Patent ID: 7376645
Filing Date: 2008-05-20
Classification: G06F,G10L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A natural language query system processing voice and proximity-based queries, comprising: a device, comprising: a speech conversion module converting the voice-based query in natural language form to text in natural language form; a natural language processing module converting the text in natural language form to text in searchable form using lexicons and grammar rules to parse sentences and determine underlying meanings of the voice-base query, wherein the underlying meanings are further determined responsive to the location/proximity information from the location/proximity module; a semantic engine module converting the text in searchable form to a formal database query; and a database-look-up module using the formal database query to obtain a result related to the voice-based query in natural language form from a database, wherein the location/proximity module is configured to provide a context and environment to the database-look-up module narrowing and streamlining the formal database query associated with the voice-based query, and wherein the narrowing and streamlining is responsive to the location/proximity information.