Abstract: Conversation Print: A method, computer program product, and computing system for receiving voice-based content from a third-party. The voice-based content is processed to define a text-based transcript for the voice-based content. The voice-based content is processed to define speech-pattern indicia for the voice-based content. A conversation print for the voice-based content is generated based, at least in part, upon the text-based transcript and the speech-pattern indicia.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system for predicting responses to at least one conversational phrase. At least one conversational phrase may be received. A first probability for a subset of candidate responses of a plurality of candidate responses may be determined based upon, at least in part, context associated with the at least one conversational phrase, the at least one conversational phrase, and each context associated with the plurality of candidate responses. A second probability for the subset of candidate responses may be determined based upon, at least in part, the subset of candidate responses, the at least one conversational phrase, and the context associated with the at least one conversational phrase. At least one candidate response for the at least one conversational phrase may be determined based upon, at least in part, the first probability and the second probability.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system for identifying, by a computing device, a model for predicting conversational phrases for a communication between at least a first user and a second user. The model may be trained based upon, at least in part, an attribute associated with the second user. At least one conversational phrase may be predicted for the communication between the first user and the second user. The at least one conversational phrase may be provided to the second user as an optional phrase to be sent to the first user.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computing system for automatically generating a dialogue graph is executed on a computing device and includes receiving a plurality of conversation data. A plurality of utterance pairs from the plurality of conversation data may be clustered into a plurality of utterance pair clusters. A dialogue graph may be generated with a plurality of nodes representative of the plurality of utterance pair clusters.

Abstract: Techniques for question answering involve receiving, from a user, a text input expressing a question in natural language. In response to the question, a text output expressing an answer to the question may be generated. A plurality of documents comprising natural language text may be analyzed, involving mapping the question to one or more hypotheses, analyzing at least one passage of text in at least one of the documents to determine whether the passage entails at least one of the hypotheses, and in response to determining that the passage entails at least one of the hypotheses, identifying the passage as providing supporting evidence for the answer to the question. The answer and the at least one passage identified as providing supporting evidence for the answer may be presented to the user in response to the text input.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system for identifying, by a computing device, a model for predicting conversational phrases for a communication between at least a first user and a second user. The model may be trained based upon, at least in part, an attribute associated with the second user. At least one conversational phrase may be predicted for the communication between the first user and the second user. The at least one conversational phrase may be provided to the second user as an optional phrase to be sent to the first user.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computing system for automatically generating a dialogue graph is executed on a computing device and includes receiving a plurality of conversation data. A plurality of utterance pairs from the plurality of conversation data may be clustered into a plurality of utterance pair clusters. A dialogue graph may be generated with a plurality of nodes representative of the plurality of utterance pair clusters.

Abstract: Conversation Print: A method, computer program product, and computing system for receiving voice-based content from a third-party. The voice-based content is processed to define a text-based transcript for the voice-based content. The voice-based content is processed to define speech-pattern indicia for the voice-based content. A conversation print for the voice-based content is generated based, at least in part, upon the text-based transcript and the speech-pattern indicia.

Abstract: Techniques for question answering involve receiving, from a user, a text input expressing a question in natural language. The text input may be analyzed, including identifying in the question at least one first portion answerable from at least one structured data source, and at least one second portion answerable from at least one unstructured data source. At least one first query configured for the structured data source(s) may be constructed from the at least one first portion of the question and applied to the structured data source(s) to retrieve first answer information for the at least one first portion of the question. At least one second query configured for the unstructured data source(s) may be constructed from the at least one second portion of the question and applied to the unstructured data source(s) to retrieve second answer information for the at least one second portion of the question.

Abstract: Techniques for product recommendation involve receiving, from a user, a request for recommendation of a product matching one or more characteristics specified in the request. In response to the request, a product may be identified for recommendation, at least in part by searching an ontology in which the identified product is represented as matching at least one of the characteristics specified in the request. The ontology may further include at least one link to at least one natural language product review providing supporting evidence that the identified product matches the at least one characteristic. At least a portion of the at least one natural language product review may be retrieved using the at least one link in the ontology, and presented to the user in support of a recommendation of the identified product, in response to the request.

Abstract: Techniques for product recommendation involve receiving, from a user, a text input expressing a question asking for a product recommendation. In response to the question, an answer that identifies a product for recommendation to the user may be generated. A plurality of product reviews comprising natural language text evaluations of the product may be analyzed, involving identifying at least one passage of text in at least one of the product reviews as providing supporting evidence for the product in answer to the question. The answer and the at least one passage in the at least one product review identified as providing supporting evidence for the answer may be presented to the user in response to the text input.

