Conversational Interface Decoupling Engine and Content Management

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conversational user interfaces are limited by hardcoded content and require specialized programming for modifications, restricting their applicability and flexibility in accessing various types of content across different devices and user contexts.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system that uses a processor-implemented conversation engine to retrieve data from a hierarchical taxonomy or a tagged-content source based on user queries, allowing for dynamic generation of responses and enabling controlled access to underlying content based on user viewpoint or subscription level, while decoupling the taxonomy from the content source for improved flexibility and updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conversational user interfaces use hardcoded content in software code, then the interface can provide structured options and controlled interactions, but the system lacks flexibility for modifications and cannot easily adapt to different content types or user contexts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructured interaction controlVSAvoidcontent flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the conversational interface into distinct components: a conversation engine that handles interaction logic and a separate content management system that stores and manages content. This separation allows the conversation engine to maintain structured control while the content system provides flexibility for modifications and different content types without requiring software code changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a content management system as an intermediary layer between the conversation engine and the content sources. This intermediary enables the conversation engine to interact with diverse content types through standardized interfaces, providing both structured control and adaptability to different content formats and user contexts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If conversational user interfaces require specialized programming skills for modifications, then the interface can maintain professional quality and reliability, but the cost and complexity of updates increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprofessional qualityVSAvoidmodification cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a content management system that enables non-programmer users to modify and update content through intuitive interfaces. This self-service capability allows users to make content modifications without requiring specialized programming skills, significantly reducing update costs while maintaining professional quality through the standardized conversation engine.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If conversational user interfaces are designed for specific information-retrieval contexts, then the interface can provide optimized interactions for those contexts, but the applicability to other content types and devices is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontext-specific optimizationVSAvoidcross-device applicability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the conversation engine with universal interfaces that can handle multiple content types and operate across different devices. The separation between the conversation engine and content management system allows the same engine to be adapted to various contexts and devices by simply changing the content sources, maintaining ease of operation while achieving cross-device applicability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Stability of the object's composition

If conversational user interfaces hardcode content and options into software, then the system can ensure data consistency and structured presentation, but distributed computing solutions cannot be effectively utilized for processing and storage efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata consistencyVSAvoidprocessing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent moves content storage and management to a separate dimensional space (content management system) independent of the conversation engine. This dimensional separation allows content to be stored and processed in distributed computing environments for improved efficiency, while the conversation engine maintains data consistency through standardized interfaces and protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS12093638B2Conversational user interface system and method of operation

Publication Date: 2024.09.17 SLICE LEGAL INC

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a computer-implemented method of carrying on a conversation, the method including: during a conversation session, receiving an electronic query initiated by a user; based on query data associated with the query, automatically retrieving first result data from a hierarchical taxonomy; in the event that the first result data contains one or more user-selectable options, generating an electronic response to the query based at least on the one or more user-selectable options; and otherwise: based on the query data, automatically retrieving second result data from a tagged-content source and generating the electronic response to the query based at least on the second result data.