Abstract: A visual feedback aid, for a computer system performing speech recognition functions, provides indications on a display monitor of the system representing the current state of operation of a system microphone, the current mode of operation of the system in respect to speech, and a string of text representing the system's recognition (correct or incorrect) of commands instantly spoken into the microphone. The indications preferably are located in a reserved area of a display window associated with a currently active application involving speech recognition. The reserved area preferably would be a prominent one, such as the application title bar.

Abstract: An instantaneous context switching speech recognition system is disclosed which enables a speech recognition application to be changed without loading new pattern matching data into the system. Selectable pointer maps are included in the memory of the system which selectively change the relationship between words and phonemes between a first application context and the pattern matching logic to a second application context and the pattern matching logic.

Abstract: A digitized speech data channel is analyzes for the presence of words or phrases from a desired list. If the word is not present the speech time series from the channel, there is a high probability of matching the input data to phonemic noise markers rather than to word models. This is accomplished through the use of a competitive algorithm wherein Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) of the desired words or phrases compete with an alternative HMM of a set of phonemes. The set of phonemes can be chosen in order to reduce the computer resources required for the channel analysis.