UnltEd States Patent
`[19]
`[11} Patent Number:
`6,085,201
`
`Tso
`[45] Date of Patent:
`*Jul. 4, 2000
`
`USOOSUSSZOlA
`
`[54] CONTEXT-SENSITIVE TED/[PLATE ENGINE
`
`[75]
`
`Inventor: Michael Man-Halt 'l‘sn, Hillsboro,
`Greg.
`
`[73] Assignee:
`
`Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, Califi
`
`[*] Notice:
`
`This patent issued on a continued pros—
`ecution application filed under 37 CPR
`l.53(d), and is subject to the twenty year
`patent
`term provisions of 35 USC
`154(39)‘
`
`lle APPL N05 0856729855
`[22]
`Filed:
`Jun. 28 1996
`’
`Int. Cl.7 ..................................................... G06F 17127
`[51]
`[52] US. Cl.
`,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 707/505
`[58] Field of Search ..................................... 707/505—5023,
`707;531_533 908 501 513: 395/604 20
`I
`’
`’
`’
`I
`’
`77?
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`,
`,
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,297,027
`5,557,723
`55579546?
`5,799,268
`5,905,863
`
`70737501
`3/1994 lVlorimotO at all
`(111996 Holt et al.
`. TOWSUKS
`
`. 707/507"
`1151996 Capps
`
`
`8,4998 Boguraev
`704/9
`
`511999 Knowles et a1.
`395520036
`
`Primary Examiner—Mark R. Powell
`Assistant Examiner%4otilewa Good—Johnson
`Attorney Agent, or Firm—Kenyon & Kenyon
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A template engine generates a context-sensitive text mes-
`sage corresponding to an input text string. The input text
`string is first decomposed into a set of search words. The
`template engine then uses those search words to search a
`database of predefined templates to identify a template that
`is contextually appropriate for the input text string, The
`identified template may then be used to generate a respon-
`sive text message. The template engine is also able to
`“learn,” dynamically updating the template database to
`reflect user preferences with respect to templates identified
`by the template engine as being contextually appropriate for
`particular search words.
`
`4,879,648 11/1989 Cochran et al.
`
`707/507
`
`18 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
` {20
`Mlil Apptmnou
`
`Delete existhg templates.
`
`
`
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`
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`Customize template.
`
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 4,2000
`
`Sheet 1 0f4
`
`6,085,201
`
`
`
`Mail System: Sender side
`
`Mail System: Recipient side
`
`flannel
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 4, 2000
`
`Sheet 2 0f 4
`
`6,085,201
`
`E-mail Application
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`20
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`
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`Template Engine
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`51
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`52
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` Template
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`Database
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`

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`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 4,2000
`
`Sheet 3 0f4
`
`6,085,201
`
` 4,19
`
`Md! Apphcaum
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`Create new templates.
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`Delete existing templnms.
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`
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`
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`Capture user‘5 ”femur;
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`Customize templnte‘
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 4, 2000
`
`Sheet 4 0f 4
`
`6,085,201
`
`Lets' meet at
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`12:00
`AAvv
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`0PM
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`0 AM
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`6,085,201
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`1
`CONTEXT-SENSITIVE TEMPLATE ENGINE
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates generally to the field of text
`processing, and in particular to a context—sensitive template
`engine for analyzing the content of a text segment and
`automatically generating a template for responsive text. The
`invention is particularly well-suited for electronic messag-
`ing applications in which users are limited to a device having
`little or no keyboard functionality.
`In the field of electronic messaging, or “e—mail,” it is
`desirable to minimize the time and effort required for a user
`to compose text messages, Accordingly, there has been an
`effort to develop so-called “assisted mail” systems capable
`of generating some or all of a response to a received text
`message. Such systems have developed along two lines:
`built-in response generators and rule-based response gen-
`erators.
`
`An example of a built-in response generator is the Tele-
`Script system developed by General Magic. Assuming that
`both a message sender and a message recipient are Tele-
`Script users, the sender may include certain reply options in
`an outgoing text message. Upon receipt of such a message,
`the recipient may select a desired reply and TeleScript will
`automatically generate a responsive text message. For
`example, an outgoing message might be “Would you like to
`go to lunch now?” followed by a “Yess'No” selection option.
`The recipient may then reply to the message simply by
`selecting, or “clicking on,” the appropriate response.