Abstract: Techniques for product recommendation involve receiving, from a user, a text input expressing a question asking for a product recommendation. In response to the question, an answer that identifies a product for recommendation to the user may be generated. A plurality of product reviews comprising natural language text evaluations of the product may be analyzed, involving identifying at least one passage of text in at least one of the product reviews as providing supporting evidence for the product in answer to the question. The answer and the at least one passage in the at least one product review identified as providing supporting evidence for the answer may be presented to the user in response to the text input.

Abstract: Techniques for question answering involve receiving, from a user, a text input expressing a question in natural language. In response to the question, a text output expressing an answer to the question may be generated. A plurality of documents comprising natural language text may be analyzed, involving mapping the question to one or more hypotheses, analyzing at least one passage of text in at least one of the documents to determine whether the passage entails at least one of the hypotheses, and in response to determining that the passage entails at least one of the hypotheses, identifying the passage as providing supporting evidence for the answer to the question. The answer and the at least one passage identified as providing supporting evidence for the answer may be presented to the user in response to the text input.

Abstract: Techniques for question answering involve receiving, from a user, a text input expressing a question in natural language. The text input may be analyzed, including identifying in the question at least one first portion answerable from at least one structured data source, and at least one second portion answerable from at least one unstructured data source. At least one first query configured for the structured data source(s) may be constructed from the at least one first portion of the question and applied to the structured data source(s) to retrieve first answer information for the at least one first portion of the question. At least one second query configured for the unstructured data source(s) may be constructed from the at least one second portion of the question and applied to the unstructured data source(s) to retrieve second answer information for the at least one second portion of the question.

Abstract: Techniques for product recommendation involve receiving, from a user, a request for recommendation of a product matching one or more characteristics specified in the request. In response to the request, a product may be identified for recommendation, at least in part by searching an ontology in which the identified product is represented as matching at least one of the characteristics specified in the request. The ontology may further include at least one link to at least one natural language product review providing supporting evidence that the identified product matches the at least one characteristic. At least a portion of the at least one natural language product review may be retrieved using the at least one link in the ontology, and presented to the user in support of a recommendation of the identified product, in response to the request.

Abstract: Adjusting confidence score thresholds is described for a speech recognition engine. The speech recognition engine is implemented in multiple computer processes functioning in a computer processor, and is characterized by an associated receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. A results confirmation process interprets user confirmation of speech recognition results within a given confidence score threshold to create a confirmed portion of the ROC curve for the speech recognition engine. A curve extension process extends the confirmed portion of the ROC curve by extrapolation of unconfirmed speech recognition results beyond the confidence score threshold to generate an extended ROC curve. A threshold adjustment process adjusts the confidence score threshold based on the extended ROC curve to meet target operating constraints for operating the speech recognition engine to perform automatic speech recognition of user speech inputs.

Abstract: Adjusting confidence score thresholds is described for a speech recognition engine. The speech recognition engine is implemented in multiple computer processes functioning in a computer processor, and is characterized by an associated receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. A results confirmation process interprets user confirmation of speech recognition results within a given confidence score threshold to create a confirmed portion of the ROC curve for the speech recognition engine. A curve extension process extends the confirmed portion of the ROC curve by extrapolation of unconfirmed speech recognition results beyond the confidence score threshold to generate an extended ROC curve. A threshold adjustment process adjusts the confidence score threshold based on the extended ROC curve to meet target operating constraints for operating the speech recognition engine to perform automatic speech recognition of user speech inputs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying a called party suitable for use in an automated attendant system are provided. Information derived from a spoken utterance by a caller is received. Identification information associated to the caller is derived. The information derived from the spoken utterance is processed on the basis of a plurality of directory entries to identify at least one directory entry that is a potential match to the information derived from the spoken utterance. When multiple directory entries in the plurality of directory entries are potential matches to the information, a calling pattern associated to the identification information is identified and a most likely directory entry from the multiple directory entries is selected at least in part on the basis of the calling pattern. A signal conveying the selected directory entry is then released.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for adding a new entry to a speech recognition dictionary, more particularly to a system and method for generating transcriptions from multiple utterances of a given word. The novel method and apparatus automatically transcribes several training utterances into transcriptions without knowledge of the orthography of the word being added. It also provides a method and apparatus for transcribing multiple utterances into a single transcription that can be added to a speech recognition dictionary. In a first step, each utterance is analyzed individually to get their respective acoustic characteristics. Following this, these characteristics are combined to generate a set of the most likely transcriptions using the acoustic information obtained from each of the training utterances.