Intelligent query engine for processing voice based queries
DCFirst Claim
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1. A speech query recognition system comprising:
- a continuous speech recognition engine for generating recognized words taken from an articulated speech utterance;
a natural language engine configured generating a first linguistic analysis of said recognized words, including an identification of any word phrases present in said recognized words;
a query formulation engine adapted to convert said recognized words and said word phrases into a structured query suitable for locating matches for said articulated speech utterance;
wherein said first linguistic analysis is used to identify a candidate set of potential matches for said speech utterance;
said natural language engine further being configured for;
(i) generating one or more second linguistic analyses of words contained in said candidate set of potential matches; and
(ii) comparing said first linguistic analysis with each of said one or more second linguistic analyses to identify a best match for said speech utterance in real time.
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Abstract
An intelligent query system for processing voiced-based queries is disclosed. This distributed client-server system, typically implemented on an intranet or over the Internet accepts a user'"'"'s queries at his/her computer, PDA or workstation using a speech input interface. After converting the user'"'"'s query from speech to text, a 2-step algorithm employing a natural language engine, a database processor and a full-text SQL database is implemented to find a single answer that best matches the user'"'"'s query. The system, as implemented, accepts environmental variables selected by the user and is scalable to provide answers to a variety and quantity of user-initiated queries.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A speech query recognition system comprising:
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a continuous speech recognition engine for generating recognized words taken from an articulated speech utterance;
a natural language engine configured generating a first linguistic analysis of said recognized words, including an identification of any word phrases present in said recognized words;
a query formulation engine adapted to convert said recognized words and said word phrases into a structured query suitable for locating matches for said articulated speech utterance;
wherein said first linguistic analysis is used to identify a candidate set of potential matches for said speech utterance;
said natural language engine further being configured for;
(i) generating one or more second linguistic analyses of words contained in said candidate set of potential matches; and
(ii) comparing said first linguistic analysis with each of said one or more second linguistic analyses to identify a best match for said speech utterance in real time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A natural language processing system adapted for assisting recognition of a speech utterance, the system comprising:
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a text parsing routine for receiving text recognized from the speech utterance by a continuous speech recognition routine, and for generating a first linguistic analysis of said text, including an identification of any word phrases present in said text;
wherein said first linguistic analysis is used to identify a candidate set of potential matches for said speech utterance, and said text parsing routine being further configured for;
(i) generating one or more second linguistic analyses of text contained in said candidate set of potential matches; and
(ii) comparing said first linguistic analysis with each of said one or more second linguistic analyses to identify a best match for said speech utterance in real time. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of recognizing a speech query comprising the steps of:
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(a) recognizing text in an articulated speech utterance; and
(b) linguistically processing said recognized text to generate search terms based on phrase analysis of said articulate speech utterance;
(c) generating a preliminary query to identify a potential match for said speech utterance, said preliminary query being based on said recognized text;
(d) generating a final query to identify a potential match for said speech utterance, said final query being based on said recognized text and said search terms;
(e) determining a final match for said speech utterance by linguistically comparing any potential matches identified by said preliminary and/or final query with said articulated speech utterance;
wherein said preliminary query is made based on said recognized text to determine a final match during a time when linguistic processing is still being done on said recognized text. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A distributed method of recognizing and responding in real time to a speech utterance that corresponds to a user question posed within an application program executing on a client device, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving continuous speech data generated by the client device over a network;
(b) processing said speech data at a server device to recognize words and form a recognized text associated with the user question;
wherein during step (b) a context experienced by the user within the application program is considered for loading appropriate dictionaries and grammars to facilitate recognizing said words;
(c) submitting said recognized text to a database query engine and a natural language engine;
(d) linguistically processing said recognized text with said natural language engine during a first linguistic process to identify word phrases contained therein, including noun phrases;
(e) forming a query to a question/answer pair database based on said recognized text and said word phrases;
wherein said query includes a preliminary query based on said recognized text, and a final query based on said recognized text and said word phrases;
(f) locating a set of question/answer pairs based on said query, including an initial set of question/answer pairs based on said preliminary query;
(g) evaluating said set of question/answer pairs, using a second linguistic analysis to compare word phrases in said set of question/answer pairs with word phrases identified in said recognized text;
(h) identifying a single question/answer pair best matching the user question based on step (g);
(i) providing an answer determined from said single question/answer pair in step (h) to the user over the network;
wherein an answer is provided to the user question in real-time over a distributed speech processing system. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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Specification