Kiosk for multiple spoken languages
First Claim
1. A method for providing information in response to a question in one of a plurality of natural spoken languages, comprising the steps of:
- recognizing a detected utterance with a speech recognition engine equipped with a plurality of small dictionaries each for respective one of the plurality of languages, each small dictionary including speech data for a selected few common words in the respective language;
selecting one of the plurality of languages as the language of the detected utterance based on a number of recognized words for each language from the small dictionaries;
recognizing the detected utterance using a large dictionary for the language of the detected utterance; and
responding to the user in the selected language.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The method for providing information in response to a question in one of a plurality of natural spoken languages begins by recognizing a detected utterance with a speech recognition engine equipped with a plurality of small dictionaries. Each of the small dictionaries is for respective one of the plurality of languages. Each small dictionary including speech data for a selected few common words in the respective language. Next, the method selects one of the plurality of languages as the language of the detected utterance based on a number of recognized words for each language from the small dictionaries. Next, a more thorough recognition of the detected utterance using a large dictionary for the language of the detected utterance which contains information on a much larger vocabulary. Finally, the method responds to the user in the selected language, i.e. the language of the detected utterance, either aurally or visually. Once the language of a first utterance is identified, a timer is started. Responsive to detecting a new utterance within a predetermined period, the method continues using the large dictionary to recognize the new detected utterance and responding to the user in the language of the detected utterance. If the timer times out, the method reinitializes and a new utterance is tested by all of the small dictionaries.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for providing information in response to a question in one of a plurality of natural spoken languages, comprising the steps of:
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recognizing a detected utterance with a speech recognition engine equipped with a plurality of small dictionaries each for respective one of the plurality of languages, each small dictionary including speech data for a selected few common words in the respective language; selecting one of the plurality of languages as the language of the detected utterance based on a number of recognized words for each language from the small dictionaries; recognizing the detected utterance using a large dictionary for the language of the detected utterance; and responding to the user in the selected language. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system including processor and memory for providing information in response to a question in one of a plurality of natural spoken languages, comprising:
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a microphone for detecting an utterance from a user; a plurality of small dictionaries each for respective one of the plurality of languages, each small dictionary including speech data for a selected few common words in the respective language; at least one speech recognition engine for recognizing the detected utterance, the at least one speech recognition engine using the plurality of small dictionaries to recognize words within the detected utterance; a language recognizer for selecting one of the plurality of languages as the language of the detected utterance based on a number of recognized words for each language from the small dictionaries; a plurality of large dictionaries for the plurality of languages usable by the at least one speech recognition engine for recognizing words within the detected utterance; retrieval means for retrieving the large dictionary for the selected language; and means for responding to the user in the selected language. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for providing information in response to a question in one of a plurality of natural spoken languages, comprising:
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means for recognizing a detected utterance with according to each of a plurality of small dictionaries each for respective one of the plurality of languages, each small dictionary including speech data for a selected few common words in the respective language; means for selecting one of the plurality of languages as the language of the detected utterance based on a number of recognized words for each language from the small dictionaries; means for recognizing the detected utterance using a large dictionary for the language of the detected utterance; and means for responding to the user in the selected language.
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- 21. The product as recited in claim 21 further comprising a speech synthesis module for responding to the user in the language of the detected utterance.
Specification