Abstract: In a voice actuated computer system voice command from an end user relevant to or promoted from a discrete location on a display screen are analyzed by the system. In response, a confirmation area is displayed on the screen at a location functionally related to the analyzed contents and context of the voice input or the screen location the utterance was prompted from. Within the confirmation area the computer interpretation of the utterance is displayed persisting and dissolving at selectively adjustable rates and times. Display of the recognized utterance is thereby placed in a confirmation area at variable locations where the user's focus is likely to be. Distractions are avoided associated with a fixed location confirmation area which obscures other content on the display screen and/or destroys end-user focus by requiring the eyes to shift from a location of current interest on the display screen to a different location wherein the confirmation is displayed.

Abstract: A speech recognition system which interprets speech queries such as help queries and presents a list of relevant proposed commands sorted in order based upon relevance of the commands. The system organizes the displayed commands being prompted to the user through probability determining means which for each of a predetermined plurality of speech commands store an associated set of speech terms, each term having relevance to its associated command combined with means responsive to a speech query for determining the probability of speech terms from said set in said query, and means responsive to said probability determining means for prompting the user with a displayed sequence of commands sorted based upon said probability of speech terms associated with said commands. When such a sorted command is selected, the system has means responsive to a speech command for carrying out the system action corresponding to the command.