Information processing system and program for information processing system

Abstract

An information processing system that analyzes input sentence data and executes prescribed processing, said information processing system comprising: an input reception unit that receives, from a user, input of the sentence data indicating to execute the processing; a common-knowledge data storage unit that stores a common-knowledge database obtained by accumulating information regarding inherent common knowledge possessed by the user; a sentence interpretation unit that interprets the content represented by the input sentence data with reference to the common-knowledge database, extracts necessary information for executing the processing, structures the extracted information, and outputs the same as data for processing; and a processing execution unit that executes the prescribed processing on the basis of the output data for processing.

Description

Information Processing System and Program for Information Processing System

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing system and a program for an information processing system for analyzing the content of an input text and performing predetermined processing.

[0002] In recent years, there has been an increasing need for an information processing system that can start a predetermined system by input using natural language by a user and automatically execute predetermined processing (for example, Patent Document 1). However, in order to correctly execute the predetermined processing, it is necessary to correctly input the necessary information required by the system, and in the case of input using natural language, the intended processing may not be executed, and there is a problem that the usability is low.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-522325

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and a main object thereof is to provide an information processing system that can execute processing from an input of a natural text as if asking a person.

[0005] That is, the information processing system according to the present invention is an information processing system that analyzes input text data and executes predetermined processing, and includes an input reception unit that receives an input of the text data instructing execution of the processing from a user, a common sense data storage unit that stores a common sense database storing information regarding the unique common sense of the user, a text interpretation unit that refers to the common sense database, interprets the content indicated by the input text data, extracts information necessary for executing the processing, structures the extracted information, and outputs it as processing data, and a processing execution unit that executes the predetermined processing based on the output processing data.

[0006] With this configuration, the text interpretation unit is configured to interpret and process the content of the input text data based on a common sense database that stores information about the user's unique common sense. Therefore, the user can automatically execute predetermined processes by inputting natural-sounding sentences on the user terminal, as if making a request to someone. In other words, by referring to the common sense database which shows information about the user's unique common sense, the text interpretation unit can interpret the content of the input text data by supplementing it with "what the user thinks is obvious if you think about it using common sense." As a result, the user can automatically execute predetermined processes by inputting natural-sounding sentences, as if making a request to someone.

[0007] Specific examples of the aforementioned common sense database include one that stores at least one of the following: information possessed by the average adult and user regarding general knowledge, such as knowledge of time and / or geography; and information possessed by the average adult and user regarding specialized knowledge, such as knowledge of laws and / or regulations.

[0008] In the aforementioned information processing system, it is preferable that the text interpretation unit supplements the missing information in the text data for performing the processing based on the common sense database and outputs it as processing data.

[0009] In the aforementioned information processing system, it is preferable that the text interpretation unit infers incorrect information input by the user in the text data based on the common sense database, corrects it to the correct information, and outputs it as processing data.

[0010] The information processing system further includes a common sense learning unit that learns information about the user's unique common sense based on the content of an electronic message transmitted from the user terminal, and preferably the common sense learning unit updates the common sense database stored in the common sense data storage unit based on the common sense information it has learned. In this way, the common sense database is updated when a message is transmitted from the user terminal, and the text interpretation unit can interpret the content of the text data with greater accuracy.

[0011] The information processing system further includes an attribute data storage unit that stores an attribute database containing information about the user's attributes, and it is preferable that the text interpretation unit interprets the content of the input text data by referring to the attribute database in addition to the common sense database. A specific example of an attribute database is one that stores at least one selected from the following: information about the location of the organization to which the user belongs, information about the user's rank and / or role in the organization to which the user belongs, and information about the user's activity records, history and / or various circumstances in the organization to which the user belongs. In this way, by referring to an attribute database that stores information about the user's attributes, such as the location of the organization to which the user belongs, the text interpretation unit can interpret the content of the text data with greater accuracy.

[0012] The information processing system is connected to multiple user terminals and individually analyzes the text data input from multiple users, executing the processing for each user. Preferably, the common sense data storage unit stores multiple common sense databases, each corresponding to a different user. In this way, since each of the multiple users has a common sense database that corresponds to a different user, each of the multiple users can execute the processing by inputting natural sentences, as if they were making a request to someone in their own spoken language.

[0013] Furthermore, the present invention provides a program for an information processing system that analyzes input text data and performs predetermined processing, characterized in that it includes an input receiving unit that receives input text data from a user instructing the execution of the processing, a common sense data storage unit that stores a common sense database containing information about the user's unique common sense, a text interpretation unit that refers to the common sense database to interpret the content indicated by the input text data, extracts the information necessary to execute the processing and outputs it as processing data, and a processing execution unit that performs the predetermined processing based on the output processing data, thereby causing the computer to perform these functions. The processing execution unit is equipped with knowledge of the input information required by the target system.

