Probability-based state modification for query dialogues

Abstract

A device may facilitate a query dialog involving queries that successively modify a query state. However, fulfilling such queries in the context of possible query domains, query intents, and contextual meanings of query terms may be difficult. Presented herein are techniques for modifying a query state in view of a query by utilizing a set of query state modifications, each representing a modification of the query state possibly intended by the user while formulating the query (e.g., adding, substituting, or removing query terms; changing the query domain or query intent; and navigating within a hierarchy of saved query states). Upon receiving a query, an embodiment may calculate the probability of the query connoting each query state modification (e.g., using a Bayesian classifier), and parsing the query according to a query state modification having a high probability (e.g., mapping respective query terms to query slots within the current query intent).

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computer-implemented method, the method comprising:
 receiving a first query;   generating a first query state based on the first received query;   receive a second query;   generate a second query state based on the first query state and the second received query;   generating a modified second query based on the second query state;   executing the modified second query; and   providing results based on the execution of the modified second query.   
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , further comprising classifying the second received query as one among a set of query state modifications. 
     
     
         23 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 22 , wherein the set of the query state modifications includes a term-adding query state modification, a term-replacing query state modification, and an intent-changing query state modification. 
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 22 , further comprising determining a probability for each query state modification within the set of query state modifications for the second received query. 
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 24 , wherein generating the second query state includes modifying the first query state with the query state modification having a highest probability. 
     
     
         26 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , generating the modified second query further comprises:
 accessing a template query based on an intent indicated by the second query state, wherein the template query includes a plurality of query slots; and   populating the template query with one or more terms from the second received query or the second query state to generate the modified second query.   
     
     
         27 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the first query state includes a first query domain, and generating the second query state further comprises:
 determining a domain associated with the second received query; and   modifying the first query domain in the first query state based on the domain associated with the second received query.   
     
     
         28 . A hardware device storing instructions that when executed by at least one processor perform a set of operations comprising:
 receiving a first query;   generating a first query state based on a first received query;   based on a second received query, modifying the first query state to generate a second query state;   receiving a second query;   modifying the second received query with the second query state to generate a modified second query;   executing the modified second query; and   providing results for the modified second query.   
     
     
         29 . The hardware device of  claim 28 , wherein the operations further comprise classifying the second received query as one among a set of query state modifications. 
     
     
         30 . The hardware device of  claim 29 , wherein the set of the query state modifications includes a term-adding query state modification, a term-replacing query state modification, and an intent-changing query state modification. 
     
     
         31 . The hardware device of  claim 29 , wherein the operations further comprise determining a probability for each query state modification within the set of query state modifications for the second received query. 
     
     
         32 . The hardware device of  claim 31 , wherein modifying the first query state is based on the query state modification for the second received query having a highest probability. 
     
     
         33 . The hardware device of  claim 28 , wherein modifying the second received query with the second query state to generate the modified second query further comprises:
 accessing a template query based on an intent indicated by the second query state, wherein the template query includes a plurality of query slots; and   populating the template query with one or more terms from the second received query to generate the modified second query.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the first query state includes a first query domain, and modifying the first query state to generate the second query state further comprises:
 determining a domain associated with the second received query; and   modifying the first query domain in the first query state based on the domain associated with the second received query.   
     
     
         35 . A system comprising:
 at least one processor; and   a memory storing instructions that when executed by the at least one processor perform a method comprising:
 receiving a query; 
 determining a plurality of query state modification based on the received query; 
 determining a probability for each query state modification in the plurality of query state modifications; 
 modifying a query state based on the query state modification having a highest probability; 
 generating a modified query based on the modified query state; and 
 executing the modified query. 
   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the plurality of the query state modifications includes:
 a query state initiating modification;   a query term adding state modification;   a query term substituting state modification;   a query term removing state modification;   a query state saving modification;   a query state sequence navigating modification;   a query state domain changing modification;   a query state intent changing modification; and   a query state resetting modification.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the query state indicates a domain and an intent. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the first query state includes a first query domain, and modifying the first query state to generate the second query state further comprises:
 determining a domain associated with the second received query; and   modifying the first query domain in the first query state based on the domain associated with the second received query.   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein generating the modified query further comprises:
 accessing a template query based on the intent indicated by the modified query state, wherein the template query includes a plurality of query slots; and   populating the template query with one or more terms from the modified query state.   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the method further comprises providing results to the modified query.