Patent Publication Number: US-2021183381-A1

Title: Depicting character dialogue within electronic text

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates generally to the field of cognitive computing, natural language processing (NLP), and more particularly to data processing and dynamic depiction of character dialogue within electronic text. 
     The electronic book market has steadily increased over the last decade with various applications that enable users to download books right onto their computing devices. 
     However, oftentimes a reader, while reading a book that contains a lot of character dialogue, gets confused as to which character is currently speaking or the manner in which they are speaking. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, a computer program product, and a system. 
     A method, according to an embodiment of the invention, in a data processing system including a processor and a memory, for implementing a program that depicts character dialogue within a story. The method includes identifying dialogue between one or more characters in the story using one or more natural langue processing techniques. The method further includes creating a knowledge graph, wherein the knowledge graph comprises each of the one or more characters in the story, a relationship between each of the one or more characters in the story, and a role for each of the one or more characters in the story. The method further includes depicting the dialogue between the one or more characters, based on one or more characteristics of the one or more characters during the dialogue. 
     A computer program product, according to an embodiment of the invention, includes a non-transitory tangible storage device having program code embodied therewith. The program code is executable by a processor of a computer to perform a method. The method includes identifying dialogue between one or more characters in the story using one or more natural langue processing techniques. The method further includes creating a knowledge graph, wherein the knowledge graph comprises each of the one or more characters in the story, a relationship between each of the one or more characters in the story, and a role for each of the one or more characters in the story. The method further includes depicting the dialogue between the one or more characters, based on one or more characteristics of the one or more characters during the dialogue. 
     A computer system, according to an embodiment of the invention, includes one or more computer devices each having one or more processors and one or more tangible storage devices; and a program embodied on at least one of the one or more storage devices, the program having a plurality of program instructions for execution by the one or more processors. The program instructions implement a method. The method includes identifying dialogue between one or more characters in the story using one or more natural langue processing techniques. The method further includes creating a knowledge graph, wherein the knowledge graph comprises each of the one or more characters in the story, a relationship between each of the one or more characters in the story, and a role for each of the one or more characters in the story. The method further includes depicting the dialogue between the one or more characters, based on one or more characteristics of the one or more characters during the dialogue. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a dialogue depiction computing environment, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating the operation of dialogue depiction program of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an illustrative example depicting dialogue between various characters in a story, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram graphically illustrating the hardware components of dialogue depiction computing environment of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  depicts a cloud computing environment, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  depicts abstraction model layers of the illustrative cloud computing environment of  FIG. 5 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As discussed herein, oftentimes a reader, while reading a book that contains a lot of character dialogue, gets confused as to which character is currently speaking or the manner in which they are speaking. The reader must mentally adjust for multiple character dialogues in multiple contexts, especially in a complex book with many characters and a lot of dialogue. This confusion can disrupt a reader&#39;s flow and make reading much less enjoyable. 
     The problem of a reader getting confused as to which character is currently speaking or the manner in which they are speaking, also presents itself when reading aloud. For example, when a parent reads a book aloud to their children, the story would be much more entertaining if the parent could easily switch personas, change volume, pitch, pace, accent, etc. during the dialogue parts. 
     The present invention discloses a method that dynamically depicts character dialogue within a story, thus making book reading a much more enjoyable experience for the reader and/or the audience. 
     Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. 
