Natural Language to SQL Schema Linking for Accurate Query Translation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional NL2SQL translators struggle with accurately correlating entities in user natural language queries with database features due to diversity and ambiguity, leading to reduced performance and slow responses.

Innovation Solution

Preprocessing techniques using named entity recognition and scalable searches for content-based schema linking to match utterance words with database entities, generating a data structure for improved natural language to logical form model response time and accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional NL2SQL translators are used to translate natural language queries to SQL, then the system can handle basic queries, but the accuracy of correlating entities with database features deteriorates due to diversity and ambiguity in natural language

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveentity correlation accuracyVSAvoidhandling of diverse and ambiguous natural language
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary preprocessing system that includes named entity recognition and content-based schema linking. This intermediary layer processes natural language queries before they reach the NL2SQL translator, extracting and standardizing entities to improve correlation accuracy with database features while handling diversity and ambiguity in the input language.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing named entity recognition and schema linking operations before the main translation process. This preprocessing step prepares the natural language query by identifying and categorizing entities in advance, making the subsequent translation more accurate and efficient.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If conventional NL2SQL translation methods are used, then the system can process queries, but the response time deteriorates due to slow entity correlation and schema linking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequery translation speedVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs schema linking and entity extraction in advance as a preprocessing step. By preparing the mapping between natural language entities and database features before the actual translation occurs, the system reduces the time required during query processing, thereby improving productivity while minimizing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the query processing into distinct phases: named entity recognition, content-based schema linking, and SQL translation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and processed in parallel where possible, improving overall response time and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If rule-based systems are used for natural language to SQL translation, then the system is easier to implement, but the ability to generalize to new use cases deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem implementation easeVSAvoidgeneralization to new use cases
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces rigid rule-based systems with machine learning-based named entity recognition and content-based schema linking. This substitution maintains ease of implementation through automated training while dramatically improving adaptability to new domains and use cases by learning from data rather than relying on hand-crafted rules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Adaptability or versatility

If deep learning models are used for natural language to SQL translation, then the system generalizes well to new use cases, but the complexity of the system deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegeneralization capabilityVSAvoidmodel complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the complex deep learning system into separate, specialized components: a named entity recognition model and a content-based schema linking model. This segmentation reduces overall system complexity by allowing each component to be trained and optimized independently while maintaining strong generalization capabilities through their collaborative architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12412034B2Transforming natural language to structured query language based on scalable search and content-based schema linking
Publication Date: 2025.09.09 ORACLE INT CORP
  • US12412034B2 patent drawing
  • US12412034B2 patent drawing
  • US12412034B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Techniques for preprocessing data assets to be used in a natural language to logical form model based on scalable search and content-based schema linking. In one particular aspect, a method includes accessing an utterance, classifying named entities within the utterance into predefined classes, searching value lists within the database schema using tokens from the utterance to identify and output value matches including: (i) any value within the value lists that matches a token from the utterance and (ii) any attribute associated with a matching value, generating a data structure by organizing and storing: (i) each of the named entities and an assigned class for each of the named entities, (ii) each of the value matches and the token matching each of the value matches, and (iii) the utterance, in a predefined format for the data structure, and outputting the data structure.