Question-answering system, question-answering method, and question-answering program

Abstract

A question-answering system that is formed with an information processing apparatus for processing information in accordance with a program, and obtains an answer to an input search question sentence by searching a knowledge source, includes: a background information set; a first answer candidate extracting unit; a first background information generating unit; an accuracy determining unit; and a first background information adding unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of a question-answering system;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the operation of the question-answering system;

FIG. 3 illustrates the structure of a question-answering system in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 illustrates the structure of a question-answering system in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A question-answering system that is formed with an information processing apparatus for processing information in accordance with a program, and obtains an answer to an input search question sentence by searching a knowledge source, the question-answering system comprising:a background information set storing unit that stores a set of background information indicating relationship among the question sentence, search results obtained through a search that is contained in the knowledge source and is related to the question sentence, and an answer candidate that is extracted from the search results and can be an answer to the question sentence;a first answer candidate extracting unit that obtains search results by searching contained in the knowledge source based on analysis information relative to the question sentence obtained by analyzing the question sentence, the first answer candidate extracting unit extracting an answer candidate that can be an answer to the question sentence from the search results based on the set of background information stored in the background information set storing unit;a first background information generating unit that generates background information indicating relationship among the question sentence, the search result sentence obtained by the first answer candidate extracting unit, and the answer candidate extracted by the first answer candidate extracting unit;an accuracy determining unit that determines whether answer candidate extraction accuracy with respect to the set of background information reaches a predetermined standard in a case where the background information generated by the first background information generating unit is added to the set of background information stored in the background information set storing unit; anda first background information adding unit that adds the background information generated by the first background information generating unit to the set of background information stored in the background information set storing unit, when the answer candidate extraction accuracy reaches the predetermined standard.

2. The question-answering system according to claim 1, further comprising: a second answer candidate extracting unit that obtains search results by searching contained in the knowledge source based on a search rule relative to the question sentence that is set in advance, the second answer candidate extracting unit extracting an answer candidate that can be an answer to the question sentence from the search results;a second background information generating unit that generates background information indicating relationship among the question sentence, the search result sentence obtained by the second answer candidate extracting unit, and the answer candidate extracted by the second answer candidate extracting unit, when the answer candidate is successfully extracted by the second answer candidate extracting unit; anda second background information adding unit that adds the background information generated by the second background information generating unit to the set of background information stored in the background information set storing unit.

3. The question-answering system according to claim 2, further comprising an evaluation background information set storing unit that stores a set of evaluation background information indicating relationship among the question sentence, search results obtained by searching that is relative to the question sentence and is contained in the knowledge source, and an answer candidate that is extracted from the search results and can be an answer to the question sentence,wherein:the accuracy determining unit compares a value that represents answer candidate extraction accuracy based on the set of evaluation background information stored in the evaluation background information set storing unit, with a value that represents answer candidate extraction accuracy based on the set of evaluation background information obtained in a case where the background information generated by the first background information generating unit is added to the set of evaluation background information stored in the evaluation background information set storing unit; andthe first background information adding unit adds the background information generated by the first background information generating unit to the set of background information stored in the background information set storing unit, when the value that represents the answer candidate extraction accuracy based on the set of evaluation background information obtained in the case where the background information generated by the first background information generating unit is added to the set of evaluation background information stored in the evaluation background information set storing unit is larger than the value that represents the answer candidate extraction accuracy based on the set of evaluation background information stored in the evaluation background information set storing unit.

4. The question-answering system according to claim 3, wherein the set of evaluation background information is a set of background information generated by the second background information generating unit.

