Graph based prediction for next action in conversation flow

1. A method for predicting a next action in a conversation system comprising:

obtaining, by a processor, information from conversation logs and a conversation design;

creating, by the processor, a dialog graph based on the conversation design;

determining weights for edges in the dialog graph based on the information from the conversation logs and adding user input and external context information to an edge attributes set;

analyzing an unrecognized user input and predicting a next action based on dialog nodes in the dialog graph and historical paths;

generating a guiding conversation response based on the predicted next action;

improving the conversation design upon non-acceptance of the guiding conversation response based on analyzing the historical records including exception records, issue records and prediction results; and

updating dialog nodes and conversation transition logics based on historical records.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

updating the dialog graph based on the updated dialog nodes and transition logics.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

the conversation design comprises all dialog node attributes and transition logics;

a node in the dialog graph comprises the dialog node and all its dialog node attributes; and

an edge in the dialog graph comprises transition logic for any given dialog node pairs.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the guiding conversation response is based on insertion of a temporary dialog node in the dialog graph.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein determining weights for the edges comprises:

analyzing the conversation logs;

calculating transition probabilities among dialog nodes of the dialog graph;

weighting the edges based on the transition probabilities.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein predicting the next action comprises determining whether a match exists for a particular dialog node in the dialog graph.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein predicting the next action further comprises:

analyzing individual context information comprising: time, historical web page or mobile page visiting information, and location.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the individual context information is used for determining potential intents and for predicting the corresponding action.

9. A computer program product for predicting a next action in a conversation system, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to:

obtain, by the processor, information from conversation logs and a conversation design;

create, by the processor, a dialog graph based on the conversation design;

determine, by the processor, weights for edges in the dialog graph based on the information from the conversation logs and adding user input and external context information to an edge attributes set;

analyze, by the processor, an unrecognized user input and predicting a next action based on dialog nodes in the dialog graph and historical paths;

generate, by the processor, a guiding conversation response based on the predicted next action;

improve, by the processor, the conversation design upon non-acceptance of the guiding conversation response based on analyzing the historical records including exception records, issue records and prediction results; and

update, by the processor, dialog nodes and conversation transition logics based on historical records.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the program instructions executable by the processor further cause the processor to:

update, by the processor, the dialog graph based on the updated dialog nodes and transition logics.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein:

the conversation design comprises all dialog node attributes and transition logics;

a node in the dialog graph comprises the dialog node and all its dialog node attributes; and

an edge in the dialog graph comprises transition logic for any given dialog node pairs.

12. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the guiding conversation response is based on insertion of a temporary dialog node in the dialog graph.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein determining weights for the edges comprises:

analyzing the conversation logs;

calculating transition probabilities among dialog nodes of the dialog graph; and

weighting the edges based on the transition probabilities.

14. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein predicting the next action comprises determining whether a match exists for a particular dialog node in the dialog graph.

15. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein predicting the next action further comprises:

analyzing individual context information comprising: time, historical web page or mobile page visiting information, and location.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the individual context information is used for determining potential intents and for predicting the corresponding action.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to:

obtain information from conversation logs and a conversation design;

create a dialog graph based on the conversation design;

determine weights for edges in the dialog graph based on the information from the conversation logs and adding user input and external context information to an edge attributes set;

analyze an unrecognized user input and predict a next action based on dialog nodes in the dialog graph and historical paths;

generate a guiding conversation response based on the predicted next action;

improve the conversation design upon non-acceptance of the guiding conversation response based on analyzing the historical records including exception records, issue records and prediction results; and

update dialog nodes and conversation transition logics based on historical records.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

the dialog graph based on the updated dialog nodes and transition logics; wherein:

the conversation design comprises all dialog node attributes and transition logics;

a node in the dialog graph comprises the dialog node and all its dialog node attributes; and

an edge in the dialog graph comprises transition logic for any given dialog node pairs.