Alation. has been granted a patent for a method that utilizes natural language processing to query and analyze datasets while maintaining context. The method involves receiving user input, identifying previous conversation steps, determining an effective schema, and generating executable SQL statements to retrieve results and metadata. GlobalData’s report on Alation gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.

According to GlobalData’s company profile on Alation, Industrial data mgmt systems was a key innovation area identified from patents. Alation's grant share as of June 2024 was 50%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.

Natural language processing for querying datasets contextually

Source: United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Credit: Alation Inc

The granted patent US12013850B2 outlines a computer-implemented method for enhancing user interaction with a data query engine through natural language processing. The method begins with a user interface receiving an utterance that queries the data engine. It identifies previous steps in the data conversation, utilizing a machine learning model to determine an effective schema based on the current utterance and prior interactions. This process involves generating an intermediate structured query language (SQL) statement, which is then transformed into an executable SQL statement tailored to the specific dialect of the data query engine. The results of this execution, along with relevant metadata, are communicated back to the user interface.

Further claims detail the user interface's capabilities, including the display of holistic and detailed views of data conversations, schema views, and topic views that categorize entities and their attributes. The method also encompasses the extraction of calculations and metric names from the utterance, the expansion of SQL keywords to include user intent, and the ability to save and replay data conversations. Additionally, it allows for the communication of natural language explanations of the executed actions and the display of results in various formats, such as spreadsheet views. Overall, the patent emphasizes a sophisticated integration of machine learning and user interface design to facilitate intuitive data querying and interaction.

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