Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a search for information containing natural language is disclosed which uses a natural language query. The query is input in the form of units of the natural language and this is matched with units in the natural language of the data. Where there are unmatched units in the query and/or the data, context data in the form of one or more unmatched units of the query and/or the data is generated. Each unmatched unit as a predefined linguistic relationship to one of the or each matched unit. Output data is formed as matched units with any respective context data.

Abstract: A user interface is described which allows a user to enter input data representing a phrase, sentence, or passage of a natural language in order to cause the initiation of an action by a computer. The input data is parsed in order to generate meaning data in the form of lexical meaning representations and link data which defines the modification relationship between the lexical meaning representations. The meaning data of the input data is compared with similar meaning data for reference data by identifying a head lexical meaning representation which does not modify any other lexical meaning representations. An equivalent lexical meaning representation is identified in the reference data and then equivalent chain linked pairs of lexical meaning representations are identified in the input meaning data and the reference meaning data. The computer responds in dependence upon the degree of equivalence determined.

Abstract: Apparatus generates data in processor usable form from natural language input data units in different unit categories. Input data categorized into categories generates data units having unit identification data and corresponding unit category data for input to a cascaded plurality of matching processing stages. Each matching processing stage of this cascade except the first uses any unmatched unit category data and group category data from previous matching processing stages in place of matched category data to match the unit and/or group category data with at least one predetermined pattern of unit and/or group category data. New group category data is output for any unit and/or group category matching each predetermined pattern of unit and/or group category data. At least one of the matching processing stages outputs unit data corresponding to matched unit category data as a plurality of variables. At least one of these variables is indexed by another of the variables.

Abstract: A data processing method and apparatus is described for identifying a classification to which data belongs where the data comprises a plurality of features at least some of which are common to a plurality of classifications. The features of the data are extracted as sequential elements which are sequentially input until the classification to which data belongs is identified. The elements are compared with predetermined probability values for the elements of each classification to determine a probability that the elements belong to a classification. The probabilities are accumulated to form an accumulated probability for each classification and a classification to which data belongs is identified from the accumulated probability.