Context-Sensitive Text Segmentation Using User-Defined Rules

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Solution Overview

Problem

Text segmentation in natural languages, particularly in languages like Korean and Japanese, is challenging due to the absence of fixed word delimiters, requiring context understanding and extensive language-specific knowledge, which is difficult and costly to obtain.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented system and method for context-sensitive text segmentation using user-defined rules that apply pattern matching to segment textual data into meaningful elements, allowing for segmentation without delimiter characters and integrating data from disparate sources for standardization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional text segmentation methods are used for languages like Korean and Japanese, then segmentation can be performed, but extensive language-specific knowledge and large corpora are required which are difficult and costly to obtain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesegmentation accuracyVSAvoidknowledge base complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces user-defined rules as an intermediary mechanism between the text segmentation system and language-specific knowledge. Instead of requiring the system to possess extensive language corpora and knowledge bases, users provide segmentation rules that act as mediators, enabling accurate segmentation without needing complex language-specific data structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables users to define their own segmentation rules based on their specific needs and data characteristics. This self-service approach allows users to provide the necessary language-specific knowledge directly without requiring the system to pre-store extensive corpora or knowledge bases, reducing system complexity while maintaining segmentation accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If context-sensitive segmentation rules are applied to segment text without delimiter characters, then segmentation can be achieved in languages like Korean, but the system must handle complex pattern matching without fixed word boundaries

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesegmentation operationVSAvoidpattern matching complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the text processing task into multiple stages: first applying user-defined segmentation rules to divide the text into potential words or phrases, then passing these segments to a morphological analyzer for further processing. This segmentation approach simplifies the overall operation by breaking down the complex task of segmenting text without delimiters into manageable steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the segmentation process based on user-defined rules and context-sensitive patterns. Rather than using fixed segmentation methods, the system adapts its behavior according to the specific language characteristics and user requirements, making the operation more flexible while managing complexity through configurable parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If extensive language-specific corpora are used for text segmentation, then segmentation accuracy improves, but the cost and difficulty of obtaining such corpora increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesegmentation precisionVSAvoidcorpus acquisition
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

User-defined rules serve as an intermediary that replaces the need for extensive pre-existing language corpora. Instead of requiring the system to acquire and store large amounts of language-specific data, users provide the necessary segmentation patterns as rules, achieving precise segmentation without the complexity of corpus acquisition and maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows users to create custom segmentation rules that copy and adapt segmentation patterns from their specific domain or language requirements. Rather than relying on pre-existing corpora that may not match specific needs, users can copy relevant patterns and modify them to fit their exact requirements, reducing the cost and difficulty of acquiring suitable training data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS8326809B2Systems and methods for defining and processing text segmentation rules
Publication Date: 2012.12.04 SAS INSTITUTE INC
  • US8326809B2 patent drawing
  • US8326809B2 patent drawing
  • US8326809B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Computer-implemented methods and systems are provided for text segmentation of textual data. Rules are accessed that define how the input stream is to be segmented into textual data elements through pattern matching. The one or more rules are applied to the input stream to determine the textual data elements in the input stream which are then provided as output.