Resolution: Choosing Among Explanations

Abstract

When an utterance is understandable using the current grammar, the result of the Parse/Recovery Cycle is one or more meaning representations of the sentence (APTs) at a particular deviation-level. Although each APT represents an action to be performed in the domain, there is no guarantee that all APTs represent the same action or that any represented action is meaningful in the context established by the contents of the calendar and airline schedule. The Resolution phase of processing is responsible for enforcing database constraints, establishing a single meaning for the utterance, and performing the database action represented by that meaning (to review the position of the Resolution phase in the complete understanding process see Figure 4-1). There are three essential issues in resolution. First, do any of the represented actions correspond to the user’s intent? This question must be asked hen more than one effect is present or when there is a single effect at a non-zero always pertinent. Third, what form should interaction with the user take? This question relates to the first one—determining the user’s intent often requires user interaction.