An Intelligent Retrieval and Presentation System for Management Information

Abstract

Like most large organisations British Gas has a wealth of information stored on computers. Access to this information is most frequently provided by printed reports available in varying degrees of detail. Some of this information can be accessed directly on VDUs using standard reporting formats, however access methods such as command languages create difficulties for the infrequent or non-expert user. Senior management would benefit from access to information via a system with a simple interface which avoided the use of command languages and numerous interactions such as with typical menu-driven systems. Hence a joint project has been established between British Gas and Sunderland Polytechnique to investigate the feasibility of free-format access to management information. The major objectives of this project are to explore this possibility and the limitations of supplying replies to users' queries within a limited domain without : (i) a command language; (ii) the use of menus; (iii) the need to use several interactions; (iv) true naturallanguage understanding. Unlike front ends to current database management systems this project is to provide an interface between the user's natural-language question and existing data files, where no DBMS is present. Thus it is necessary for our interface to contain the ability to: (i) interpret the user's question; (ii) determine the data required; (iii) retrieve the data; (iv) manipulate the base data into a form suitable to answer the user's question. Further criteria were that the system must be capable of running on a PC and must be quick and simple to use, requiring no computer skills other than the ability to use a keyboard.