`An example of a rule—based response generator is the
`cczMail® product marketed by Lotus Corp. In this system,
`a user can establish rules for automatically replying to
`incoming text messages. When an incoming message
`matches a predefined rule (e.g., the message is from a certain
`person, the message includes a certain word or combination
`of words), the system automatically responds to the message
`with a predefined, fixed text message.
`A number of problems exist with both the built-in and
`rule-based response generators currently available, For
`example, an undesirable feature of built-in systems like
`TeleScript is the requirement that both the sender and the
`recipient be users of the same or compatible e-mail systems
`capable of recognizing the encoded reply options.
`Unfortunately, most popular e-mail systems today do not
`recognize the necessary codes. These presently-known
`assisted mail systems are likewise relatively inflexible,
`requiring adherence to certain stylistic restrictions dictated
`by predefined reply option formats, automatic matching
`rules and the use of predetermined message texts for
`automatically—generated responses. Finally, the existing sys—
`tems are often difiicult to use in View of special program-
`ming and configuration requirements for initial setup. In
`cctMail, for example, a user must first engage in the cum-
`bersome task of establish matching rules using Boolean
`logic operators. Once established, these rules are rigid in that
`there is no subsequent interaction permitted to tailor the
`rules in view of actual usage patterns.
`The present invention is intended to address these and
`other shortcomings of known assisted mail systems by
`providing a context-sensitive template engine to automati-
`cally generate a text message, whether in response to a
`previously-received message or “from scratch,” whose
`meaning corresponds to certain user-selected words or
`phrases. The features and benefits of the invention are
`discussed in detail below.
`SUMMARY OF TIIE INVENTION
`
`The present invention provides a context-sensitive tem-
`plate engine that enables users to generate a text string that
`
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`is responsive to the content of an input text string, The
`present
`invention is especially well-suited to electronic
`messaging applications in which users have limited key-
`board functionality available, enabling such users to com-
`pose andfor reply to messages much more efficiently than is
`possible with existing applications.
`In a preferred embodiment, the template engine receives
`an input text string from a user interface portion of an e-mail
`application. The template engine then decomposes, using a
`parser, that input text string into a set of search words or
`input keywords. These keywords are then used to search a
`template databam for one or more templates that most
`closely correspond to the context of the input text string. The
`template database includes a plurality of templates, each of
`which is associated with one or more weighted keywords. As
`the search of the template database progresses, the template
`engine attempts to find the template having the highest total
`weight value based upon matches between the template
`keywords and the keywords extracted from the input text
`string.
`Templates stored in the template database are configured
`to provide maximum flexibility and utility to users. Such
`templates will typically include one or more phrases and a
`number of choices, enabling the user to build a sentence that
`best conveys the user’s intended meaning. These choices
`may consist of single words, phrases, or input form identi-
`fiers. Input form identifiers permit users to access input
`forms for dynamically entering such information as dates
`and times. Using these templates, users can efficiently
`generate an appropriate text string with minimal effort.
`An especially advantageous feature of the template engine
`according to the present invention is its ability to “learn”
`from continued use. When a user elects to use a suggested
`template (i.e., one identified through the keyword search),
`the template engine will increase the weight values associ-
`ated with the matched keywords to increase the likelihood
`that the same template will be suggested in the future upon
`presentation of similar keywords extracted from an input
`text string. By contrast, such weight values will be decreased
`in the event a user elects not to use a suggested template. in
`this way, the template engine can dynamically adapt itself to
`a particular useris preferences, thereby increasing its utility.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the system architecture
`for an embodiment of a context-sensitive template engine
`according to the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the logical relationship
`between an e-mail application and a template engine accord-
`ing to the present invention.
`FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the logic flow in an
`embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 4 illustrates an input form of a type which may be
`included in a message template.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`The present invention provides a context—sensitive tem-
`plate engine that helps users compose andx’or reply to e—mail
`messages using minimal keyboard access, Given an input
`text passage, such as a portion of a partially-composed
`outgoing text message or a portion of a received text
`message,
`the template engine can suggest one or more
`predefined, context-appropriate sentences to include in the
`outgoing text message based on the actual content of the
`input text passage. The present invention thus reduces the
`
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`6,085,201
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`3
`inconvenience imposed by devices having limited or no
`keyboard access, such as a Smartphone or similar hand-held
`device.