[0014] Such a program for an information processing system can achieve the same effects and advantages as the information processing system of the present invention.

[0015] According to the present invention as described above, it is possible to provide an information processing system that can perform processing from natural-sounding text input, as if making a request to a person.

[0016] A schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the information processing system of this embodiment. A functional block diagram of the information processing system of the same embodiment. A flowchart showing the operation of the information processing system of the same embodiment.

[0017] An embodiment of the information processing system 300 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0018] The information processing system 300 of this embodiment receives text data consisting of natural language from a user terminal 200, analyzes this text data, and automatically performs predetermined processing. For example, when a user, who is an employee of a company, inputs text data consisting of natural language indicating that they will be going on a business trip from the user terminal 200, the information processing system 300 analyzes the text data, interprets its content, activates the business trip application system, and automatically performs processes such as business trip application and travel expense settlement.

[0019] As shown in Figure 1, this information processing system 300 comprises a server terminal 100 and a plurality of user terminals 200 that are connected to the server terminal 100 via a network NT or the like for communication. In this embodiment, the plurality of user terminals 200 all belong to the same organization, but are not limited to this.

[0020] The user terminal 200 is a personal computer (PC) used individually by a user, such as an employee. On this user terminal 200, the user launches a designated application (an automated processing execution application) and inputs natural language text data on its input screen, such as "I will go to the head office next Wednesday," instructing the execution of a process (in this case, a business trip application). The input text data is transmitted to the server terminal 100 via the network NT. This automated processing execution application can accept various applications (e.g., overtime applications, leave applications, etc.) and instructions, not limited to business trip applications. The user terminal 200 may also be a tablet computer or a smartphone.

[0021] The server terminal 100 analyzes the text data transmitted from the user terminal 200 and performs predetermined processing (in this case, starting the business trip application system, submitting the business trip application, and settling travel expenses). The server terminal 100 may consist of a single computer or multiple computers connected via a network NT. This server terminal 100 is a computer having a CPU, volatile memory, or storage device such as an HDD. The server terminal 100 installs an information processing system program into memory and, based on that program, causes the CPU and peripheral devices to cooperate so that it can perform at least the functions of an input reception unit C1, a common sense data storage unit C2, an attribute data storage unit C3, a text interpretation unit C4, and a processing execution unit C5, as shown in Figure 2.

[0022] The input receiving unit C1 receives text data from the user terminal 200 that instructs the execution of a process.

[0023] The common sense data storage unit C2 stores a common sense database that stores information about the user's unique common sense. This information about the user's unique common sense includes, for example, at least one selected from general knowledge, such as knowledge about time and / or geography, which is generally possessed by adults and users, and specialized knowledge, such as knowledge about laws and / or regulations, which is generally possessed by adults and users. More specifically, this information about the user's unique common sense includes information for converting conversational (spoken) information into numerical values, such as "last Tuesday" meaning "a Tuesday date within seven days prior to today," and "within legal overtime hours" meaning "within 45 hours per month and 360 hours per year." The common sense data storage unit C2 stores multiple common sense databases, each individually corresponding to one of the multiple user terminals 200.

[0024] The attribute data storage unit C3 stores an attribute database that stores information about the user's attributes. Information about the user's attributes includes, for example, one or more selected from information about the location of the organization to which the user belongs, information about the user's rank and / or role within the organization, and information about the user's activity records, history and / or various circumstances within the organization. More specifically, information about the user's attributes includes allowance amounts based on rank, the address from which activities originate, work history, past expense usage, etc. The attribute data storage unit C3 stores multiple attribute databases that correspond individually to each of the multiple user terminals 200.

[0025] The text interpretation unit C4 interprets the content of the input text data, identifies processing items to be executed, extracts the information necessary to execute those processing items, and outputs them as processing data. The text interpretation unit C4 can analyze the text data using an appropriate analysis method selected from lexical analysis, morphological analysis, and syntactic analysis (for example, natural language processing). Specifically, the text interpretation unit C4 refers to the common sense database stored in the common sense data storage unit C2 to interpret the content of the input text data and extract the information necessary to execute the processing.

[0026] This text interpretation unit C4, based on a common sense database, supplements the text data with information missing to perform the specified processing and outputs it as processing data. Furthermore, based on the common sense database, the text interpretation unit C4 estimates incorrect information entered by the user in the text data, corrects it to the correct information, and outputs it as processing data.

