Language model update device, language Model update method, and language model update program

• US 20090313017A1
• Filed: 07/06/2007
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Hitoshi, Nakazawa, Satoshi, Kitade, Tasuku
• Application Number:
  US12/309,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20090313017A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/244
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/216 using statistical methods
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/065 Adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/183 using context dependencies, e.g. language models
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/19 Grammatical context, e.g. disambiguation of the recognition hypotheses based on word sequence rules

Abstract

A framework in which a numerical value that represents a statistical appearance tendency of each of words in a language model is set with respect to the words not only as a constant, but also as an update function that changes in time, is included. The numerical value that represents the set statistical appearance tendency of a word is automatically updated in accordance with passage of time. A time information inputting section 50 that receives elapsed time from a time point set in advance or date and time information, an update target and update function storage section 20 that retains a pair of a word to be updated or a condition of words to be updated and an update function, and a language model update section 40 that updates a language model of the word to be updated or a group of words that satisfy the condition of words to be updated based on the update function that is paired up with each of the update targets in accordance with the elapsed time received by a time information inputting means, are included.

Claims

1. A language model update device, comprising:

time information inputting means for receiving elapsed time from a time point set in advance or date and time information;

update target and update function storing means for retaining a pair of a word to be updated or a condition of words to be updated and an update function; and

language model updating means for updating a language model of the word to be updated or a group of words that satisfy the condition of words to be updated based on the update function that is paired up with each of the update targets in accordance with the elapsed time received by the time information inputting means.

2. The language model update device according to claim 1, further comprising:

language model evaluating means for evaluating the language model updated by the language model updating means; and

update target and update function modifying means for modifying the word or the condition of words to be updated, the update function, or the language model in accordance with a result of the evaluation by the language model evaluating means.

3. A voice recognition processing device that carries out voice recognition by using the language model updated in the language model update device according to claim 1.

4. A character recognition processing device that carries out character recognition by using the language model updated in the language model update device according to claim 1.

13. A voice recognition processing device that carries out voice recognition by using the language model updated in the language model update device according to claim 2.

14. A character recognition processing device that carries out character recognition by using the language model updated in the language model update device according to claim 2.

5. A language model update method, comprising:

a time information inputting step for receiving elapsed time from a time point set in advance or date and time information;

an update target and update function storing step for retaining a pair of a word to be updated or a condition of words to be updated and an update function; and

a language model updating step for updating a language model of the word to be updated or a group of words that satisfy the condition of words to be updated based on the update function that is paired up with each of the update targets in accordance with the elapsed time received in the time information inputting step.

6. The language model update method according to claim 5, further comprising:

a language model evaluating step for evaluating the language model updated by the language model updating step; and

an update target and update function modifying step for modifying the word or the condition of words to be updated, the update function, or the language model in accordance with a result of the evaluation by the language model evaluating step.

7. A voice recognition processing method that carries out voice recognition by using the language model updated in the language model update method according to claim 5.

8. A character recognition processing method that carries out character recognition by using the language model updated in the language model update method according to claim 5.

15. A voice recognition processing method that carries out voice recognition by using the language model updated in the language model update method according to claim 6.

16. A character recognition processing method that carries out character recognition by using the language model updated in the language model update method according to claim 6.

9. A language model update program that updates a language model by controlling a computer, the program, when executed by the computer, controlling the computer to execute:

a time information inputting step for receiving elapsed time from a time point set in advance or date and time information;

an update target and update function storing step for retaining a pair of a word to be updated or a condition of words to be updated and an update function; and

a language model updating step for updating a language model of the word to be updated or a group of words that satisfy the condition of words to be updated based on the update function that is paired up with each of the update targets in accordance with the elapsed time received in the time information inputting step.

10. The language model update program according to claim 9, the program, when executed by the computer, controlling the computer to further execute:

a language model evaluating step for evaluating the language model updated by the language model updating step; and

an update target and update function modifying step for modifying the word or the condition of words to be updated, the update function, or the language model in accordance with a result of the evaluation by the language model evaluating step.

11. A voice recognition processing program that controls the computer to execute a voice recognition step for carrying out voice recognition using the language model updated in the language model update program according to claim 9.

12. A character recognition processing program that controls the computer to execute a character recognition step for carrying out character recognition using the language model updated in the language model update program according to claim 9.

17. A voice recognition processing program that controls the computer to execute a voice recognition step for carrying out voice recognition using the language model updated in the language model update program according to claim 10.

18. A character recognition processing program that controls the computer to execute a character recognition step for carrying out character recognition using the language model updated in the language model update program according to claim 10.