Method and apparatus for performing dialog management in a computer conversational interface
First Claim
1. A computerized interface for managing a dialog between a computer and a user of the computer, the computer having an audio input device and an audio output device, the computerized interface comprising:
- a queue for retaining responses generated by the computer to spoken input from the user and received by the computer through the audio input device;
a dialog manager for placing the generated responses in the queue; and
a turn manager for managing audible rendering of the responses from the queue through the audio output device, so that the user receives each response as part of a dialog between the computer and the user, the turn manager conducting the dialog in a polite manner that is subject to control by the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dialog management system functions to manage the dialog between a user of a computer system and one or more speech enabled software applications. The user provides spoken input to a microphone connected to the computer system, and hears responses from one or more applications through a speaker connected to the computer system. The dialog management system includes a dialog manager, a turn manager, a speak queue, dialog contexts, and dialog state. The dialog manager provides top-level control of the dialog and stores responses based on the user'"'"'s spoken input in a speak queue for later output to the user. The turn manager controls delivery of the responses to the user based on the dialog context and the dialog state, to provide a polite dialog with the user that enables the user to be in control of the dialog. The dialog context provides information about each dialog. The dialog state provides information about whose turn it is (computer or user) to speak.
94 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computerized interface for managing a dialog between a computer and a user of the computer, the computer having an audio input device and an audio output device, the computerized interface comprising:
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a queue for retaining responses generated by the computer to spoken input from the user and received by the computer through the audio input device;
a dialog manager for placing the generated responses in the queue; and
a turn manager for managing audible rendering of the responses from the queue through the audio output device, so that the user receives each response as part of a dialog between the computer and the user, the turn manager conducting the dialog in a polite manner that is subject to control by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for managing a dialog between a computer and a user of the computer, the computer having an audio input device and an audio output device, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
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receiving responses generated by the computer to spoken input from the user and received by the computer through the audio input device;
placing the generated responses in a queue; and
managing audible rendering of the responses from the queue through the audio output device, so that the user receives each response as part of a dialog between the computer and the user, the dialog conducted in a polite manner that is subject to control by the user. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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13. A computer program product comprising:
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a computer usable medium for managing a dialog between a computer and a user of the computer; and
a set of computer program instructions embodied on the computer usable medium, including instructions to;
receive responses generated by the computer to spoken input from the user and received by the computer through the audio input device;
place the generated responses in a queue; and
manage audible rendering of the responses from the queue through the audio output device, so that the user receives each response as part of a dialog between the computer and the user, the dialog conducted in a polite manner that is subject to control by the user.
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19. A computerized interface for managing a dialog between a computer and a user of the computer, the computer having an audio input device and an audio output device, the computerized interface comprising:
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a queue for retaining responses generated by the computer to spoken input from the user and received by the computer through the audio input device;
means for placing the generated responses in the queue; and
means for managing audible rendering of the responses from the queue through the audio output device, so that the user receives each response as part of a dialog between the computer and the user, the dialog conducted in a polite manner that is subject to control by the user.
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20. A computer program propagated signal product comprising:
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a computer usable propagated medium for managing a dialog between a computer and a user of the computer; and
a set of computer program instructions embodied on the computer usable propagated medium, including instructions to;
receive responses generated by the computer to spoken input from the user and received by the computer through the audio input device;
place the generated responses in a queue; and
manage audible rendering of the responses from the queue through the audio output device, so that the user receives each response as part of a dialog between the computer and the user, the dialog conducted in a polite manner that is subject to control by the user.
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Specification