`the various features and
`Before explaining in detail
`advantages of the present invention, it will be helpful to
`define a number of terms used herein. First, a “template” is
`a text string consisting of one or more “phrases.” A phrase,
`in turn, is a text string which may include a set of optional
`substrings, called "choices.” A choice may be a pure text
`string, an “input form identifier,” or a text string including
`an input form identifier. An input
`form identifier is a
`graphical user interface that enables a user to easily enter
`special data (eg, times, dates, numbers) using, for example,
`a spin button or a scroll bar. Data entered using an input form
`identifier may then be converted to text and inserted into a
`text string. Finally, each template is associated with a set of
`“keywords,” Where each keyword has a predetermined
`“weight.” The higher the weight assigned a given keyword,
`the more influential that keyword will be in the template
`selection process.
`In an embodiment of the present invention, the template
`engine is implemented as an application program interface
`(API) exported by a dynamic link library (DLL). This type
`of software implementation is well lmown in the art of data
`processing, and thus is not described in detail herein. In any
`event, the present invention does not rely on any particular
`means by which the template engine is made available to a
`user or an application programmer.
`Referring now to the block diagram of FIG. 1, a typical
`e-mail system 1 of the type to which the present invention
`is directed includes a user interface 2 and a mail database 3.
`The user interface 2 provides the standard user functions
`necessary to send and/or receive e-mail messages, and
`includes a video display, a user input device (e .g., an
`alphanumeric keypad), and software drivers which enable a
`user to interact with the e-mail system 1. The mail database
`3 stores e-mail messages in digital form, and may consist of
`a multi—tiered directory of ASCII—format data files. It should
`be noted that the block diagram of FIG. 1 is intended to
`convey the logical structure of the e-mail system 1, as the
`present invention does not depend on any particular physical
`configuration. For example, some or all of the various
`components of the e-mail system 1 may be distributed over
`a local area network (LAN).
`According to the embodiment shown in FIG. I, the e-mail
`system 1 includes a template database 4 electronically
`coupled to a template engine 5. The template engine 5 is
`electronically coupled to the user interface 2, and is capable
`of retrieving data from the mail database 3. Like the mail
`database 3, the template database 4 may be implemented as
`a multi—tiered directory of ASCII—format data files. The
`template database 4 may be viewed as a sub-module of the
`template engine 5, or as a separate data structure with which
`the template engine 5 interacts. Both the template engine 5
`and the template database 4 are described in further detail
`below.
`
`Significantly, the template engine 5 as shown in FIG. 1
`employs standard data interface techniques and protocols to
`interact with the user interface 2 and the mail database 3. In
`other words, the template engine of the present invention is
`advantageously independent of any particular e—mail system
`or communications device,
`thereby providing maximum
`flexibility to users. The template engine may thus reside in
`a “sender side” e—mail system 1, a “recipient side” e-mail
`system 1', or both. The fact that an e-mail message was
`generated using the template engine will be completely
`transparent to a recipient of that message.
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`It should be noted that the user interface 2 is not itself part
`of the present
`invention;
`that
`is,
`the template engine 5
`provides functionality for retrieving data from and main-
`taining the template database 4, but it does not provide user
`interface functions. In order for a user to compose andfor
`reply to an e-mail message with the aid of the template
`engine 5 according to the present invention, the user’s e—mail
`application must provide a user interface 2 capable of (i)
`displaying templates, phrases and choices; (ii) displaying a
`special input form corresponding to an input form identifier;
`and (iii) converting a user’s selection from a special input
`form into text. The separation of the user interface functions
`from the template engine 5 provides a significant advantage
`over existing assisted mail systems, giving system users and
`application programmers added flexibility in customizing
`the application according to a particular user’s needs.
`The block diagram of FIG. 2 graphically illustrates the
`manner in which an e-mail application 20 interacts with a
`template engine 5 according to the present invention. The
`e-mail application 20 is electronically coupled to the tem-
`plate engine 5, shown here as an API. In other words, the
`e-mail application 20 is capable of invoking the template
`engine 5. The template engine 5 is in turn capable of storing
`data in, and retrieving data from, the template database 4.
`As shown in MG. 2, the functions of the template engine
`5 may be broadly classified as data retrieval functions 51 and
`template maintenance functions 52. Looking more closely at
`these functions, the flow chart of FIG. 3 illustrates the call
`sequence of a template engine according to this embodi-
`merit.
