Tool for constructing voice recognition grammars

• US 7,031,907 B1
• Filed: 10/15/2001
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Evans, Daniel D., Passaretti, Christopher F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chawan, Vijay B.
• Application Number:
  US09/978,814
• Time in Patent Office: 1,646 Days
• Field of Search: 704/2, 704/9, 704/257, 704/235, 725/47, 725/44, 717/3, 717/105
• US Class Current: 704/2
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/193 Formal grammars, e.g. finite state automata, context free grammars or word networks

Abstract

A voice recognition grammar (“VRG”) tool for facilitating the creation of speech grammars for speech recognition applications is described. The VRG tool 114 uses syntax diagrams to enable a developer to visually build vendor-independent speech recognition grammars. The grammars are built from visual components called blocks, which represent the elements of a grammar. Blocks are connected and assigned values to define a grammar. A grammar is built with the VRG tool within a “Construction Area” by selecting blocks from a “Tool Kit.” Every phrase must start with a start block and be completed with an end block, with the various grammar blocks being connected between them. Once the syntax for the grammar is constructed, using the aforementioned blocks labeled and defined appropriately, a grammar specific to the selected vendor may be generated and is then ready for use by a voice recognition application.

Claims

1. A method for generating a speech recognition grammar for a voice recognition system, comprising:

(a) providing a visual area on which to graphically construct a syntax diagram,

(b) placing a block in this area, wherein the first block represents an element of grammar of the syntax diagram,

(c) defining the element of grammar,

(d) placing another block in the area,

(e) visually connecting the blocks to define a grammatical relationship between the connected blocks,

(f) repeating steps (b) through (e) until the syntax diagram is complete, and

(g) recursively analyzing the grammatical relationships and the elements of grammar of the syntax diagram to generate the speech recognition grammar in a compatible format for use with the speech recognition system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the compatible format may include a multitude of different formats, wherein each format is compatible with a specific speech recognition system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the blocks comprises a word block representing a word or letters that are acceptable input at a specific location in the grammar.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein one of the blocks comprises a reference block that references an existing subgrammar represented by a phrase block.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the blocks comprises a phrase block representing a subgrammar that is acceptable input at a specific location in the speech recognition grammar.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the blocks comprises an external block representing a previously defined grammar.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the blocks comprises a connector block containing path information specific to a particular speech recognition system.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the placing steps comprise selecting blocks from a tool kit displayed on a display.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the blocks is selected from a group consisting of a start block and an end block.

10. A speech recognition grammar (“

SRG”

) tool for use with a speech recognition system, the SRG tool comprising;

means for providing a visual area on which to graphically construct a syntax diagram,

means for a plurality of blocks in the area, wherein some of the plurality of blocks represent an element of grammar of the syntax diagram,

means for defining the element of grammar,

means for placing another block in the area,

means for visually connecting the blocks to define a grammatical relationship between the connected blocks, and

means for recursively analyzing the grammatical relationships and the elements of grammar of the syntax diagram to generate the speech recognition grammar in a compatible format for use with the speech recognition system.

11. The SRG tool of claim 10 wherein one of the blocks comprises a word block representing a word or letters that are acceptable input at a specific location in the grammar.

12. The SRG tool of claim 11 wherein one of the blocks comprises a reference block that references an existing subgrammar represented by a phrase block.

13. The SRG tool of claim 10 wherein one of the blocks comprises a phrase block representing a subgrammar that is acceptable input at a specific location in the grammar.

14. The SRG tool of claim 10 wherein one of the blocks comprises an external block representing a grammar defined outside of the SRG tool.

15. The SRG tool of claim 10 wherein one of the blocks comprises a connector block containing path information specific to a particular speech recognition system.

16. The SRG tool of claim 10 wherein one of the blocks is selected from a group consisting of a start block and an end block.

17. A computer program product for constructing a syntax diagram representing a speech recognition grammar for a speech recognition system, the computer program product comprising:

a computer program processable by a computer system, the computer program comprising a plurality of instructions, including;

instructions for enabling a user to select a block comprising a graphical display element to represent an element of the grammar;

instructions for enabling a user to connect the selected block to at least one other block;

instructions for enabling a user to define what is represented by the selected block; and

instructions for recursively analyzing grammatical relationships and the elements of grammar to generate the speech recognition grammar in a compatible format for use with the speech recognition system.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the selected block comprises a block selected from the group consisting of a word block representing a word or letters that are acceptable input at a specific location in the grammar, a phrase block representing a subgrammar that is acceptable input at a specific location in the grammar, an external block representing a grammar defined outside of the computer program product, a reference block that references an existing subgrammar represented by a phrase block, and a connector block containing path information specific to a particular speech recognition system.