SmartSQL AlfaTech Software Solutions Application Requirements Document  Radi Bekker  Vladimir Goldman  Marina Shaevich  Alexander Shapiro Team Members: Academic Advisor : Academic Advisor :Prof. Ehud Gudes Technical Advisor: Technical Advisor: Eliezer Kaplanski

Background  The NLP problem:  This area has been around in the computing world for a relatively long time.  Natural language processing (NLP) is a subfield of artificial intelligence and linguistics.  The main goal of NLP is to be interpreted by the computer and act according to its primary purpose.  The definition of "understanding" is one of the major problems in natural language processing.  Natural language understanding is sometimes referred to as an AI-complete problem (making computers as intelligent as people ).

Background- Alfa Magic  The AlfaTech tool.  Alfa Magic can be used to create computer software without using any computer languages.  Alfa Magic is a development platform that has been optimized for developers of administrative applications.  Alfa Magic Designer lets you design your applications graphically.  Alfa Magic allows a developer to focus on translating the business logic of a customer to application logic.

Background- Alfa Magic

Problem Domain  Most of the software in the world deals with data extraction from databases.  Query execution requires knowledge in SQL.  Requires many specialists and resources in order to maintain databases.  Simple users, without programming or SQL knowledge cannot change or update databases.  Asking the databases questions in a natural language is a very convenient and easy method of data access, especially for casual users who do not understand complicated database query languages such as SQL.

Current Solutions  The first attempts at NLP database interfaces are just as old as any other NLP research.  There are several known NLP-query builders:  ELF – works only with Access databases.  NALIX – works only with XML.  Such systems integrates some glossaries/grammars in order to handle more NL queries.  They differ in a power of such glossaries and their structures.

Current Solutions Three Levels Of Information:

Proposed Solution SmartSQL

 SmartSQL will accept an arbitrary English language sentence and translate it into exact DB query in SQL.  The performance of the software should be able to handle queries in a variety of application domains.  SmartSQL will be integrated in the AlfaTech tool (AlfaMagic) in order to enhance its given database access services. SmartSQL

 When a new database is needed to be integrated into the system, the system will first scan the database to extract all the needed information.  Third level of information will be based on glossaries relevant to the current applied database.  This glossaries will advance our system not only in the NLP point of view but also in AI. SmartSQL – Cont.

System Architecture Company Manager User DBMS (SQL server, access) System Administrator Query Data Set AlfaTech SmartSQL

Functional Requirements General Requirements:  General Requirements:  The system will be able to extract and present information from SQL Server or Access database.  The system will allow to users different actions according to their status ( admin\ordinary user)  Administrator will be able to add/remove database and its glossary.  The system will allow addition/removal of users.

Functional Requirements  NLP Analyzer:  Will receive a natural language sentence and will transform it into SQL query.  In case of misunderstanding, clarification questions will be asked.  Extensive use of glossaries in order to understand the given NLP query.  Will support all SQL main commands: Select, Join, Group by, Order by, Insert into, Update, Delete, Drop.  Will not support: join on more then 2 tables, having, Reports.

Functional Requirements  Graphical Query Builder:  Creation of queries using graphical interface.  Queries can be saved.  Ability to open saved queries.

Functional Requirements  Graphical presentation of data:  Presentation of the query in different modes (Pie, data grid, columns, etc.) by choosing the desired parameters: height, width, location, color, angle, etc.

Functional Requirements  User interaction with the system through several graphical interfaces: Login window. Login window. Administrator window. Administrator window. Natural language window. Natural language window. SQL builder window. SQL builder window. Presentation window. Presentation window.

Non-Functional Requirements Speed:  Speed:  System response within 2 seconds.  In case of interaction with DBMS, system will timeout within 20 seconds. Capacity:  Capacity: One – threaded system.  One – threaded system. Safety & Security:  Safety & Security: Authorization  Authorization  Access Control.

Non-Functional Requirements Usability:  Usability: User-friendly interface.  User-friendly interface.  No previous knowledge required. Availability:  Availability: Available 24 hours a day.  Available 24 hours a day. Technologies:  Technologies: Visual Studio 2005, C#.  Visual Studio 2005, C#.  MS Access.  SQL Server 2000 or later.

Risks  NATURAL LANGUAGE PROCESSING

Use Case Diagram

Creating SQL with SQL builder

Generation SQL from Natural Language

Interaction with result presentation

Questions