Modular Dialogue System Architecture for Non-Expert Expansion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current dialogue systems require technical expertise and programming knowledge to expand their capabilities, making it difficult for non-engineer administrators to enhance and maintain them, and they often burden annotators with complex data annotation tasks.

Innovation Solution

A dialogue system architecture that allows non-experts to expand capabilities without programming or AI knowledge, using a modular design with a knowledge system, user interface, and learning model that enables easy annotation and data decoupling, allowing for scalable data collection and minimal annotator burden.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If current dialogue system architecture is used, then system functionality is maintained, but technical expertise and programming knowledge are required to expand capabilities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability expansionVSAvoidease of expansion
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a domain expert as an intermediary between the dialogue system and the expansion process. The domain expert provides knowledge through simple annotations rather than programming, mediating the capability expansion without requiring technical expertise. This resolves the contradiction by enabling versatility improvement while maintaining ease of operation through the expert's involvement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service capability expansion by allowing domain experts to annotate data and extend functionality without external technical assistance. The modular architecture and pre-built tools allow experts to independently expand system capabilities through annotation, eliminating the need for programming knowledge while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If complex data annotation tasks are used, then data consistency is maintained, but annotator burden increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata consistencyVSAvoidannotator burden
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the annotation process into structured, modular tasks that domain experts can perform independently. By breaking down complex annotation into discrete, manageable units with clear guidelines, the system maintains data consistency through standardized segments while reducing overall annotator burden through task simplicity and modularity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameters of the annotation task by providing pre-defined schemas, validation rules, and automated checking mechanisms. This transforms complex open-ended annotation into constrained parameter-based tasks that are easier to perform while maintaining consistency through systematic parameter validation and standardization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If modular design with decoupled data collection is implemented, then scalability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovescalabilityVSAvoidsystem architecture
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the dialogue system into distinct modular components: data collection module, annotation module, training module, and deployment module. Each module operates independently with well-defined interfaces, enabling scalability through selective enhancement of individual components while managing overall system complexity through clear separation of concerns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The modular architecture implements universality by designing components that can serve multiple functions and be reused across different domains and applications. The decoupled data collection and annotation frameworks can be universally applied to various dialogue systems, improving scalability while the standardized interfaces manage complexity through reusability rather than proliferation of specialized components.

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

Data Source

PatentUS11657215B2Robust expandable dialogue system
Publication Date: 2023.05.23 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • US11657215B2 patent drawing
  • US11657215B2 patent drawing
  • US11657215B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An automated natural dialogue system provides a combination of structure and flexibility to allow for ease of annotation of dialogues as well as learning and expanding the capabilities of the dialogue system based on natural language interactions.