Voice recognition system and method

• US 20060259294A1
• Filed: 12/16/2003
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 668158 BC Limited
• Original Assignee: 668158 BC Limited
• Inventors: Tashereau, John
• Application Number:
  US10/539,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20060259294A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/10
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/02 Feature extraction for speech recognition; Selection of recognition unit
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/228 of application context
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems

Abstract

A method of matching an utterance comprising a word to a listing in a directory using an automated speech recognition system by forming a word list comprising a selection of words from the listings in the directory; using the automated speec recognition system to determine the best possible matches of the word in the utterance to the words in the word list; creating a grammar of listings in the directory that contain at least one of the best possible matches; and using the automated speech recognition system to match the utterance to a listing within the grammar.

Claims

1. A method of matching an utterance comprising a word to a record in a database using an automatic speech recognition system comprising:

(a) forming a word list comprising a selection of words from said records in said database;

(b) using the automated speech recognition system to determine the best possible matches of the word in said utterance to the words in said word list;

(c) creating a grammar of records in said database that contain at least one of said best possible matches;

(d) using the automated speech recognition system to match said utterance to a record within said grammar.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said database is a directory.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said record is a listing.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the word list includes transformations of said selection of words.

5. The method of on of claim 4 wherein the utterance is obtained by asking questions of a user.

6. A system for matching an utterance comprising a word to a record in a database using an automatic speech recognition system comprising:

(a) means for forming a word list comprising a selection of words from said records in said database;

(b) means for using the automated speech recognition system to determine the best possible matches of the word in said utterance to the words in said word list;

(c) means for creating a grammar of records in said database that contain at least one of said best possible matches; and

(d) means for using the automated speech recognition system to match said utterance to a record within said grammar.

7. A method of providing a listing to a user comprising:

(a) establishing communications with a user;

(b) asking questions of said user, and obtaining answers therefor;

(c) by using said answers, determining if an automated speech recognition system can determine the listing;

(d) using an operator to provide said listing if it is determined said automated speech recognition system cannot determine the listing;

(e) if said automated speech recognition system can determine said listing, having said automated speech recognition system do so.

8. A method of automatic speech recognition comprising:

(a) receiving an utterance;

(b) recording said utterance;

(c) attempting to recognize said utterance;

(d) if the recognition of said utterance is below a pre-set confidence level, adjusting the gain on said recording and re-recognizing said utterance.

9. A method of providing directory assistance to a user comprising:

(a) receiving an utterance from a user;

(b) determining a listing in response to said utterance;

(c) providing an advertisement to said user before providing said listing to said user;

wherein said user is not charged an additional fee for the directory assistance.