     The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments below, but may be implemented with various modifications within the scope of the present invention. In addition, the drawings used herein are for purposes of illustration, and may not show actual dimensions. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates dialogue depiction computing environment  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Dialogue depiction computing environment  100  includes host server  110 , user device  130 , and database server  140 , connected via network  102 . The setup in  FIG. 1  represents an example embodiment configuration for the present invention, and is not limited to the depicted setup in order to derive benefit from the present invention. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, network  102  is a communication channel capable of transferring data between connected devices and may be a telecommunications network used to facilitate telephone calls between two or more parties comprising a landline network, a wireless network, a closed network, a satellite network, or any combination thereof. In another embodiment, network  102  may be the Internet, representing a worldwide collection of networks and gateways to support communications between devices connected to the Internet. In this other embodiment, network  102  may include, for example, wired, wireless, or fiber optic connections which may be implemented as an intranet network, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), or any combination thereof. In further embodiments, network  102  may be a Bluetooth® (Bluetooth and all Bluetooth-based trademarks and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and/or its affiliates) network, an IoT network, a WiFi network, or a combination thereof. In general, network  102  can be any combination of connections and protocols that will support communications between host server  110 , user device  130 , and database server  140 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, host server  110  contains dialogue depiction program  120 . In various embodiments, host server  110  may be a laptop computer, tablet computer, netbook computer, personal computer (PC), a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, a server, or any programmable electronic device capable of communicating with user device  130  and database server  140 , via network  102 . Host server  110  may include internal and external hardware components, as depicted and described in further detail below with reference to  FIG. 4 . In other embodiments, host server  110  may be implemented in a cloud computing environment, as described in relation to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , herein. Host server  110  may also have wireless connectivity capabilities allowing it to communicate with user device  130 , database server  140 , and other computers or servers over network  102 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , user device  130  contains user interface  132  and storybook application  134 . In various embodiments, user device  130  may be a laptop computer, tablet computer, netbook computer, personal computer (PC), a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, a smart watch, an e-book, or any programmable electronic device capable of communicating with host server  110  and database server  140 , via network  102 . User device  130  may include internal and external hardware components, as depicted and described in further detail below with reference to  FIG. 4 . In other embodiments, user device  130  may be implemented in a cloud computing environment, as described in relation to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , herein. User device  130  may also have wireless connectivity capabilities allowing it to communicate with host server  110 , database server  140 , and other computers or servers over network  102 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, user device  130  includes user interface  132 , which may be a computer program that allows a user to interact with user device  130  and other connected devices via network  102 . For example, user interface  132  may be a graphical user interface (GUI). In addition to comprising a computer program, user interface  132  may be connectively coupled to hardware components, such as those depicted in  FIG. 4 , for receiving user input. In an exemplary embodiment, user interface  132  is a web browser, however in other embodiments user interface  132  may be a different program capable of receiving user interaction and communicating with other devices. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, storybook application  134  may be a software program, on user device  130 , that includes electronic text content, involving dialogue between various characters (e.g., e-books, audiobooks, and so forth). Storybook application  134  is not limited to electronic text content, but rather may include other forms of character dialogue content known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     Storybook application  134 , in exemplary embodiments, is capable of communicating with host server  110 , user device  130 , and database server  140  via network  102 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , database server  140  includes story database  142  and may be a laptop computer, tablet computer, netbook computer, personal computer (PC), a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, a server, or any programmable electronic device capable of communicating with host server  110 , user device  130 , and database server  140 , via network  102 . While database server  140  is shown as a single device, in other embodiments, database server  140  may be comprised of a cluster or plurality of computing devices, working together or working separately. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, story database  142  may represent a database management system and store, in memory, various types of content having different container formats such as text documents, movie files, and any other known content container format in the art that is capable of conveying dialogue between one or more characters. 
     In exemplary embodiments, story database  142  may further include annotated content of identified dialogue between one or more characters in a particular story, knowledge graphs depicting relationships and roles of the characters in the particular story, and other content identified via natural language processing (NLP) techniques, as will be further discussed below with relation to the functional modules of dialogue depiction program  120 . 
     While story database  142  is depicted as being located on database server  140 , in other embodiments, story database  142  may be stored on host server  110 , user device  130 , or any other device or database connected via network  102 , as a separate database. In alternative embodiments, story database  142  may be comprised of a cluster or plurality of computing devices, working together or working separately. 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , dialogue detection program  120 , in an exemplary embodiment, may be a software application on host server  110  that contains instruction sets, executable by a processor. The instruction sets may be described using a set of functional modules. In exemplary embodiments, dialogue detection program  120  may receive input from user device  130  and database server  140 , via network  102 . In alternative embodiments, dialogue detection program  120  may be a standalone program on a separate electronic device, such as user device  130 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , the functional modules of dialogue detection program  120  include identifying module  122 , creating module  124 , determining module  126 , and depicting module  128 . 