[0027] Furthermore, the text interpretation unit C4 of this embodiment is configured to interpret the content indicated by the input text data by further referring to the attribute database stored in the attribute data storage unit C3, in addition to the common sense database.

[0028] For example, when the text interpretation unit C4 receives the text data "I will go to the head office next Wednesday," it recognizes the word "go" as "business trip" based on the "variation in expression" information contained in the common sense database and activates the business trip application system. The text interpretation unit C4 also extracts information about the nearest Wednesday by adding 7 days to the current timestamp from the word "next Wednesday." Furthermore, the text interpretation unit C4 extracts information about the location of the company's head office from the word "head office" based on the information about the company the user belongs to contained in the attribute database. The text interpretation unit C4 then outputs each of the extracted pieces of information as processing data in a structured form required for the execution of the activated system (business trip application system).

[0029] The text interpretation unit C4 converts the natural language expressed in the input text data into a grammatically correct form that is complete and concise for communication purposes, and outputs this as processing data. Specifically, the text interpretation unit C4 infers the 5W1H ("when," "where," "who," "what," "why," and "how") from the natural language expressed in the input text data, converts it into an SVO, SVOC, or SVOO sentence structure, and outputs this as processing data. The text interpretation unit C4 can also supplement the 5W1H based on a common sense database and an attribute database.

[0030] In other words, the text interpretation unit C4 "quantifies qualitative instructions about an object input by the user," and more specifically, "quantifies qualitative requests for an object input by the user based on statistical information about that object." That is, the text interpretation unit C4 converts the input qualitative instructions into a quantitative (numerical range) format based on accumulated information such as a common sense database and an attribute database.

[0031] The processing execution unit C5 executes predetermined processing based on the output processing data, for example, by utilizing RPA (Robotic Process Automation) technology. Based on the output processing data, the processing execution unit C5 launches the necessary application and automatically inputs the necessary information into the application. In this embodiment, the processing execution unit C5 launches the business trip application system and automatically inputs information regarding the date of the business trip and the destination address into the launched business trip application system.

[0032] Furthermore, the information processing system 300 of this embodiment also functions as a common sense learning unit C6 that learns information about the user's unique common sense. The common sense learning unit C6 receives message data indicating information about the content of an electronic message transmitted from the user terminal 200, and learns information about the user's unique common sense based on the content of the electronic message. The common sense learning unit C6 then updates the common sense database stored in the common sense data storage unit C2 based on the common sense information it has learned.

[0033] Next, the operation of the information processing system 300 of this embodiment will be explained using Figure 3. First, the user launches an automated processing execution application from their terminal 200 and inputs text data instructing the execution of a process ("I will go to the head office next Wednesday") (S1). The input text data is transmitted to the server terminal 100 via the network NT, and its contents are interpreted by the text interpretation unit C4 (S2). Specifically, the text interpretation unit C4 refers to a common sense database and an attribute database unique to the user to supplement and / or estimate the content of the text data and interpret it. Then, based on the interpreted content, the text interpretation unit C4 identifies the processing content instructed by the user and starts the system (business trip application system) necessary for executing that processing (S3). Then, based on the content of the interpreted text data, the text interpretation unit C4 extracts the information necessary for executing the processing in the started system and outputs processing data with structured information to the started system (business trip application system) (S4). As a result, the processing instructed by the user is executed (S5).

[0034] According to the information processing system 300 of this embodiment configured in this way, the text interpretation unit C4 is configured to interpret the content of the input text data and execute processing based on a common sense database that stores information about the user's unique common sense. Therefore, the user can automatically execute predetermined processes by inputting natural sentences on the user terminal 200, as if making a request to someone. In other words, by referring to the common sense database which shows information about the user's unique common sense, the text interpretation unit C4 can interpret the content of the input text data by supplementing it with "what the user thinks is obvious if you think about it using common sense." Therefore, the user can automatically execute predetermined processes by inputting natural sentences as if making a request to someone.

[0035] An example of the operation of the information processing system 300 of this embodiment is shown.

[0036] (Example 1) For example, if the information processing system 300 receives text data such as "I worked overtime until 8 PM this Wednesday because I needed to finish my work before the deadline," it will automatically launch the overtime application software and automatically input the "Application Date," "Departure Time," and "Reason for Application" into the input form of the software to automatically submit an overtime application. Specifically, the text interpretation unit C4 and the processing execution unit C5 will automatically launch the overtime software based on the input "Worked overtime until 8 PM." The text interpretation unit C4 and the processing execution unit C5 will estimate the application date based on today's date using the common sense database and attribute database, and input this estimated date into the "Application Date" input form. Then, they will input "To meet a deadline" into the "Reason for Application" input form and "20:00" into the "Departure Time" input form.

