Method and system for dynamic conditional interaction in a VoiceXML run-time simulation environment

• US 20050131708A1
• Filed: 12/12/2003
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Palma, William V. Da, Muschett, Brien H., Gavagni, Brett J., Hartley, Matthew W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,424,433 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue

Abstract

A method and system for testing voice applications, such as VoiceXML applications, is provided. The system provides a run-time simulation environment for voice applications that simulates and automates user interaction. A user simulation script is provided in a customized mark-up language. The voice application is processed to derive a nominal output of the voice application. The user simulation script is processed to generate a simulated output for the voice application corresponding to the nominal output. Conditional logic may be applied to the nominal output to generate a simulated input in response thereto. The user simulation script is specified in a customized mark-up language having a set of one or more conditional tags and an internal variable for the nominal output of the voice application.

Claims

1. A voice application simulation method comprising the steps of:

loading a user simulation script programmed to specify simulated voice interactions with the voice application;

deriving from the voice application a nominal output;

generating a simulated output for the voice application corresponding to the al output; and

conditionally producing a varying simulated input for the voice application.

2. A method for simulating a dynamic run-time user interaction with a voice application, said method comprising the steps of:

loading a user simulation script programmed to specify simulated voice interactions with the voice application;

deriving from the voice application a nominal output;

generating a simulated output for the voice application corresponding to the nominal output;

generating a first simulated input for the voice application corresponding to a first pre-determined user input to the voice application, if the nominal output satisfies a first condition; and

generating a second simulated input for the voice application corresponding to a second pre-determined user input to the voice application, if the nominal output satisfies a second condition different from the first condition.

3. The method of claim 2,

wherein the user simulation script is specified in a customized mark-up language, the customized mark-up language having a set of one or more conditional tags.

4. The method of claim 3,

wherein the customized mark-up language includes an internal variable for nominal output of the voice application.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

setting the internal variable to equal the nominal output of the voice application;

resolving a first conditional statement using a first conditional tag to generate the first simulated input if the internal variable equals a first nominal output of the voice application; and

resolving a second conditional statement using a second conditional tag to generate the second simulated input if the internal variable equals a second nominal output of the voice application.

6. A machine readable storage having stored thereon a computer program for simulating a dynamic run-time user interaction with a voice application, said computer program comprising a routine set of instructions which when executed by a machine cause the machine to perform the steps of:

loading a user simulation script programmed to specify simulated voice interactions with the voice application;

deriving from the voice application a nominal output;

generating a simulated output for the voice application corresponding to the nominal output;

generating a first simulated input for the voice application corresponding to a first pre-determined user input to the voice application, if the nominal output satisfies a first condition; and

generating a second simulated input for the voice application corresponding to a second pre-determined user input to the voice application, if the nominal output satisfies a second condition different from the first condition.

7. The machine readable storage of claim 6,

wherein the user simulation script is specified in a customized mark-up language, the customized mark-up language having a set of one or more conditional tags.

8. The machine readable storage claim 7,

wherein the customized mark-up language includes an internal variable for nominal output of the voice application.

9. The machine readable storage claim 8, further causing said machine to perform the steps of:

setting the internal variable to equal the nominal output of the voice application;

resolving a first conditional statement using a first conditional tag to generate the first simulated input if the internal variable equals a first nominal output of the voice application; and

resolving a second conditional statement using a second conditional tag to generate the second simulated input if the internal variable equals a second nominal output of the voice application.

10. A simulation tool for simulating a dynamic run-time user interaction with a voice application running on an application server, said tool being configured to load a user simulation script programmed to specify simulated voice interactions with the voice application, and to:

(i) process the voice application to derive a nominal output of the voice application;

(ii) process the user simulation script to generate a simulated output for the voice application corresponding to the nominal output;

(iii) process the user simulation script to generate a first simulated input for the voice application corresponding to a first pre-determined user input to the voice application, if the nominal output satisfies a first condition; and

(iv) process the user simulation script to generate a second simulated input for the voice application corresponding to a second pre-determined user input to the voice application, if the nominal output satisfies a second condition different from the first condition.

11. The simulation tool of claim 10,

wherein the user simulation script is specified in a customized mark-up language, the customized mark-up language having a set of one or more conditional tags.

12. The simulation tool of claim 11,

wherein the customized mark-up language includes an internal variable for nominal output of the voice application.

13. The simulation tool of claim 12,

wherein the simulation tool is further configured to:

(i) set the internal variable to equal the nominal output of the voice application;

(ii) resolve a first conditional statement using a first conditional tag to generate the first simulated input if the internal variable equals a first nominal output of the voice application; and

(iii) resolve a second conditional statement using a second conditional tag to generate the second simulated input if the internal variable equals a second nominal output of the voice application.