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating the operation of dialogue depiction program  120  of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Dialogue depiction program  120  utilizes natural language processing techniques to identify character dialogue within a story (e.g., e-book), creates a knowledge graph connecting the one or more characters in the story (e.g., relationship between the characters, character roles, and so forth), and visually depicts the identified dialogue between the one or more characters in a fashion that enables the reader to associate an appropriate sentiment to current character dialogue (via color coding, character avatars, etc.). 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , identifying module  122  includes a set of programming instructions in dialogue detection program  120 , to identify dialogue between one or more characters in the story using one or more natural language processing techniques (step  202 ). NLP techniques (e.g., part of speech tagging, tokenization, feature extraction, modeling, etc.) for identifying character dialogue within text, together with an associated sentiment of the character speaking, are generally known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     The present invention builds on established NLP techniques to assist in understanding natural language. Currently, there exist solutions that can automatically annotate or summarize text using NLP. The present invention seeks to describe a novel solution which builds on NLP capabilities, specifically with regards to isolating character dialogue, determining a character role of the character, and dialogue sentiment of each character engaged in the dialogue. 
     In exemplary embodiments, identifying module  122  receives input from storybook application  134  and story database  142 . 
     With reference to an illustrative example, Larry is reading a bedtime story, via an e-book application on his user device, to his daughter and wants to keep her engaged in the story. Larry decides to act out character dialogue while he is reading (e.g., to read in the voice of how the character&#39;s role is depicted in the story). For example, Larry acts out the character&#39;s dialogue based on whether the character is a villain (e.g., low, evil voice), a superhero (e.g., upbeat and positive voice), and so forth. However oftentimes it is difficult for Larry to know which character is speaking without having to read a few lines into the dialogue and then having to change his voice over into character-mode, which ultimately disrupts the flow of the story telling. Identifying module  122  is capable of “reading ahead” and identifying all of the character dialogue in the bedtime story, for example, via pre-annotating a book with specific character dialogue indicators (e.g., color coding dialogue text, inserting avatars next to character text, and so forth). 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , creating module  124  includes a set of programming instructions in dialogue detection program  120 , to create a knowledge graph, wherein the knowledge graph comprises each of the one or more characters in the story, a relationship between each of the one or more characters in the story, and a role for each of the one or more characters in the story (step  204 ). The set of programming instructions is executable by a processor. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the created knowledge graph is not limited to connected relationships and roles of characters in the story, but may further include any attributes (e.g., friendly, sympathetic, arrogant, and so forth), storylines, or any other pre-configured characteristics of the story, and/or characters within the story, that are deemed appropriate for inclusion. 
     In alternative embodiments, creating module  124  may further gather crowd-sourced information and other media related to the one or more characters in the story, match the crowd-sourced information and other media with the created knowledge graph, and augment the characteristics (e.g., personas and sentiment) of the one or more characters based on the match. 
     With continued reference to the illustrative example, creating module  124  creates a knowledge graph of all of the characters in the bedtime story, their roles, and how they are connected to one another pursuant to the storyline. The created knowledge graph is helpful in assisting dialogue depiction program  120  develop accurate character to character dialogue (e.g., adversarial, friendly, etc.) since the knowledge graph includes all of the character insights (e.g., character transformations from the beginning to the end of the story, such as an evil character transforming into a charitable character later in the story) gleaned from the benefit of “reading ahead” (i.e., analyzing the complete text of the story) and knowing the entire storyline, as determined by subject matter experts. For example, subject matter experts may read the story and tag the dialogue for accurate character cues (e.g., friendly, evil, enticing, etc.). In exemplary embodiments, the tagged data may be stored in story database  142  and accessible by dialogue depiction program  120 , via network  102 . 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , determining module  126  includes a set of programming instructions in dialogue depiction program  120 , to determine a current reading position in the story (step  206 ). The set of programming instructions is executable by a processor. Determining a current reading position of a user is one embodiment. In other exemplary embodiments, the current reading position of a user is not necessary, since the character dialogue may be pre-annotated with specific character dialogue indicators (e.g., color coding dialogue text, inserting avatars next to character text, and so forth). 