[0037] (Example 2) In another example, when the information processing system 300 receives the text data, "I will be on a business trip to Tokyo from last Wednesday to Friday. I will apply for business trip expenses," it automatically launches the business trip expense application software and automatically enters the necessary information into the input form of the software. Specifically, the text interpretation unit C4 and the processing execution unit C5 automatically launch the business trip expense application software based on the input "apply for business trip expenses." The text interpretation unit C4 and the processing execution unit C5 estimate the business trip period based on the input "from last Wednesday to Friday," the common sense database, and the attribute database, and based on today's date. The text interpretation unit C4 and the processing execution unit C5 also estimate, based on the input "going on a business trip to Tokyo," the common sense database, and the attribute database, that "traveled round trip from Osaka Station to Tokyo Station."

[0038] (Example 3) In another example, if the information processing system 300 receives the following text data: "I would like to take annual leave for two weeks starting next Monday. I would like to apply through the system," it will automatically launch the leave application software and automatically input the necessary information into the input form of the software. Specifically, the text interpretation unit C4 and the processing execution unit C5 will launch the leave application software and, based on the entered text data, the common sense database, and the attribute database, input the information necessary to "apply to the system for two weeks of annual leave starting May 28th" into the input form.

[0039] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, the information processing system 300 of the above embodiment automatically performs business trip applications and travel expense settlements as predetermined processes, but is not limited to this. The information processing system 300 of other embodiments may be used for any processing based on knowledge of the information required by the target system, such as setting a calendar, reserving a meeting room, reporting work performance, registering commuting expenses due to relocation, inputting and correcting accounting entries, etc.

[0040] In another embodiment of the information processing system 300, the text data input to the text interpretation unit C4 may be generated by converting the user's voice input into text. For example, the input receiving unit C1 may receive the user's voice input and convert the voice data into text, which may then be output as text data to the text interpretation unit C4.

[0041] In another embodiment, some or all of the functions of the server terminal 100 may be performed by the user terminal 200.

[0042] Furthermore, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible without departing from its spirit.

[0043] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing system that can perform processing from natural-sounding text input, as if making a request to a person.

[0044] 300... Information processing system 100... Server terminal 200... User terminal C1... Input reception unit C2... Common sense data storage unit C3... Attribute data storage unit C4... Text interpretation unit C5... Processing execution unit C6... Common sense learning unit NT... Network

Claims

1. An information processing system that analyzes input text data and performs predetermined processing, comprising: an input receiving unit that receives input text data from a user that instructs the execution of the processing; a common sense data storage unit that stores a common sense database that stores information relating to the user's unique common sense; a text interpretation unit that refers to the common sense database, interprets the content indicated by the input text data, extracts information necessary to perform the processing, structures the extracted information, and outputs it as processing data; and a processing execution unit that performs the predetermined processing based on the output processing data.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the common sense database stores at least one selected from information possessed by the average adult and user regarding general knowledge, such as knowledge of time and / or geography, and information possessed by the average adult and user regarding specialized knowledge, such as knowledge of laws and / or regulations.

3. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the text interpretation unit supplements the missing information in the text data for performing the processing based on the common sense database and outputs it as processing data.

4. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the text interpretation unit estimates the input of incorrect information by the user in the text data based on the common sense database, corrects it to correct information, and outputs it as processing data.

5. The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a common sense learning unit that learns information about the user's unique common sense based on the content of an electronic message transmitted from the user terminal, wherein the common sense learning unit updates the common sense database stored in the common sense data storage unit based on the common sense information it has learned.

6. The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising an attribute data storage unit that stores an attribute database storing information relating to the user's attributes, wherein the text interpretation unit interprets the content indicated by the input text data by referring to the attribute database in addition to the common sense database.

7. The information processing system according to claim 1, which is connected to multiple user terminals, individually analyzes the text data input from multiple users, and executes the processing for each user, wherein the common sense data storage unit stores multiple common sense databases that correspond individually to each of the multiple users.

8. An information processing system program that analyzes input text data and performs predetermined processing, comprising: an input receiving unit that receives input text data from a user instructing the execution of the processing; a common sense data storage unit that stores a common sense database containing information about the user's unique common sense; a text interpretation unit that, by referring to the common sense database, interprets the content indicated by the input text data, extracts information necessary to perform the processing, structures the extracted information, and outputs it as processing data; and an information processing system program that causes a computer to perform the functions of a processing execution unit that executes the predetermined processing based on the output processing data.

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