Linguistic User Interface Parsing for Semantic Intent Mapping

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current graphical user interfaces (GUIs) are limited in understanding user intent and adapting to semantic interactions, leading to mismatches between user intent and interface capabilities, which hinders efficient task completion in software applications.

Innovation Solution

A model-based linguistic user interface (MLUI) that processes linguistic user inputs by mapping them to a formal representation of actors, activities, and objects, using a declarative programming language to infer user intent and access relevant software resources, thereby facilitating task completion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a traditional graphical user interface (GUI) is used to structure and navigate software functions, then the system provides spatial organization and predefined navigation paths, but the system cannot understand user intent semantically and cannot adapt spontaneously to user goals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to user intentVSAvoidinterface complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a linguistic user interface as an intermediary layer between the user and the traditional GUI system. This linguistic interface parses natural language inputs, maps them to formal representations, and translates them into GUI operations, thereby enabling semantic understanding of user intent without fundamentally redesigning the entire interface system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical navigation through predefined GUI paths with a linguistic processing system that uses natural language parsing and formal representation mapping. This substitution allows the system to understand user intent semantically rather than requiring users to navigate through fixed interface structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If the GUI provides specific means for each function (buttons, icons, menus), then the system enables precise function activation, but the user must identify and locate specific interface elements which increases interaction difficulty

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of function activationVSAvoiddifficulty of identifying interface elements

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The linguistic user interface enables users to describe their desired actions in natural language without needing to locate or identify specific GUI elements. The system automatically interprets the linguistic input, maps it to the appropriate function, and executes it, thereby making the interface serve the user's intent directly rather than requiring the user to navigate the interface structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of information

If the GUI uses predefined text identifiers and labels, then the system provides structured information presentation, but mismatches between interface terminology and user expectations occur leading to user confusion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation alignment between user and systemVSAvoiduser understanding of interface terms

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of requiring users to adapt to predefined interface terminology, the patent inverts the approach by allowing users to express their intent in natural language and having the system interpret and map it to the appropriate internal representations and functions. This inversion eliminates terminology mismatches by starting from the user's language rather than the system's predefined labels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the system provides comprehensive navigation options and service descriptions, then the system enables users to find desired functions, but the information architecture becomes complex and difficult to navigate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice discovery capabilityVSAvoidinformation architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The linguistic user interface acts as a mediator that translates user goals expressed in natural language into system operations, bypassing the need for users to navigate complex information architectures. The system parses the linguistic input, maps it to formal representations, and directly accesses the relevant services without requiring users to traverse hierarchical navigation structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8700389B2Systems and methods for model-based processing of linguistic user inputs using annotations

Publication Date: 2014.04.15 SAP SE

AI summary

The present invention includes model-based processing of linguistic user inputs. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a computer-implemented method comprising receiving linguistic inputs, parsing the linguistic inputs, mapping the linguistic inputs to a formal representation used by a model, applying the formal representation against the model, where the model comprises said formal representation, and where the model specifies relationships between the elements of the formal representation and defines process information, and accessing software resources based on the formal representation of the user input and the relationships and process information in said model.