Jovo Model: Snips NLU

Learn how to turn the Jovo Model into a Snips NLU model.

• Introduction
• Using the Snips Jovo Model npm Package
• Customizing the Jovo Model

Introduction

Snips NLU is an open source natural language understanding (NLU) service.

Learn more about the language model structure in the official Rasa NLU docs. The Jovo Model can be translated into this structure by using the npm package (see below).

Using the Snips Jovo Model npm Package

Install the package like this:

$ npm install @jovotech/model-snips

You can learn more about all the Jovo Model features here: Using the Jovo Model npm Packages.

Here is a code sample of how to convert from a Jovo model to a Snips dataset:

import { JovoModelData } from '@jovotech/model';
import { JovoModelSnips } from '@jovotech/model-snips';
import jovoModel from './models/en.json';

const snipsDataset = JovoModelSnips.fromJovoModel(jovoModel as JovoModelData, 'en');
console.log(JSON.stringify(snipsDataset, null, 2));

Customizing the Jovo Model

For Snips, the Jovo Model supports the following Intent entries:

• Intent only
• Builtin entities
• Custom entities
• Combined builtin and custom entities

Look in the examples folder to see how to structure a Jovo model and the corresponding Snips dataset that will be generated.

Intent only

An intent-only entry includes an array of phrases:

// Jovo model
{
  "invocation": "my test app",
  "version": "4.0",
  "intents": {
    "YesIntent": {
      "phrases": [
        "yes",
        "yes please",
        "sure"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Builtin entities

An intent can include an array of phrases with {variables} that map to a key in the entities object.

For a builtin entity, the type starts with "snips/" followed by the entity type:

// Jovo model
{
  "invocation": "my test app",
  "version": "4.0",
  "intents": {
    "NumberIntent": {
      "phrases": [
        "my number is {myNumber}"
      ],
      "entities": {
        "myNumber": {
          "type": "snips/number"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

For a list of builtin Snips types, see Supported builtin entities and refer to the Identifier column.

Custom entities

An intent can include an array of phrases with {variables} that map to a key in the entities object.

For a custom entity, the type will be a custom name that you define and a corresponding entry must be added to the entityTypes section. Custom entity types can include synonyms:

// Jovo model
{
  "invocation": "my test app",
  "version": "4.0",
  "intents": {
    "ColorIntent": {
      "phrases": [
        "i pick {color}",
        "my favorite color is {color}"
      ],
      "entities": {
        "color": {
          "type": "CUSTOM_COLORS"
        }
      }
    }
  },
  "entityTypes": {
    "CUSTOM_COLORS": {
      "name": "CUSTOM_COLORS",
      "values": [
        {
          "value": "red",
          "synonyms": [
            "crimson"
          ]
        },
        {
          "value": "yellow",
          "synonyms": []
        },
        {
          "value": "blue",
          "synonyms": []
        },
        {
          "value": "green",
          "synonyms": []
        },
        {
          "value": "orange",
          "synonyms": []
        },
        {
          "value": "purple",
          "synonyms": []
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

NOTICE: There is a current limitation with the mapping of a Jovo model to a Snips dataset such that the values for use_synonyms and automatically_extensible are always true and matching_strictness is always 1. With automatically_extensible set to true it means that the data list values provided are not all the values that will be recognized for the entity type.

// Snips dataset (partial)
{
    "CUSTOM_COLORS": {
        "data": [
        {
            "value": "red",
            "synonyms": [
            "crimson"
            ]
        },
        {
            "value": "yellow",
            "synonyms": []
        },
        {
            "value": "blue",
            "synonyms": []
        },
        {
            "value": "green",
            "synonyms": []
        },
        {
            "value": "orange",
            "synonyms": []
        },
        {
            "value": "purple",
            "synonyms": []
        }
        ],
        "matching_strictness": 1,
        "use_synonyms": true,
        "automatically_extensible": true
    },
}

Combined builtin and custom entities

You can also combine builtin and custom entities for the same intent:

// Jovo model
{
  "invocation": "my test app",
  "version": "4.0",
  "intents": {
    "WeatherIntent": {
      "phrases": [
        "give me the weather forecast for {weatherLocation} {weatherDate}"
      ],
      "entities": {
        "weatherLocation": {
          "type": "CUSTOM_WEATHER_LOCATION"
        },
        "weatherDate": {
          "type": "snips/datetime"
        }
      }
    }
  },
  "entityTypes": {
    "CUSTOM_WEATHER_LOCATION": {
      "name": "CUSTOM_WEATHER_LOCATION",
      "values": [
        {
          "value": "phoenix",
          "synonyms": []
        },
        {
          "value": "los angeles",
          "synonyms": []
        },
        {
          "value": "new york city",
          "synonyms": []
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}