[alicebot-archcomm] Concerning adjacent wildcards

[Jonathan Roewen]

> Assuming patterns like "* * * * * *" are defined in the AIML standard...
>
> Given the input "hey surfer dude", pattern "HEY * DUDE" will match, but
> pattern "HEY DUDE" will not?

Of course.

>  Then does "* * * * * *" match "hey surfer
> dude"?

Definitely not. The requirement that a wildcard match at least one
word/token prevents the category from matching.

>  What does "* _ * * *" do?

Matches 5 words or more. The underscore may be confusing, but what it does
is create a change in matching precedence.

>  Is "_ * * *" anything useful?

Any category containing any combination of wildcards with/without normal
tokens can only be considered useful within the context of the entire AIML
set.

In the genral case of conversation bots, the above category is most likely
not useful. However, in some sort of calculation engine of some kind, it may
indeed be useful .. it's not something that can be determined on it's own.

Jon =)