     In exemplary embodiments, determining module  126  may be useful for electronic books (e-books) in order to, for example, dynamically add sentiment cues as the user is reading. 
     In alternative embodiments, a current reading position in the story may be based on voice analysis and eye-tracking of a user. For example, user device  130 , or the device that is displaying the electronic text, may include a microphone and/or camera capable of processing the voice of the user (i.e., reader). For example, NLP techniques, known to one of ordinary skill in the art, may be capable of matching a string of the user&#39;s spoken words to the electronic text on the user device  130 . 
     In further alternative embodiments, determining module  126  may be capable of detecting, via a camera, eye-tracking movements of the user, while reading the electronic text (i.e., eye gazing location on the display to determine a specific paragraph (or words) that the user is looking at based on knowing the screen location and matching the eye gazing location of the user to the location of the specific paragraph on the page that is currently displayed). In this way, determining module  126  is capable of determining the current reading position in the story. 
     In alternative embodiments, a current reading position of the user is not limited to voice analysis and eye-tracking technology, but rather may include any other technology capable of determining a user&#39;s current reading position, known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , depicting module  128  includes a set of programming instructions in dialogue depiction program  120 , to depict the dialogue between the one or more characters, based on one or more characteristics of the one or more characters during the dialogue (step  208 ). The set of programming instructions is executable by a processor. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the one or more characteristics of the one or more characters during the dialogue may further include displaying a current sentiment (e.g., happy, sad, angry, etc.) for the one or more characters during the dialogue. The current sentiment for the one or more characters during the dialogue is obtained by identifying module  122  via NLP techniques known to one of ordinary skill in the art, and stored in story database  142  as a created knowledge graph. For example, the created knowledge graph may indicate that the sentiment for the one or more characters may be different at different time periods in the story, or when the characters are engaged in dialogue with various other characters, and thus depict appropriate and relevant character sentiment at various points of dialogue throughout the story. 
     In exemplary embodiments, depicting module  128  may depict various sentiments via a color-coded key on the electronic text page. For example, a grey color may indicate neutral (e.g., normal voice), yellow may indicate irritated (e.g., whiney voice), red may indicate angry (e.g., loud, mean voice), green may indicate scared (e.g., throaty voice), and so forth. In this fashion, the reader knows how to inflect their voice (e.g., use an accent, raise voice, whisper, etc.) when they see a color-coded indicator next to the character dialogue. 
     In various alternative embodiments, depicting various sentiments for character dialogue is not limited to color-coded indicators, but rather may include any type or form of indicator (e.g., symbol, number scale, etc.), known to one of ordinary skill in the art, capable of depicting character sentiment. 
     In further exemplary embodiments, depicting the dialogue between the one or more characters may be represented to the user in various other ways. 
     In exemplary embodiments, depicting module  128  depicts the dialogue between the one or more characters by highlighting the dialogue between the one or more different characters using one or more various colors that are specific to the one or more different characters. In this fashion, the reader knows, right away, which character is speaking based on the associated color of the electronic text associated with that character. 
     With reference to the illustrative example above, Larry is reading a cartoon e-book to his daughter. In order to better assist Larry in knowing which character is speaking, while Larry is reading the story, the dialogue between character  1  and character  2  may be highlighted as follows: green text indicates that character  1  is speaking, and red text indicates that character  2  is speaking. In this fashion, Larry can easily switch personas between characters. Larry uses a Brooklyn accent to say “Hi there, buddy!” while reading in the voice of character  2  and switches into a  1930 &#39;s-era vaudeville voice to say “Shh. It&#39;s early in the morning. I don&#39;t want to wake the animals!” while reading in the voice of character  1 . 
