Menu Hierarchy Skipping Dialog For Directed Dialog Speech Recognition

• US 20070208568A1
• Filed: 03/04/2006
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Blanchard, Harry
• Granted Patent: US 8,457,973 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/270
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/04 with audible presentation of the material to be studied sound recording or reproducing G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/228 of application context
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/06 Transformation of speech into a non-audible representation, e.g. speech visualisation or speech processing for tactile aids G10L15/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/51 for comparison or discrimination
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4936 Speech interaction details speech recognition per se G10L15/00

Abstract

A method and a processing device for managing an interactive speech recognition system is provided. Whether a voice input relates to expected input, at least partially, of any one of a group of menus different from a current menu is determined. If the voice input relates to the expected input, at least partially, of any one of the group of menus different from the current menu, skipping to the one of the group of menus is performed. The group of menus different from the current menu include menus at multiple hierarchical levels.

Claims

1. A method for managing an interactive speech recognition system, the method comprising:

determining whether a voice input relates to expected input, at least partially, of any one of a plurality of menus different from a current menu; and

if the voice input relates to the expected input, at least partially, of any one of the plurality of menus different from a current menu, skipping to the one of the plurality of menus, wherein

the plurality of menus different from the current menu include menus at a plurality of hierarchical levels.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using a single grammar with respect to all voice inputs for all menus of the interactive speech recognition system.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

informing a user what to say to cause a menu skip when all of the voice inputs from the user relate to expected inputs of respective current menus.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the voice input relates to expected input, at least partially, of any one of a plurality of menus different from a current menu further comprises:

recognizing a key phrase or a keyword in the voice input; and

matching the key phrase or the keyword to the one of the plurality of menus different from the current menu.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of menus has an associated key phrase or an associated keyword that is non-overlapping with respective key phrases or keywords of other ones of the plurality of menus.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the voice input relates to expected input, at least partially, of any one of a plurality of menus different from a current menu further comprises:

recognizing a portion of a key phrase associated with a menu other than the current menu; and

prompting the user for additional information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the voice input relates to expected input, at least partially, of any one of a plurality of menus different from a current menu further comprises:

determining that the voice input includes a conversational correction.

8. A processing device comprising:

an electronic storage component; and

at least one processor operatively connected to the electronic storage component, wherein the at least one processor is arranged to;

determine whether a voice input relates to expected input, at least partially, of any one of a plurality of menus different from a current menu; and

if the voice input relates, at least partially, to the expected input of any one of the plurality of menus different from a current menu, skip to the one of the plurality of menus different from the current menu, wherein

the plurality of menus different from the current menu include menus at a plurality of hierarchical levels.

9. The processing device of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is further arranged to:

use a single grammar with respect to all voice inputs for all menus of the interactive speech recognition system.

10. The processing device of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is further arranged to:

determine whether a user is an expert user; and

inform the user what to say to cause a menu skip when the user is determined to be a non-expert user.

11. The processing device of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor being arranged to determine whether the voice input relates to expected input, at least partially, of any one of a plurality of menus different from a current menu further comprises the at least one processor being arranged to:

recognize a key phrase or a keyword in the voice input; and

match the key phrase or the keyword to the one of the plurality of menus.

12. The processing device of claim 11, wherein:

each of the plurality of menus has an associated key phrase or keyword that is non-overlapping with respective key phrases or keywords of other ones of the plurality of menus.

13. The processing device of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor being arranged to determine whether the voice input relates to expected input, at least partially, of any one of a plurality of menus different from a current menu further comprises the at least one processor being arranged to:

recognize a portion of a key phrase associated with one of the plurality of menus other than the current menu, and

prompt the user for additional information.

14. The processing device of claim 8, wherein at least one processor being arranged to determine whether the voice input relates to expected input, at least partially, of any one of a plurality of menus different from a current menu further comprises the at least one processor being arranged to:

determine that the voice input includes a conversational correction.

15. A machine-readable medium having instructions recorded therein for at least one processor, the machine-readable medium comprising:

instructions for determining whether a voice input relates to expected input, at least partially, of any one of a plurality of menus different from a current menu; and

instructions for skipping to the one of the plurality of menus different from the current menu if the voice input relates to the expected input, at least partially, of any one of the plurality of menus different from a current menu, wherein

the plurality of menus different from the current menu include menus at a plurality of hierarchical levels.

16. The processing device of claim 15, further comprising:

instructions for using a single grammar with respect to all voice inputs for all menus.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:

instructions for determining whether a user is an expert user; and

instructions for informing the user what to say to cause a menu skip when the user is determined to be a non-expert user.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions for determining whether the voice input relates to expected input, at least partially, of any one of a plurality of menus different from a current menu further comprise:

instructions for recognizing a key phrase or a keyword in the voice input; and

instructions for matching the key phrase or the keyword to the one of the plurality of menus.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 18, wherein

each of the plurality of menus has a respective associated key phrase or keyword that is non-overlapping with respective key phrases or keywords of other ones of the plurality of menus.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions for determining whether the voice input relates to expected input, at least partially, of any one of a plurality of menus different from a current menu further comprise:

instructions for recognizing a portion of a key phrase associated with the one of the plurality of menus other than the current menu; and

instructions for prompting the user for additional information.

21. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions for determining whether the voice input relates to expected input, at least partially, of any one of a plurality of menus different from a current menu further comprise:

instructions for determining that the voice input includes a conversational correction.

22. A processing device comprising:

means for determining whether a voice input relates to expected input, at least partially, of any one of a plurality of menus different from a current menu; and

means for skipping to the one of the plurality of menus different from the current menu when the voice input is determined to conform, at least partially, to the one of the plurality of menus different from the current menu, wherein

the plurality of menus different from the current menu include menus at a plurality of hierarchical levels.