving a cognitive category valuation for each symbol that designates a picture-like entity; and wherein the method includes the step of inserting a relation-designating symbol between consecutive symbols in the received symbol sequence which designate picture-like entities.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 17, wherein said grouping step includes building a symbol group consisting of picture-designating symbols and relation-designating symbols.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 17, wherein said searching step further comprises retrieving symbol-grouping properties corresponding to the symbol; and wherein said grouping step comprises grouping the inputted picture-designating and relation-designating symbols according to the retrieved entity-types and symbol-grouping properties.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4829423A
Cited
US5309546A
Cited
US4914704A
Cited
US5083268A
Cited
US4887212A
Cited
US4852170A
Cited
US4864502A
Cited
US4868750A
Cited
US4994966A
Cited
US4914590A
Cited
US5068789A
Cited
US5101349A
Cited
US5047953A
Cited
US5146406A
Cited
US5299125A
Cited
US5210689A
Cited
US5457768A
Cited
US5297040A
Cited
US5345538A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-09-27 | 2003-03-29 | 2003-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-27 | 2007-03-29 | 2007-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-27 | 2011-03-29 | 2011-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |