Patent ID: 6363301
Filing Date: 2002-03-26
Classification: G06F,G06N

Abstract:
A method of focusing the attention of an automated interface program adapted for interacting with a user in natural language, the method comprising:(a) defining at least one category associated with actions executable by the automated interface program during interaction with a user; (b) maintaining an attention focus list comprising at least one category arranged in an order; (c) receiving natural language input from the user, wherein the natural language input comprises at least one natural language component, wherein the at least one natural language component may comprise a subset of the natural language input; (d) examining at least one category in the attention focus list to determine whether a natural language component within said natural language input generates a match with the at least one examined category, and the order in which categories are examined is influenced by the order of the attention focus list; and (e) generating a new order for the categories of said attention focus list, wherein the new order is influenced by the categories of the attention focus list for which a match was generated.