5. A question-answering system that is formed with an information processing apparatus for processing information in accordance with a program, and obtains an answer to an input search question sentence by searching a knowledge source, the question-answering system comprising:a background information set storing unit that stores a set of background information indicating relationship among the question sentence, search results obtained through a search that is contained in the knowledge source and is related to the question sentence, and an answer candidate that is extracted from the search results and can be an answer to the question sentence;a first answer candidate extracting unit that obtains search results by searching contained in the knowledge source based on analysis information relative to the question sentence obtained by analyzing the question sentence, the first answer candidate extracting unit extracting an answer candidate that can be an answer to the question sentence from the search results based on the set of background information stored in the background information set storing unit;a second answer candidate extracting unit that obtains search results by searching contained in the knowledge source based on a search rule relative to the question sentence that is set in advance, the second answer candidate extracting unit extracting an answer candidate that can be an answer to the question sentence from the search results;a second background information generating unit that generates background information indicating relationship among the question sentence, the search results obtained by the second answer candidate extracting unit, and the answer candidate extracted by the second answer candidate extracting unit, when the answer candidate is successfully extracted by the second answer candidate extracting unit; anda second background information adding unit that adds the background information generated by the second background information generating unit to the set of background information stored in the background information set storing unit.

6. A question-answering method to be utilized in a question-answering system that is formed with an information processing apparatus for processing information in accordance with a program, and obtains an answer to an input search question sentence by searching a knowledge source, the method comprising:a first answer candidate extracting step of extracting an answer candidate that can be an answer to the question sentence from search results obtained by searching contained in the knowledge source based on analysis information relative to the question sentence obtained by analyzing the question sentence, the answer candidate being extracted based on a set of background information that is stored beforehand in a memory device and indicates relationship among the question sentence, the search result sentence obtained by searching for the search object sentence that is related to the question sentence and is contained in the knowledge source, and the answer candidate that is extracted from the search results and can be an answer to the question sentence;a first background information generating step of generating background information that indicates relationship among the question sentence, the search result sentence obtained in the first answer candidate extracting step, and the answer candidate extracted in the first answer candidate extracting step;an accuracy determining step of determining whether answer candidate extraction accuracy with respect to the set of background information reaches a predetermined standard in a case where the background information generated in the first background information generating step is added to the set of background information stored in the memory device; anda first background information adding step of adding the background information generated in the first background information generating step to the set of background information stored in the memory device, when the answer candidate extraction accuracy reaches the predetermined standard.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising: a second answer candidate extracting step of extracting an answer candidate that can be an answer to the question sentence from search results obtained by searching contained in the knowledge source based on a search rule relative to the question sentence that is set in advance;a second background information generating step of generating background information that indicates relationship among the question sentence, the search result sentence obtained in the second answer candidate extracting step, and the answer candidate extracted in the second answer candidate extracting step, when the answer candidate is successfully extracted in the second answer candidate extracting step; anda second background information adding step of adding the background information generated in the second background information generating step to the set of background information stored in the memory device.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein: the accuracy determining step includes comparing a value that represents answer candidate extraction accuracy based on a set of evaluation background information that is stored beforehand in a memory device and indicates relationship among the question sentence, search results obtained by searching relative to the question sentence and contained in the knowledge source, and an answer candidate that is extracted from the search results and can be an answer to the question sentence, with a value that represents answer candidate extraction accuracy based on the set of evaluation background information obtained in a case where the background information generated in the first background information generating step is added to the set of evaluation background information stored in the memory device; andthe first background information adding step includes adding the background information generated in the first background information generating step to the set of background information stored in the memory device, when the value that represents the answer candidate extraction accuracy based on the set of evaluation background information obtained in the case where the background information generated in the first background information generating step is added to the set of evaluation background information stored in the memory device is larger than the value that represents the answer candidate extraction accuracy based on the set of evaluation background information stored in the memory device.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the set of evaluation background information is a set of background information generated in the second background information generating step.

10. A question-answering method to be utilized in a question-answering system that is formed with an information processing apparatus for processing information in accordance with a program, and obtains a correct answer to an input question sentence by searching a knowledge source, the method comprising:a first answer candidate extracting step of extracting an answer candidate that can be an answer to the question sentence from search results obtained by searching contained in the knowledge source based on analysis information relative to the question sentence obtained by analyzing the question sentence, the answer candidate being extracted based on a set of background information that is stored beforehand in a memory device and indicates relationship among the question sentence, the search result obtained by searching that is related to the question sentence and is contained in the knowledge source, and the answer candidate that is extracted from the search results and can be an answer to the question sentence;a second answer candidate extracting step of extracting an answer candidate that can be an answer to the question sentence from search results obtained by searching contained in the knowledge source based on a search rule relative to the question sentence that is set in advance;a second background information generating step of generating background information that indicates relationship among the question sentence, the search result sentence obtained in the second answer candidate extracting step, and the answer candidate extracted in the second answer candidate extracting step, when the answer candidate is successfully extracted in the second answer candidate extracting step; anda second background information adding step of adding the background information generated in the second background information generating step to the set of background information stored in the memory device.