     In further exemplary embodiments, depicting module  128  depicts the dialogue between the one or more characters by displaying a character avatar and contextual information (e.g., male/female character, scruffy voice, low voice, whiny voice, etc.) for the one or more characters next to the dialogue for the one or more characters. 
       FIG. 3  is an illustrative example of a page  300  depicting dialogue between various characters in storybook application  134 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     With reference to the illustrative example of  FIG. 3 , depicting module  128  depicts dialogue between character  1  and character  2  by displaying a character avatar and contextual information (e.g., singing, accent, etc.) next to the dialogue for the one or more characters. An avatar of character  1   302  is displayed next to dialogue  310  “I&#39;m heading to the forest to swim in the lake.” Underneath character  1   302  avatar is the word “singing”, thereby letting Larry know that he should sing in his 1930&#39;s-era vaudeville voice at this point in the dialogue. 
     With continued reference to the illustrative example of  FIG. 3 , Larry is cued to revert back to his Brooklyn accent voice when he sees the dialogue next to the avatar of character  2   304 , saying “Hi there, buddy!”  312 . Again, Larry is cued to switch back to his vaudeville accent when reading the dialogue next to the avatar of character  1   306 , saying “Shh. It&#39;s vewy vewy early in the morning. I don&#39;t want to wake the animals!”  314 . Reading further in the dialogue, Larry switches back to his Brooklyn accent when reading the dialogue next to the avatar of character  2   308 , “The animals get up at dawn, buddy!”  316 . 
     In further embodiments, depicting module  128  may also depict contextual information next to the avatar, further clueing the reader as to a current state of the character in the dialogue. For example, if the character is ill during the dialogue, then “coughing voice” may be indicated next to the ill character&#39;s dialogue. The sign post words (e.g., “coughing”, “throaty”, “scruffy voice”, “whiney”, and so forth) next to the character dialogue enable a more seamless and realistic dialogue experience to take place for both the reader and the reader&#39;s audience. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, dialogue depiction program  120  may display the one or more characteristics of the one or more characters during the dialogue based on a pre-configured display option, wherein the pre-configured display option is selected from a group consisting of highlighting different character dialogue using one or more unique colors, displaying a character avatar next to a corresponding character dialogue, and displaying a current sentiment of the one or more characters next to the corresponding character dialogue. 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram depicting components of a computing device (such as host server  110 , as shown in  FIG. 1 ), in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that  FIG. 4  provides only an illustration of one implementation and does not imply any limitations with regard to the environments in which different embodiments may be implemented. Many modifications to the depicted environment may be made. 
     The computing device of  FIG. 4  may include one or more processors  902 , one or more computer-readable RAMs  904 , one or more computer-readable ROMs  906 , one or more computer readable storage media  908 , device drivers  912 , read/write drive or interface  914 , network adapter or interface  916 , all interconnected over a communications fabric  918 . Communications fabric  918  may be implemented with any architecture designed for passing data and/or control information between processors (such as microprocessors, communications and network processors, etc.), system memory, peripheral devices, and any other hardware components within a system. 
     One or more operating systems  910 , and one or more application programs  911 , such as dialogue depiction program  120 , may be stored on one or more of the computer readable storage media  908  for execution by one or more of the processors  902  via one or more of the respective RAMs  904  (which typically include cache memory). In the illustrated embodiment, each of the computer readable storage media  908  may be a magnetic disk storage device of an internal hard drive, CD-ROM, DVD, memory stick, magnetic tape, magnetic disk, optical disk, a semiconductor storage device such as RAM, ROM, EPROM, flash memory or any other computer-readable tangible storage device that can store a computer program and digital information. 
