Bi-directional natural language system for interfacing with multiple back-end applications
View Patent ↗A system and method for servicing natural language requests with a plurality of remote host systems. The system utilizes a computer program that comprises: (1) an input system for inputting an NL command; (2) a translation system that extracts a request from the NL command and stores the request in a host-independent format; and (3) a routing system for servicing the request, wherein the routing system comprises a mechanism for selecting a host, for converting the request into a host dependent directive, and for forwarding the directive to the selected host. The system may further include a speech recognition system, a local data source for servicing the NL command, templates for converting the request into the host dependent directive, a heuristic for selecting the host, and an output system for obtaining and outputting the response.
1. A method for servicing natural language instructions with a plurality of hosts, comprising the steps of:
inputting a natural language command into a natural language translator;
interpreting a request from the natural language command;
storing the request in a host-independent format;
selecting a single host from the plurality of hosts;
converting the request to a host dependent directive for the selected host;
submitting the host dependent directive to the selected host; and
obtaining and outputting a response.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of interpreting the request comprises the step of disambiguating the request with a previous response that specifically answers a previous request.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of selecting a host comprises the step of utilizing a heuristic to determine which of a plurality of hosts should be selected.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of converting the request to the host dependent directive includes the steps of:
providing a plurality of format templates, wherein each format template corresponds to one of the plurality of hosts;
choosing a format template that corresponds to the selected host; and
encoding the host dependent directive based on the chosen format template.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of selecting a host comprises the step of first attempting to service the request with a local data source.