11. A program that can be executed in an information processing apparatus constituting a question-answering system that obtains an answer to an input search question sentence by searching a knowledge source, the program comprising:a first answer candidate extracting step of extracting an answer candidate that can be an answer to the question sentence from search results obtained by searching contained in the knowledge source based on analysis information relative to the question sentence obtained by analyzing the question sentence, the answer candidate being extracted based on a set of background information that is stored beforehand in a memory device and indicates relationship among the question sentence, the result sentence obtained by searching that is related to the question sentence and is contained in the knowledge source, and the answer candidate that is extracted from the search results and can be an answer to the question sentence;a first background information generating step of generating background information that indicates relationship among the question sentence, the result sentence obtained in the first answer candidate extracting step, and the answer candidate extracted in the first answer candidate extracting step;an accuracy determining step of determining whether answer candidate extraction accuracy with respect to the set of background information reaches a predetermined standard in a case where the background information generated in the first background information generating step is added to the set of background information stored in the memory device; anda first background information adding step of adding the background information generated in the first background information generating step to the set of background information stored in the memory device, when the answer candidate extraction accuracy reaches the predetermined standard.

12. The program according to claim 11, further comprising: a second answer candidate extracting step of extracting an answer candidate that can be an answer to the question sentence from search results obtained by searching contained in the knowledge source based on a search rule relative to the question sentence that is set in advance;a second background information generating step of generating background information that indicates relationship among the question sentence, the search result sentence obtained in the second answer candidate extracting step, and the answer candidate extracted in the second answer candidate extracting step, when the answer candidate is successfully extracted in the second answer candidate extracting step; anda second background information adding step of adding the background information generated in the second background information generating step to the set of background information stored in the memory device.

13. The program according to claim 12, wherein: the accuracy determining step includes comparing a value that represents answer candidate extraction accuracy based on a set of evaluation background information that is stored beforehand in a memory device and indicates relationship among the question sentence, search results obtained by searching relative to the question sentence and contained in the knowledge source, and an answer candidate that is extracted from the search results and can be an answer to the question sentence, with a value that represents answer candidate extraction accuracy based on the set of evaluation background information obtained in a case where the background information generated in the first background information generating step is added to the set of evaluation background information stored in the memory device; andthe first background information adding step includes adding the background information generated in the first background information generating step to the set of background information stored in the memory device, when the value that represents the answer candidate extraction accuracy based on the set of evaluation background information obtained in the case where the background information generated in the first background information generating step is added to the set of evaluation background information stored in the memory device is larger than the value that represents the answer candidate extraction accuracy based on the set of evaluation background information stored in the memory device.

14. The program according to claim 13, wherein the set of evaluation background information is a set of background information generated in the second background information generating step.

15. A program that can be executed in an information processing apparatus constituting a question-answering system that obtains an answer to an input search question sentence by searching a knowledge source, the program comprising:a first answer candidate extracting step of extracting an answer candidate that can be an answer to the question sentence from search results obtained by searching contained in the knowledge source based on analysis information relative to the question sentence obtained by analyzing the question sentence, the answer candidate being extracted based on a set of background information that is stored beforehand in a memory device and indicates relationship among the question sentence, the search result obtained by searching that is related to the question sentence and is contained in the knowledge source, and the answer candidate that is extracted from the search results and can be an answer to the question sentence;a second answer candidate extracting step of extracting an answer candidate that can be an answer to the question sentence from search results obtained by searching contained in the knowledge source based on a search rule relative to the question sentence that is set in advance;a second background information generating step of generating background information that indicates relationship among the question sentence, the search result obtained in the second answer candidate extracting step, and the answer candidate extracted in the second answer candidate extracting step, when the answer candidate is successfully extracted in the second answer candidate extracting step; anda second background information adding step of adding the background information generated in the second background information generating step to the set of background information stored in the memory device.