Dates Locator Natural Language Date Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current calendar applications require users to browse sequentially through months or weeks to find specific dates or date ranges, which is time-consuming and inefficient, especially for locating dates based on their significance, such as holidays.
Innovation Solution
A dates locator system that analyzes natural language inputs to identify specific dates or date ranges, using contextual information and quantifiers, and displays the results without the need for predefined formats, allowing users to quickly access dates like holidays or time periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If users browse through calendars sequentially to find specific dates, then they can locate dates using the provided navigation method, but the process becomes time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical browsing system (sequential scrolling through months and weeks) with an optical/informational system (direct date lookup via natural language processing). The dates locator analyzes natural language inputs to directly identify and display specific dates or date ranges, eliminating the need for manual navigation through calendar interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dates locator as an intermediary component between the user and the calendar system. This locator processes natural language date requests and translates them into specific date identifiers, acting as a mediator that converts user intent into actionable calendar navigation without requiring users to manually browse through the calendar interface.
2Adaptability or versatility
If calendar applications provide browse-based navigation, then users can access dates within immediate view quickly, but users cannot find dates based on their significance or meaning
Solution Approach 1:
The dates locator provides multi-functional capability by handling various types of date queries through a single interface. It can process requests for specific calendar dates, holidays, historical events, anniversaries, and custom date ranges using natural language input, making the system versatile for different date-finding needs without requiring separate tools or complex procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service date location by automatically analyzing natural language inputs and retrieving relevant dates without requiring user intervention in the browsing process. The dates locator independently processes date requests, interprets contextual information, and displays results, allowing users to obtain date information autonomously without needing to understand or navigate the underlying calendar structure.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are apparatus and methods for locating one or more dates. Specific embodiments include a dates locator that is operable to analyze a date request in the form of natural language words or phrases and determine that such words or phrases correspond to a specific date or range of dates. In one natural language example, a date request may be in the form of a specified holiday or specified period of time before and/or after such specified holiday (e.g., Thanksgiving week) and the corresponding date or range of dates are retrieved by the dates locator. That is, dates locator embodiments receive a date request that uses date contextual information as input to thereby retrieve a specific date or range of dates. The retrieved date or range of dates may then be displayed based in the date request's contextual information. Additionally, a dates locator may include a learning mechanism to learn new associations between particular contextual information and a specific date or range of dates.