Method and apparatus for natural language processing

Claim 2

A natural language processing apparatus for processing a character train comprising: morphemic analysis means (4) for dividing an inputted character train of a natural language into vocabularies; syntax analysis means (5) for deciding whether or not a conjunction of the vocabularies is in conformity with a grammatical rule; a case dictionary (12) for registering a semantic role between the vocabularies which are in conformity with the grammatical rule; semantic analysis means (6) for determining a semantic concept of the vocabulary in an output of said syntax analysis means (5) by using said case dictionary (12); and a vocabulary hierarchy dictionary (13) for registering vocabularies by classifying the same from an upper order to a lower order in accordance with the semantic concept of each of the vocabularies, wherein when said inputted character train includes an undefined word, the semantic concept of said undefined word is obtained by said semantic analysis means (6), and a group of vocabularies corresponding to a lower concept of the semantic concept of said undefined word is extracted from said vocabulary hierarchy dictionary (13).

Claim 3

An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said semantic analysis means (6) fetches a vocabulary having a high priority except said undefined word from the output of said syntax analysis means (5), and the semantic concept of said undefined word is obtained by using said case dictionary (13).

Claim 4

A system according to Claim 2, wherein said vocabulary having a high priority is a verb constituting a predicate.

Claim 5

A natural language processing apparatus for processing a character train comprising: morphemic analysis means (4) for dividing an inputted character train of a natural language into vocabularies; syntax analysis means (5) for deciding whether or not a conjunction of the vocabularies is in conformity with a grammatical rule; a display device (3) for displaying a content and result of the processing of said character train; . a case dictionary (12) for registering a semantic role between the vocabularies which are in conformity with the grammatical rule; semantic analysis means (6) for determining a semantic concept of the vocabulary in the output of said syntax analysis means (5) by using said case dictionary (12); and a vocabulary hierarchy dictionary (13) for registering vocabularies by classifying the same from an upper order to a lower order in accordance with a semantic concept of each of the vocabularies, wherein when said inputted character train includes an undefined word, a semantic concept of said undefined word is obtained by said semantic analysis means (6), and a group of vocabularies corresponding to a lower concept of the semantic concept of said undefined word is extracted from said vocabulary hierarchy dictionary (13), and said extracted group of vocabularies of the lower concept are displayed on said display device (3) so that a synonym of said undefined word is selected from said displayed group of vocabularies.

Claim 6

A natural language processing apparatus for processing a character train comprising: morphemic analysis means (4) for dividing an inputted character train of a natural language into vocabularies; syntax analysis means (5) for deciding whether or not a conjunction of the vocabularies is in conformity with a grammatical rule; a display device (3) for displaying a content and result of the processing of said character train; . a case dictionary (12) for registering a semantic role between the vocabularies which are in conformity with the grammatical rule; semantic analysis means (6) for determining a semantic concept of the vocabulary in the output of said syntax analysis means (5) by using said case dictionary (12); and a vocabulary hierarchy dictionary (13) for registering vocabularies by classifying the same from an upper order to a lower order in accordance with a semantic concept of each of the vocabularies, wherein when said inputted character train includes an undefined word, a semantic concept of said undefined word is obtained by said semantic analysis means (6), and a group of vocabularies corresponding to a lower concept of the semantic concept of said undefined word is extracted from said vocabulary hierarchy dictionary (13), and said extracted group of vocabularies of the lower concept are displayed on said display device (3) so that a synonym of said undefined word is selected from said displayed group of vocabularies.

Claim 7

A natural language processing apparatus for processing a character train comprising: morphemic analysis means (4) for dividing an inputted character train of a natural language into vocabularies; syntax analysis means (5) for deciding whether or not a conjunction of the vocabularies is in conformity with a grammatical rule; a case dictionary (12) for registering a semantic role between the vocabularies which are in conformity with the grammatical rule; semantic analysis means (6) for determining a semantic concept of the vocabulary in the output of said syntax analysis means (5) by using said case dictionary (12); a vocabulary hierarchy dictionary (13) for registering vocabularies by classifying the same from an upper order to a lower order in accordance with a semantic concept of each of the vocabularies; and inference means (103) for selecting by inference a vocabulary which is in conformity with an intention of said inputted character train from said group of vocabularies registered as the lower concept in said vocabulary hierarchy dictionary (13), wherein when said inputted character train includes an undefined word, a semantic concept of said undefined word is obtained by said semantic analysis means (6), and a group of vocabularies corresponding to a lower concept of the semantic concept of said undefined word is extracted from said vocabulary hierarchy dictionary (13), and a synonym which is in conformity with the intention of said inputted character train is selected by said inference means (103) from said extracted group of vocabularies of the lower concept so that said undefined word is replaced by said selected synonym.

Claim 8

A natural language processing apparatus for processing a character train comprising: morphemic analysis means (4) for dividing an inputted character train of a natural language into vocabularies; syntax analysis means (5) for deciding whether or not a conjunction of the vocabularies is in conformity with a grammatical rule; a case dictionary (12) for registering a semantic role between the vocabularies which are in conformity with the grammatical rule; semantic analysis means (6) for determining a semantic concept of the vocabulary in the output of said syntax analysis means (5) by using said case dictionary (12); a vocabulary hierarchy dictionary (13) for registering vocabularies by classifying the same from an upper order to a lower order in accordance with a semantic concept of each of the vocabularies; and inference means (103) for selecting by inference a vocabulary which is in conformity with an intention of said inputted character train from said group of vocabularies registered as the lower concept in said vocabulary hierarchy dictionary (13), wherein when said inputted character train includes an undefined word, a semantic concept of said undefined word is obtained by said semantic analysis means (6), and a group of vocabularies corresponding to a lower concept of the semantic concept of said undefined word is extracted from said vocabulary hierarchy dictionary (13), and a synonym which is in conformity with the intention of said inputted character train is selected by said inference means (103) from said extracted group of vocabularies of the lower concept so that said undefined word is replaced by said selected synonym.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein an information terminal system is operated by using said inputted natural language.