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A Form-Based Approach to Natural Language Query Processing

1994; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 11; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/07421222.1994.11518042

1557-928X

Nabil R. Adam, Aryya Gangopadhyay, James Clifford,

Data Management and Algorithms

Abstract:We describe a methodology for processing data retrieval and update queries using a form-based natural language interface. For the purpose of illustration, we use computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) as the application domain. The interface consists of a set of fourth-generation interface tools (SQL forms), a set of form definitions, a lexicon, and a parser. The forms are developed from the functional and data models of the system. A form definition consists of a form name, a form object, a set of form fields, and a set of fragment grammars. A form object is a single or composite entity that uniquely identifies a form. Form fields consist of database fields whose values can be entered by users (user-dermed), and others whose values can be derived by the system (system-dermed). Fragment grammars are templates that identify the information requested by user queries. The lexicon consists of all words recognized by the system, their grammatical categories, synonyms, and associations (if any) with database objects and forms. The parser scans a natural language query to identify a form in a bottom–up fashion. The information requested by the user query is determined in a top–down manner by matching the fragment grammars associated with a form against the user query. Extragrammatical inputs with limited deviations from the grammar rules are supported. Elliptical queries are supported by deriving the missing information from those specified in previous queries and forms. Combining a natural language processor with SQL forms allows update queries and prevents violation of database integrity constraints, duplication of records, and invalid data entry.Key Words and Phrases:: database management systems4GLnatural language interfacequery processing Additional informationNotes on contributorsNabil R. AdamNabil R. Adam is a Professor of Computers and Information Systems and Chair of the MS/CIS Department at Rutgers University. He is also a member of the Rutgers Graduate Program in Industrial and Systems Engineering. Dr. Adam received a B.S. degree from Cairo University, and M.S., M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees from Columbia University. Dr. Adam edited or coedited five books and three special journal issues. He has published papers in a wide range of areas, including simulation, scheduling, query optimization, database modeling, object-oriented databases, and concurrency and consistency control in distributed database systems. He has contributed to such journals as IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering, ACM Computing Surveys, Journal of Management Information Systems, Information Systems, Management Science, and European Journal of Operational Research. He serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Management Information Systems and is currently serving as the Program Chair of the 1994 International Conference on Information and Knowledge Management.Aryya GangopadhyayJames Clifford is an Associate Professor of Information Systems at the Leonard N. Stem School of Business at New York University, where he has been a member of the faculty since 1982. He earned a B.A. in music from Yale University in 1975, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in computer science (in 1979 and 1982, respectively) from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. His major areas of research have been the development of data models and query languages to support the temporal dimension of data, and the application of artificial intelligence to decision-making problems in business. His latest research interest lies in the area of knowledge discovery in large databases. He has authored or edited numerous articles and several books on these subjects.James CliffordAryya Gangopadhyay is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Information Sciences and Systems of the School of Business and Management at Morgan State University. He received his Ph.D. in computer information systems from Rutgers University in 1993. His research interests include knowledge-based query processing, natural language interfaces, and conceptual database design. Dr. Gangopadhyay has contributed to the International Journal of Intelligent and Cooperative Information Systems, and to several conference proceedings.