Patent ID: 6701294
Filing Date: 2004-03-02
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for use in a user interface, together with a set of associated databases in which data may be represented as data tables with fields representing different classes of data, comprising the steps of:receiving a natural language user inquiry; translating said natural language inquiry to one or more database queries to be made, said step of translating including using knowledge of semantics of fields of one or more prescribed databases of said set of associated databases, knowledge about information visualization technology, and knowledge about a relationship of information visualization to the semantics of the fields of said one or more prescribed databases to determine whether a set of complete database queries can be formulated and, if so, using knowledge of the semantics of the fields of the database, knowledge about information visualization technology, and knowledge about the relationship of information visualization to the semantics of the fields of said one or more prescribed databases to specify one or more database queries to be made; evaluating results of said translating and knowledge of the semantics of the fields of the database, knowledge about information visualization technology, and knowledge about the relationship of information visualization to the semantics of the fields of said one or more prescribed databases to determine if at least one prescribed database query has resulted; if so, querying said one or more prescribed databases; in response to results including retrieved data of said prescribed database query, employing knowledge about the semantics of the retrieved data, knowledge of the semantics of the fields of the database populated by the retrieved data, knowledge about information visualization technology, and knowledge about the relationship of information visualization to the semantics of the fields of said one or more databases to formulate information to be supplied to said user; and supplying said formulated information to be presented to said user, said step of supplying includes in response to the query, employing knowledge of semantics of the retrieved data, knowledge of the semantics of the fields populated by the retrieved data, knowledge about information visualization technology, and knowledge about the relationship of information visualization to the semantics of the fields of said one or more prescribed databases to determine one or more presentation formats and presenting said formulated information to the user in said determined one or more presentation formats using one or more presentation modes.