Cartridge-based, interactive speech recognition device with response-creation capability

• US 5,842,168 A
• Filed: 08/20/1996
• Issued: 11/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Miyazawa, Yasunaga, Inazumi, Mitsuhiro, Hasegawa, Hiroshi, Urano, Osamu, Edatsune, Isao
• Primary Examiner(s): Knepper, David D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smits, Talivaldis Ivars
• Application Number:
  US08/700,175
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 704/251, 704/275, 704/244, 704/258
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/0638 Interactive procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/088 Word spotting

Abstract

A technique for improving speech recognition in low-cost, speech interactive devices. This technique calls for selectively implementing a speaker-specific word enrollment and detection unit in parallel with a word detection unit to permit comprehension of spoken commands or messages when no recognizable words are found. Preferably, specific speaker detection will be based on the speaker'"'"'s own personal list of words or expression. Other facets include complementing non-specific pre-registered word characteristic information with individual, speaker-specific verbal characteristics to improve recognition in cases where the speaker has unusual speech mannerisms or accent and response alteration in which speaker-specification registration functions are leveraged to provide access and permit changes to a predefined responses table according to user needs and tastes. Also disclosed is the externalization and modularization of non-specific speaker recognition, action and response information to enhance adaptability of the speech recognizer without sacrificing product cost competitiveness or overall device responsiveness.

Claims

1. An interactive speech recognition apparatus, comprising:

a voice input unit to receive voice and translate the received voice into digital form;

a voice analysis unit in communication with said voice input unit to generate characteristic voice data for the received digitized voice;

a phrase identification unit in communication with said voice analysis unit to determine whether the characteristic voice data substantially matches standard characteristic voice information corresponding to pre-registered expressions and generate phrase identification data in response thereto, wherein the pre-registered expressions are stored as standard speech pat terns capable of recognition in a removable cartridge releasably communicating with said phrase identification unit, said removable cartridge comprising a first memory to retain the standard speech patterns;

a speech recognition and dialogue management unit in communication with said phrase identification unit to recognize a meaning from the received based on the received phrase identification data and to formulate an appropriate response corresponding to the recognized meaning;

a response creation function in communication with said speech recognition and dialogue management unit to enable the creation of response data based on information inputted to said speech recognition apparatus; and

a voice synthesizer in communication with said speech recognition and dialogue management unit to generate synthesized audio corresponding to the appropriate response formulated by said speech recognition and dialogue management unit.

2. The interactive speech recognition apparatus of claim 1, wherein said removable cartridge includes a second memory releasably communicating with said speech recognition and dialogue management unit to retain conversation content data used to recognize the meaning from the received and recognized voice.

3. The interactive speech recognition apparatus of claim 2, wherein said removable cartridge includes a third memory releasably communicating with said speech recognition and dialogue management unit and said speech synthesis unit to retain response data used to formulate and synthesize the appropriate response to the received and recognized voice.

6. The interactive speech recognition apparatus of claim 1, wherein said removable cartridge includes a second memory releasably communicating with said speech recognition and dialogue management unit and said voice synthesizer to retain response data used to formulate and synthesize the appropriate response to the received and recognized voice.

4. The interactive speech recognition apparatus of claim 4, wherein said first, second and third cartridge memories reside within at least one ROM device.

5. The interactive speech recognition apparatus of claim 4, wherein said first, second and third cartridge memories reside within at least one EEPROM device.

7. An interactive speech recognition apparatus, comprising:

a voice input unit to receive voice and translate the received voice into digital form;

a voice analysis unit in communication with said voice input unit to generate characteristic voice data for the received digitized voice;

a phrase identification unit in communication with said voice analysis unit to determine whether the characteristic voice data substantially matches standard characteristic voice information corresponding to pre-registered expressions and generate phrase identification data in response there to;

a speech recognition and dialogue management unit in communication with said phrase detection unit to recognize a meaning from the received voice based on the received phrase identification data and conversation content information stored in a first memory of a removable cartridge releasably communicating therewith, and to formulate an appropriate response corresponding to the recognized meaning;

a response creation function in communication with said speech recognition and dialogue management unit to enable the creation of response data based on information inputted to said speech recognition apparatus; and

a voice synthesizer in communication with said speech recognition and dialogue management unit to generate synthesized audio corresponding to the appropriate response formulated by said speech recognition and dialogue management unit.

8. The interactive voice recognition apparatus of claim 7, wherein said removable cartridge includes a second memory releasably communicating with said speech recognition and dialogue management unit and said voice synthesizer to retain response data used to formulate and synthesize the appropriate response to the received and recognized voice.

9. The interactive speech recognition apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first and second cartridge memories reside within at least one ROM device.

10. The interactive speech recognition apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first and second cartridge memories reside within at least one EEPROM device.