`
`When a user wishes to compose a new e-mail message or
`generate a reply to a received e—mail message,
`the user
`selects a text string to be processed,
`for example, by
`clicking-on it. The particular method by which such a
`selection is made will vary according to the user input device
`available to the user. For example, where the user has access
`to a laptop or other personal computer, the selection could be
`accomplished using a mouse. On the other hand, with a
`device having limited user interface capabilities, such as a
`Smartphonc, the selection could be accomplished by appro-
`priately positioning a cursor using a touch keypad and
`pressing an “ENTER" key. In either case. once the user
`makes a selection the user interface 2 of the e—mail appli-
`cation 20 will invoke the template engine 5 (step 230),
`passing the entire text message being edited by the user and
`the current cursor position to the template engine 5.
`Upon being invoked, the template engine 5 analyzes the
`information passed by the e—mail application 20 to determine
`the ponion of the text message for which a template is to be
`provided (step 231). According to one embodiment,
`the
`template engine 5 initially views the entire text message
`passed by the e-mail application 20 as a single data string.
`Then, using standard string processing techniques, the tem—
`plate engine 5 starts at
`the current cursor position and
`searches backwards in the text string until it finds a sentence—
`ending punctuation mark (i.e., period, question mark, excla-
`mation point). The template engine 5 then designates the
`first word immediately following the punctuation mark as
`the beginning of the text string to be processed.
`A similar technique may then be used by the template
`engine 5 to determine the end of the text string to be
`processed. That is, the template engine 5 starts at the current
`cursor position and searches forward until a sentence—ending
`punctuation mark is located, which will then be designated
`the end of the data string to be processed. The data string is
`thus defined by these beginning and ending positions.
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`5
`the
`Once the text string to be processed is identified,
`template engine 5 decomposes the text string into search
`words that will be used to search for a template (step 232).
`The template engine 5 may, for example, build an array in
`which each member contains a different word extracted from
`the text string.
`The template engine 5 then uses the extracted words to
`search the set of predefined templates stored in the template
`database 4 (step 232). For each stored template, the template
`engine 5 compares the weighted keywords associated with
`that template to the array of extracted search words. If a
`keyword is found in the array, the weight value associated
`with that keyword is added to a running total weight value
`for that
`template. In this fashion,
`the template engine 5
`determines a total weight value for each template in the
`template database 5. The template with the highest total
`weight value is then designated as the most appropriate
`template for the text string being processed.
`Ideally,
`the template engine 5 employs a “blind” text
`string match when comparing the extracted words to the
`stored keywords. The template engine 5 is therefore com-
`pletely language independent, again providing maximum
`flexibility to system users and application programmers.
`To illustrate the calculation of these total weight values,
`assume the template database 4 contains a template having
`the following keywords defined:
`
`keyword
`Where
`when
`meet
`place
`time
`
`weight
`50
`5'}
`45
`25
`’7 <
`
`Further assume that the text string being processed is the
`following:
`When and where would you like to meet?
`Given this text string,
`the above-defined template would
`have a total weight value of “145” because the keywords
`“where,” “when” and “meet” were found in the text string.
`Once the template engine 5 determines the most appro-
`priate template, it passes that template to the user interface
`2 for presentation to the user (step 233). This may be
`accomplished by passing a data string containing the tem-
`plate to the user interface 2 or, alternatively, by passing a
`pointer to a temporary memory location where the template
`is stored.
`It is conceivable that more than one template will have a
`highest total weight value, in which case the user interface
`2 could present multiple templates to the user. The user
`could then select which template is most appropriate for that
`user’s purposes. It is also conceivable that the template or
`templates which the template engine 5 determines to be most
`appropriate may not meet the user’s particular needs. In such
`a case, the user could request that the template engine 5
`present additional
`templates from which the user may
`choose. These additional templates would typically be pre—
`sented to the user in an order based on their respective total
`weight values.
`According to this embodiment, templates presented to a
`user may include a number of choices that permit the user to
`minimize the amount of typing required, and may also
`include one or more input form identifiers. For example, a
`user may be presented with the following template:
`Let’s meet at [the time you suggested1Monday[<time>] at
`[the place you suggested|my office|the cafeteria].
`
`6
`The first phrase in this template, Let’s meet at [the time you
`suggested]MondayI<time>], consists of a set of three
`choices: the time you suggested, Monday, and <time>. The
`third choice is an input form identifier corresponding to a
`special input form for entering a time.
