Abstract: A method (10) of developing call flows can simply include a determination (12) whether an alternative speech field is filled. If the alternative speech field is not filled, then the description text is used (16) in a description field as a default for text for speech output. The description field can be presented graphically and in a properties sheet for speech output objects. If an optional speech text field is filled in the properties sheet, then the description text in the description field can be replaced (14) with the contents of the optional speech text field for text to speech output. The contents of the optional speech text field (32) can be represented as a flyover (23) graphically when pointing to the graphical object. Optionally, the description field (34) and the optional speech text field can be edited on a single graphical user interface (20).

Abstract: A wizard that from a fixed design can create various audio interfaces. The generated interfaces can be speech only, DTMF only, or various mixed speech and DTMF UIs. When specifying both speech and DTMF prompts, a number of combinations of these interfaces could be automatically generated. Robust speech recognition systems can be built by automatically generating a “shadow” DTMF application. The DTMF application will perform the same task as the primary speech application; however the transfer to a DTMF application could be done explicitly by the user, or could be transferred automatically (either a temporary or permanent transition) at a point in the call flow where there was a problem with the speech recognition.

Abstract: A method and system of identifying and optimizing audio segments in a speech application program. Audio segments are identified and extracted from a speech application program. The audio segments containing audio text to be recorded are then optimized in order to facilitate the recording of the audio text. The optimization of the extracted audio segments may include accounting for programmed pauses and variables in the speech application code, identifying multi-sentence segments and the presense of duplicate audio segments, and accounting for the effects of coarticulation.

Abstract: A system and method provide automated local weather reports for display on wireless communication devices such as telephones. The system provides information for display on a wireless communication device by establishing a communications link with the wireless communication device, determining its location, and transmitting content to it related to its location, such as meteorological information.

Abstract: The present invention addresses problems associated with accessing and using automated systems for scheduled travel events and provides a method and system for communicating information to a user interacting with an automated system for accessing travel schedule data. In a first embodiment of the present invention, a user request can be processed for an event scheduled on an automated system. An occurrence time for the scheduled event can then be loaded. If the occurrence time is within a preconfigured time interval including midnight, a disambiguation process can be triggered for the scheduled event. The scheduled event can be an airline flight and the occurrence time can be an arrival or departure time. The disambiguation process can include prompting a user with a disambiguation message, wherein the disambiguation message makes reference to either an arrival date for the airline flight or a departure date for the airline flight.

Abstract: A method of adjusting music length to expected waiting time while a caller is on hold includes choosing one or more media selections based upon their play duration and matching the selection(s) to the expected waiting time.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for automatically capturing intonation cues in audio segments in speech applications. The method can include identifying planned audio segments in the speech application program, the audio segments containing audio text to be recorded and associated file names. The method further can include extracting the audio segments from the speech application program and processing the extracted audio segments to create an audio text recordation plan. Finally, the method can include further processing the audio text recordation plan to account for intonation cues.

Abstract: A method (10) in a speech recognition application callflow can include the steps of assigning (11) an individual option and a pre-built grammar to a same prompt, treating (15) the individual option as a valid output of the pre-built grammar if the individual option is a potential valid match to a recognition phrase (12) or an annotation (13) in the pre-built grammar, and treating (14) the individual option as an independent grammar from the pre-built grammar if the individual option fails to be a potential valid match to the recognition phrase or the annotation in the pre-built grammar.

Abstract: A method and system for defining standard catch styles used in generating speech application code for managing catch events, in which a style-selection menu that allows for selection of one or more catch styles is presented. Each catch style represents a system response to a catch event. A catch style can be selected from the style-selection menu. For each selected catch style, the system can prepare a response for each catch event. If the selected catch style requires playing a new audio message in response to a particular catch event, a contextual message can be entered in one or more text fields. The contextual message entered in each text field corresponds to the new audio message that will be played in response to the particular catch event. In certain catch styles, the entered contextual message is different for each catch event, while in other catch styles, the entered contextual message is the same for each catch event.

Abstract: A method (10) for arranging user-modified variable names in a presentation list such as a drop-down list can include the steps of receiving (12) a system request to display the variables in the drop-down list, and sorting (14) the variables by giving user named variables greater priority over system named variables and then sorting by a second criteria. The method can further include the step of displaying (16) the variables when a user selects the variables using a drop-down control.

Abstract: A method (10) of arranging grammar files in a presentation list such as a drop-down list can include the steps of receiving (12) a system request to display the grammar files in the presentation list, and sorting (14) the grammar files by giving user defined grammar files greater priority over built-in grammar files and then sorting by a second criteria. The method can further include the step of displaying (16) the grammar files when a user selects the grammar files and distinguishing between a user defined grammar and a built-in grammar.

Abstract: A list presentation method. The list presentation method can include the steps of: dynamically grouping selected items in a list based on sequentially positioned symbols in the items which are common to one another; labeling each group of selected items; audibly presenting each group label through a speech user interface; and, responsive to a selection of one of the presented group labels, presenting through the speech user interface items in a group corresponding to the selected group label.