JPH01279321A - Question/answer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To process a complicated question in a short time by performing the direct execution of the meaning process for the entire structure of a document stored in a meaning expression document file and the meaning structure of the document based on the data structure expressed logically. CONSTITUTION:A retrieving instruction and/or a meaning processing instruction are sent to an entire control part 2 out of those questions supplied from a question/input/answer output terminal 1. Then the meaning processing instruction is sent to a meaning processing part 4. An information retrieval processing part 3 retrieves the corresponding items of a meaning expression document file 5 based on the given information. These retrieving results are all given to the part 2. At the same time, the part 4 carries out the meaning processing to the contents of the file 5 based on the given information. This processing result is supplied to the part 2. The part 2 integrates these two results and outputs the answers to users via the terminal 1.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a question answering device that analyzes input questions, performs search and semantic processing on document files, and outputs appropriate answers. It is.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in question answering devices that analyze input questions, search document files, and output appropriate answers, the base file for obtaining answers is a file consisting of one-dimensional connections of characters. A document file with natural language expression (natural language expression document file) was used.

When a question is given by a user, the keyword to be searched is extracted from the question, the corresponding item in the natural language expression document file is searched, and the answer is output.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

As mentioned above, conventional question answering devices use document files expressed in natural language that are composed of one-dimensional connections of characters that we use on a daily basis, so it is difficult to respond to questions. Searches can only perform semantic processing, such as basic matching of keywords, excluding advanced processing based on the meaning and grammar of a language, and have the drawback of not being able to obtain sufficient answers.

On the other hand, in order to carry out the above semantic processing, it is sufficient to convert the natural language expression into a semantic expression through the process of extracting meaning, but the process of converting this natural language expression into a semantic expression is enormous. In addition to simply replacing natural language expressions with semantic expressions, additional processing must be performed to remove logical ambiguities contained in natural language, so processing takes a long time. However, there was a drawback that it was impossible to perform immediate processing.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above points, and its purpose is to provide a question answering device that can perform not only simple searches but also semantic processing.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a semantic expression document file having a data structure logically expressing the overall structure of a document and the semantic structure of the document, and The present invention includes an information search processing unit that searches for a corresponding item in a document file, and a semantic processing unit that performs semantic processing on the contents of the semantic expression document file in response to a semantic processing instruction in a question. I have to.

[Effect]

In the question answering device of the present invention, when a search instruction is included in the question, the information search processing section searches for the corresponding item in the semantic expression document file, and also includes an instruction for semantic processing in the question. If there is a semantic expression document file, the semantic processing unit directly executes the semantic processing based on a data structure that logically expresses the overall structure of the document and the semantic structure of the document included in the semantic expression document file.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the question answering device of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the question answering device of the present invention is
A human question/response output terminal 1 for inputting questions from the user and outputting answers (responses), an overall control section 2 for controlling the entire device, and a human question/response output terminal 1
an information search processing unit 3 that searches for a corresponding item in a semantic expression document file 5 (to be described later) in response to a search instruction in a question input from an information search processing unit 3; 5, and a semantic expression document file 5 having a data structure that logically expresses the overall structure of the document and the semantic structure of the document. .

FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually showing an example of the data structure of the semantic expression document file 5, and 51 is a diagram conceptually showing an example of the data structure of the semantic expression document file 5.
The contents relate to the title and table of contents, and mainly indicate the overall structure of the document, that is, the headings of each item, their order, and their mutual relationships. Further, 52 is the detailed content of the item "Summary" in the content 51, mainly the semantic structure of the document, that is, the properties of the words that make up the document (subject S, predicate ■, object O, etc.) and their For example, if the content 52 is a natural language expression, "This specification E does D for A to B@C. It corresponds to J. Also, 53 is the item of content 51" This is the detailed content regarding "Restrictions", and similarly to the content 52, it mainly shows the semantic structure of the document.

In FIG. 1, search instructions and/or semantic processing instructions in questions input from the question/response output terminal 1 are transmitted to the overall control unit 2, and the search instructions are information search instructions. The processing unit 3 is given an instruction for semantic processing, and the semantic processing instruction is given to a semantic processing unit 4. Next, the information search processing unit 3 searches for a corresponding item in the semantic expression document file 5 based on the provided information, and the result is provided to the overall control unit 2. Furthermore, the semantic processing unit 4 executes semantic processing on the contents of the semantic expression document file 5 based on the provided information, and the result is provided to the overall control unit 2. As an example of semantic processing, the title “××...
・If you are given the option to output a summary of the content written in the ``Summary'' section in Japanese and English,
The process is as follows.

■ Content 52 corresponding to the item "Summary" with reference to the content 51 indicating the overall structure of the document in the semantic expression document file 5
Search for.

■It is LL that the content 52 of the item "Summary" is a data structure that logically expresses the semantic structure! Ik.

■Create a summary.

■Start Japaneseization processing and Englishization processing.

(2) Give the results to the overall control section 2;

Then, in the overall control section 2, the results of both are integrated and given to the question/response output terminal 1, where the answer is output to the user.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, in the question answering device of the present invention, in addition to a simple search using keywords or the like, search is performed based on a data structure that logically represents the overall structure of the document of the semantic expression document file and the semantic structure of the document. Semantic processing can be performed directly, and even complex questions can be answered in a short amount of time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the question answering device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually showing the data structure of a semantic expression document file. In the figure, 1... terminal for question/response output, 2...
...Overall control unit, 3...Information search processing unit, 4...Semantic processing unit, 5...Semantic expression document file, 51.5
2.53...Content.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A semantic expression document file having a data structure that logically expresses the overall structure of a document and the semantic structure of the document, and a corresponding item of the semantic expression document file according to a search instruction in a question. and a semantic processing unit that performs semantic processing on the content of the semantic expression document file in response to a semantic processing instruction in a question. Question answering device.