`FIG. 4 illustrates a special input form of a type that could
`be used to specify a time for inclusion in the exemplary
`template above. As shown,
`the user can enter a time by
`clicking spin buttons (ie, the lip/HOWE arrows) and option
`buttons (i.e., filled/Open circles). The processing associated
`with the special input form is the responsibility of the user
`interface 2, and is initiated by a user clicking on an input
`form identifier presented in the template. Special
`input
`forms such as those described herein, including the process-
`ing required to support them. are well known in the art.
`In View of the choices included in the exemplary template,
`including the input form identifier, it is apparent that the
`template could be used to generate many different text
`strings. For example, the user could use the template to
`generate the response:
`Let’s meet at the time you suggested at the place you
`suggested.
`
`or
`
`Let’s meet at 12:30 ALA at the cafeteria.
`The template engine 5 of the present invention thus enables
`a user to compose text messages using dramatically fewer
`keystrokes than would otherwise be required. To illustrate,
`the first of the foregoing sample responses would require
`more than sixty (60) keystrokes to input manually, whereas
`the template engine 5 can be used to generate the same
`sentence with less than five (5) keystrokes. The benefits of
`this are substantial, especially where the user is operating a
`device with restricted input capabilities.
`An especially advantageous feature of the template engine
`according to the present invention is its ability to “learn”
`from user activity. The template engine 5 will dynamically
`increase or decrease the weight values associated with the
`keywords of a template suggested to a user depending upon
`whether the user accepts or rejects the suggestion. With
`reference to the template discussed above, for example. the
`template engine 5 might increase the weight values associ—
`ated with the matched keywords “where,” “when” and
`“meet” by “5" if the user accepts the suggestion or decrease
`those weight values by “5” if the user rejects the suggestion
`(FIG. 3, step 235). This dynamic adjustment of weight
`values is preferably limited by predefined minimum (e.g.,
`“0”) and maximum (eg, “100”) weight values. The tem-
`plate engine 5 is therefore able to capture the user’s pref-
`erences and use them in future template suggestion
`procedures,
`thus tailoring the template engine 5 to the
`particular user’s needs and preferences.
`Yet another useful feature of the template engine 5, as
`shown in this embodiment of FIG. 3, is the ability for a user
`to customize templates stored in the template database 4
`(step 234). As shown above, the template engine 5 might
`suggest the following template to a user:
`Let’s meet at [the time you suggestedIMondayI<time>l at
`[the place you suggestedlmy ofliceIthe cafeteria].
`The user could invoke the customization function to replace
`the choice "the cafeteria” with “the thirdfloor conference
`room,” and the template engine 5 would update the template
`database 4 accordingly. Future uses of that template would
`then include the revised choice. Here again,
`the template
`engine is capable of being adapted to the needs and prefer—
`ences of the particular user, thus increasing its usefulness.
`Upon completion of template processing for a particular
`section of text selected by the user,
`the additional
`text
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`7
`generated by the template engine 5 is passed to the e-mail
`application for insertion in the message being composed.
`The user interface 2 could be programmed to automatically
`insert the generated text at the end of the message text, or
`alternatively could prompt the user to place the cursor at a
`particular location where the text
`is to be inserted. As
`illustrated in FIG. 3, the user could then select additional text
`passages for which templates are desired, and processing
`Will continue as described above. Alternatively, the template
`engine 5 and user interface 2 may be fully integrated into an
`e—mail application, providing a seamless set of text gener—
`ating functions in a manner that is transparent to the end
`user.
`
`In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the template
`engine 5 also provides template maintenance functions
`which allow the user to further customize the system. For
`example, the template engine 5 provides the user with the
`ability to delete existing templates from the template data—
`base 4 (step 210) or add new templates (step 220). Where a
`new template is being added, the user would have the ability
`to enter text phrases and choices,
`including input form
`identifiers for any special input form supported by the user
`interface 2, identify keywords to be used in searching for
`suggested templates, and assign weight values to those
`keywords.
`According to this embodiment, the template engine 5 also
`provides memory management functions to improve the
`overall performance of the application. For example, upon
`being invoked by a user. the template engine 5 may first
`dynamically allocate memory to store the selected text
`passage being processed. The template engine 5 may also
`dynamically allocate sufficient memory to store any sug—
`gested templates retrieved from the template database 4.
`Similarly, the template engine 5 may dynamically allocate
`memory when the user wishes to delete or update existing
`templates. In each case, the template engine 5 stores the
`template back to the template database 4, if needed, and
`releases the allocated memory upon completion of process-
`ing.