     The computing device of  FIG. 4  may also include a R/W drive or interface  914  to read from and write to one or more portable computer readable storage media  926 . Application programs  911  on the computing device may be stored on one or more of the portable computer readable storage media  926 , read via the respective R/W drive or interface  914  and loaded into the respective computer readable storage media  908 . 
     The computing device of  FIG. 4  may also include a network adapter or interface  916 , such as a TCP/IP adapter card or wireless communication adapter (such as a 4G wireless communication adapter using OFDMA technology). Application programs  911  on the computing device may be downloaded to the computing device from an external computer or external storage device via a network (for example, the Internet, a local area network or other wide area network or wireless network) and network adapter or interface  916 . From the network adapter or interface  916 , the programs may be loaded onto computer readable storage media  908 . The network may comprise copper wires, optical fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. 
     The computing device of  FIG. 4  may also include a display screen  920 , a keyboard or keypad  922 , and a computer mouse or touchpad  924 . Device drivers  912  interface to display screen  920  for imaging, to keyboard or keypad  922 , to computer mouse or touchpad  924 , and/or to display screen  920  for pressure sensing of alphanumeric character entry and user selections. The device drivers  912 , R/W drive or interface  914  and network adapter or interface  916  may comprise hardware and software (stored on computer readable storage media  908  and/or ROM  906 ). 
     The programs described herein are identified based upon the application for which they are implemented in a specific embodiment of the invention. However, it should be appreciated that any particular program nomenclature herein is used merely for convenience, and thus the invention should not be limited to use solely in any specific application identified and/or implied by such nomenclature. 
     It is to be understood that although this disclosure includes a detailed description on cloud computing, implementation of the teachings recited herein are not limited to a cloud computing environment. Rather, embodiments of the present invention are capable of being implemented in conjunction with any other type of computing environment now known or later developed. 
     Cloud computing is a model of service delivery for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, network bandwidth, servers, processing, memory, storage, applications, virtual machines, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or interaction with a provider of the service. This cloud model may include at least five characteristics, at least three service models, and at least four deployment models. 
     Characteristics are as follows: 
     On-demand self-service: a cloud consumer can unilaterally provision computing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, as needed automatically without requiring human interaction with the service&#39;s provider. 
     Broad network access: capabilities are available over a network and accessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneous thin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, and PDAs). 
     Resource pooling: the provider&#39;s computing resources are pooled to serve multiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according to demand. There is a sense of location independence in that the consumer generally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of the provided resources but may be able to specify location at a higher level of abstraction (e.g., country, state, or datacenter). 
     Rapid elasticity: capabilities can be rapidly and elastically provisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out and rapidly released to quickly scale in. To the consumer, the capabilities available for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can be purchased in any quantity at any time. 
     Measured service: cloud systems automatically control and optimize resource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level of abstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage, processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can be monitored, controlled, and reported, providing transparency for both the provider and consumer of the utilized service. 
     Service Models are as follows: 
     Software as a Service (SaaS): the capability provided to the consumer is to use the provider&#39;s applications running on a cloud infrastructure. The applications are accessible from various client devices through a thin client interface such as a web browser (e.g., web-based e-mail). The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, storage, or even individual application capabilities, with the possible exception of limited user-specific application configuration settings. 
     Platform as a Service (PaaS): the capability provided to the consumer is to deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquired applications created using programming languages and tools supported by the provider. The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure including networks, servers, operating systems, or storage, but has control over the deployed applications and possibly application hosting environment configurations. 
     Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): the capability provided to the consumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and other fundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to deploy and run arbitrary software, which can include operating systems and applications. The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems, storage, deployed applications, and possibly limited control of select networking components (e.g., host firewalls). 
     Deployment Models are as follows: 
     Private cloud: the cloud infrastructure is operated solely for an organization. It may be managed by the organization or a third party and may exist on-premises or off-premises. 
     Community cloud: the cloud infrastructure is shared by several organizations and supports a specific community that has shared concerns (e.g., mission, security requirements, policy, and compliance considerations). It may be managed by the organizations or a third party and may exist on-premises or off-premises. 
