Integrating an intelligent interface with a relational database for two way man-machine communication

The design of a system capable of handling ad hoc user responses to system-initiated questions is considered. An approach called the expectation-driven response understanding paradigm was developed. In this paradigm, it is assumed that each system-generated question is accompanied by an expectation of what the user should respond. The system attempts to link this expectation with the user´s response in order to quantify its appropriateness in relation to the system´s original question. A prototype system based on this paradigm has been implemented and integrated with the INGRES database system