`Persons skilled in the art will recognize that the present
`invention is by no means limited to applications in which the
`user is faced with restricted input capabilities. The present
`invention could be just as beneficial to a user with a standard
`personal computer, since it provides the ability to generate
`e-mail messages with minimal typing. In any type of appli-
`cation (e.g., Smartphone, laptop, PC). the benefits provided
`by the present invention will increase with use in View of the
`learning and customization features described above. The
`user will be able to compose or respond to many routine
`e—mail messages using only a few key strokes, saving the
`time and effort that otherwise would have been required to
`type out the message.
`Likewise, the template engine of the present invention is
`not limited to use only in electronic messaging applications.
`The present invention may be readily applied to any type of
`text processing application, including standard word pro-
`cessing applications. For example, where a user is required
`to repetitively generate correspondence on the same subject
`matter, that user would benefit from having a database of
`templates from which to draw. The template engine of the
`present invention would provide such a user with substan-
`tially greater flexibility than is provided by simply copying
`boilerplate.
`the template engine according to the
`As noted above,
`present invention may be propagated through a dynamic link
`library (DLL). In such an embodiment, the DLL may be
`stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) or flash memory that
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`8
`would be included in a communications device, such as a
`Smartphone, Alternatively,
`the template engine could be
`propagated on a diskette or other type of portable memory
`for loading into a communications device or computer.
`It is contemplated that the template engine as provided to
`users would already have a set of predefined templates;
`however, the template engine would also have the ability to
`receive input of additional templates as they become avail-
`able. Indeed, where users have access to a network, the
`template database could alternatively be implemented as a
`central shared resource so that multiple users would have
`access to the same templates. Customized templates could
`then be stored locally on the user’s communications device
`or computer.
`What is claimed is:
`I. A method for generating a context-sensitive text mes-
`sage corresponding to an input
`text string,
`the method
`comprising the steps of:
`a. decomposing the input text string into a set of search
`words;
`b. comparing said set of search words to a set of keywords
`associated with each of a plurality of context-sensitive
`templates, wherein each of said keywords has an asso-
`ciated numeric weight value for each of said context-
`sensitive templates, said comparison comprising cal—
`culation of a total weight value for each of said plurality
`of context-sensitive templates;
`c. selecting one of said context-sensitive templates as
`corresponding contextually to the input text string; and
`d. generating a text message using said selected context-
`sensitive template.
`2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of identifying
`a context-sensitive template comprises determining which
`of said context-sensitive templates has a highest total weight
`value.
`3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of
`presenting one or more of said context-sensitive templates to
`a user.
`
`4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of
`increasing the numeric weight value for a keyword associ-
`ated with said context-sensitive template selected by the
`user.
`
`5. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of
`decreasing the numeric weight value for a keyword associ-
`ated with a context-sensitive template presented to the user
`but not selected for use in generating a text message.
`6. A template engine for generating a context-sensitive
`text message corresponding to an input
`text string,
`the
`template engine comprising:
`a. an input text processor;
`b. a template database containing a plurality of context—
`sensitive templates, each of which has a weighted
`keyword associated therewith;
`c. a database access module in communication with said
`input text processor and said template database, said
`database access module being configured to search said
`template database for a context—sensitive template most
`closely corresponding contextually to an input
`text
`string; and
`d. an output text generator in communication with said
`database access module.
`7. The template engine of claim 6 wherein said input text
`processor further comprises a parser decomposing the input
`text string into a set of search words.
`8. The template engine of claim 6 further comprising a
`template database maintenance module.
`
`Arendi S.A.R.L. - Ex. 2003
`Arendi S.A.R.L. - Ex. 2003
`Page 9 of 10
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`6,085,201
`
`9
`9. A method for dynamically generating text in response
`to an input text string, the method comprising:
`a. decomposing the input text string into a set of search
`words;
`b. comparing said set of search words to a set of keywords
`associated with each of a plurality of context—sensitive
`templates to identify a responsive template most
`closely corresponding contextually to the input
`text
`string, wherein each of said set of keywords has an
`associated numeric weight value for each of said
`context-sensitive templates, said comparison compris-
`ing calculation of a total weight value for each of said
`plurality of context-sensitive templates, with said
`responsive template being a context-sensitive template
`having a highest total weight value; and
`cr generating an output text string from said responsive
`template.
`10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of
`presenting said responsive template to a use