Chained Conversational Prompt Engineering for Document Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing techniques struggle to efficiently extract accurate insights from large collections of unstructured and varied documents, due to challenges in data organization, table detection, and the limitations of standalone prompt-based language models.

Innovation Solution

A system that processes user queries by generating a dynamically configured workflow with states and tools, using a Large Language Model (LLM) to select states, provide execution sequences, and choose sub-agents for each state, along with a method of prompt engineering that chains conversational prompts to retrieve information from multiple documents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional techniques are used to extract information from large document collections, then the process can be simple, but the extraction accuracy and efficiency deteriorate due to difficulty in handling unstructured and varied document formats

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation extraction accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the information extraction process into distinct states (retrieve, load and convert, extract and analyze, document search, identify, validate, compile) that can be dynamically selected and executed in sequence. Each state handles specific aspects of document processing, allowing complex extraction tasks to be broken down into manageable components that improve accuracy without overwhelming system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically generates workflows by selecting and ordering states based on the specific query and document characteristics. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize the extraction process for different document types and information needs, improving extraction accuracy while maintaining reasonable system complexity through on-demand configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If specialized models are trained for a given domain, then extraction accuracy improves, but the manual effort and time required deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveextraction accuracyVSAvoidmodel training time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining a library of extraction states and their associated tools before actual information extraction is needed. These pre-configured states cover common extraction scenarios and can be dynamically assembled for specific tasks, eliminating the need for time-consuming domain-specific model training while maintaining high extraction accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The extraction states and tools are designed to be universal and applicable across multiple domains and document types. Rather than training specialized models for each domain, the same set of states can be dynamically configured to handle diverse extraction tasks, significantly reducing the time and effort required while maintaining accuracy through context-appropriate state selection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If manual analysis is performed on documents, then extraction accuracy can be maintained, but the process becomes time consuming and difficult to implement at scale

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation extraction accuracyVSAvoidprocessing throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automated self-service information extraction by configuring states and tools that autonomously perform extraction tasks without manual intervention. The dynamic workflow generation and state execution mechanisms allow the system to handle large volumes of documents automatically, maintaining extraction accuracy while achieving high processing throughput suitable for scaling to millions of documents

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates validation states that provide feedback on extraction results, automatically checking for consistency and accuracy. This feedback mechanism ensures high extraction accuracy is maintained through automated validation rather than manual review, enabling the system to process documents at scale while preserving quality through iterative validation loops

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Device complexity

If standalone prompt-based language models are used, then the system remains simple, but the models become overwhelmed with too much information and fail to accurately retrieve data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidinformation retrieval accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the information processing load by retrieving only relevant documents and passages before passing them to the language model for extraction. The retrieve and document search states filter large document collections down to manageable subsets, preventing the language model from being overwhelmed while maintaining system simplicity through modular state execution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts and isolates only the necessary information from documents before presenting it to the language model. By using extraction states to pull out specific relevant passages and data points rather than feeding entire documents, the system maintains simplicity while improving retrieval accuracy through focused, context-appropriate input to the language model

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

5Loss of information

If large language models are employed for analyzing documents, then information retrieval capability improves, but the generation of inaccurate, low-quality, hallucinated, and/or fabricated information worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation retrieval capabilityVSAvoidinformation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates validation states that provide feedback loops to verify information extracted by the language model. These validation mechanisms check for consistency, cross-reference with source documents, and identify potential hallucinations or fabrications, thereby maintaining high information retrieval capability while significantly improving the reliability and accuracy of the extracted information

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary validation and cross-checking of language model outputs before finalizing extraction results. By预先 establishing validation criteria and cross-referencing mechanisms in the workflow configuration, the system maintains strong information retrieval capability while preventing inaccurate or fabricated information from being presented as facts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4535189A1Systems and methods of chained conversational prompt engineering for information retrieval
Publication Date: 2025.04.09 NASDAQ INC
  • EP4535189A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4535189A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4535189A1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A system is provided for processing user queries by using an automated agent and a workflow. The system comprises reusable components that include states, tools, and/or data sources. Based on analysis of a query's content and goals, the system generates a workflow comprising a sequence of states, each state optimized for a subtask and dynamically bound to a selected tool(s) for that specific query. The workflow can provide a structured high-level control, while allowing for flexible selection of the tool(s) for each state of the workflow for that given query. The system produces a result using the structured workflow and selected tools, answering a user's original query.