     Public cloud: the cloud infrastructure is made available to the general public or a large industry group and is owned by an organization selling cloud services. 
     Hybrid cloud: the cloud infrastructure is a composition of two or more clouds (private, community, or public) that remain unique entities but are bound together by standardized or proprietary technology that enables data and application portability (e.g., cloud bursting for load-balancing between clouds). 
     A cloud computing environment is service oriented with a focus on statelessness, low coupling, modularity, and semantic interoperability. At the heart of cloud computing is an infrastructure that includes a network of interconnected nodes. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , illustrative cloud computing environment  50  is depicted. As shown, cloud computing environment  50  includes one or more cloud computing nodes  10  with which local computing devices used by cloud consumers, such as, for example, personal digital assistant (PDA) or cellular telephone  54 A, desktop computer  54 B, laptop computer  54 C, and/or automobile computer system  54 N may communicate. Nodes  10  may communicate with one another. They may be grouped (not shown) physically or virtually, in one or more networks, such as Private, Community, Public, or Hybrid clouds as described hereinabove, or a combination thereof. This allows cloud computing environment  50  to offer infrastructure, platforms and/or software as services for which a cloud consumer does not need to maintain resources on a local computing device. It is understood that the types of computing devices  54 A-N shown in  FIG. 5  are intended to be illustrative only and that computing nodes  10  and cloud computing environment  50  can communicate with any type of computerized device over any type of network and/or network addressable connection (e.g., using a web browser). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a set of functional abstraction layers provided by cloud computing environment  50  ( FIG. 5 ) is shown. It should be understood in advance that the components, layers, and functions shown in  FIG. 6  are intended to be illustrative only and embodiments of the invention are not limited thereto. As depicted, the following layers and corresponding functions are provided: 
     Hardware and software layer  60  includes hardware and software components. Examples of hardware components include: mainframes  61 ; RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) architecture based servers  62 ; servers  63 ; blade servers  64 ; storage devices  65 ; and networks and networking components  66 . In some embodiments, software components include network application server software  67  and database software  68 . 
     Virtualization layer  70  provides an abstraction layer from which the following examples of virtual entities may be provided: virtual servers  71 ; virtual storage  72 ; virtual networks  73 , including virtual private networks; virtual applications and operating systems  74 ; and virtual clients  75 . 
     In one example, management layer  80  may provide the functions described below. Resource provisioning  81  provides dynamic procurement of computing resources and other resources that are utilized to perform tasks within the cloud computing environment. Metering and Pricing  82  provide cost tracking as resources are utilized within the cloud computing environment, and billing or invoicing for consumption of these resources. In one example, these resources may include application software licenses. Security provides identity verification for cloud consumers and tasks, as well as protection for data and other resources. User portal  83  provides access to the cloud computing environment for consumers and system administrators. Service level management  84  provides cloud computing resource allocation and management such that required service levels are met. Service Level Agreement (SLA) planning and fulfillment  85  provide pre-arrangement for, and procurement of, cloud computing resources for which a future requirement is anticipated in accordance with an SLA. 
     Workloads layer  90  provides examples of functionality for which the cloud computing environment may be utilized. Examples of workloads and functions which may be provided from this layer include: mapping and navigation  91 ; software development and lifecycle management  92 ; virtual classroom education delivery  93 ; data analytics processing  94 ; transaction processing  95 ; and controlling access to data objects  96 . 
     The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computer program product at any possible technical detail level of integration. The computer program product may include a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention. 
     The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire. 
     Computer readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device receives computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing/processing device. 
     Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of the present invention may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as C++, or the like, and procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user&#39;s computer, partly on the user&#39;s computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user&#39;s computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user&#39;s computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention. 
     Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions. 
     These computer readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions. 
     Based on the foregoing, a computer system, method, and computer program product have been disclosed. However, numerous modifications and substitutions can be made without deviating from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention has been disclosed by way of example and not limitation.