Abstract: A voice-enabled web portal system includes a web portal server and a call manager software module. The web portal server is operable to download data according to parameters of a web portal. The call manager software module is operable to accept a voice query from a user via telephone, to retrieve a portion of the downloaded data in response to the voice query, and to provide the portion of downloaded data to the user via telephone. A method of providing information from a web portal includes downloading data via a web portal according to parameters of the web portal at a predetermined time interval, filtering the downloaded data to produce portal information, and selectively providing portions of the portal information in response to a voice query.

Abstract: A knowledge-based natural speech dialogue system includes: (i) a knowledge support system, (ii) a flexible dialogue control system, and (iii) a context information system. Flexibilities of the conversation structure, inherent in mixed-initiative mode for dealing with complex user request, are managed because the knowledge structures involved are represented by additional, powerful knowledge representation tools, and because the context information is retained by more specific data structures, which covers larger temporal scopes by the logic of the conversation, rather than by a fixed locality of the grammar flow. This system provides a simple yet reliable method to compensate for these factors to enable more powerful conversation engines with mixed-initiative capabilities.