Abstract: Roughly described, the invention addresses the above problems by separating an actuation subsystem from the natural language interpretation system. The NLI develops “interpretation result commands” in response to user input, and transmits them to the actuation subsystem using a predefined interpretation result command format that is independent of the requirements of the particular back-end application. The actuation subsystem, which is the only component that is specific to the back-end application, converts the interpretation result command into one or more “application commands” and communicates it (them) to the back-end application in the form required by the specific back-end application. In some embodiments the actuation subsystem also can take results from a back-end application in application-dependent form, and convert it to a common predefined internal format that is application-independent.

Abstract: Roughly described, a natural language interpretation system that provides commands to a back-end application in response to user input is modified to separate out user interaction functions into a user interaction subsystem. The user interaction subsystem can include an interaction block that is specific to each particular I/O agency, and which converts user input received from that agency into an agency-independent form for providing to the natural language interpretation system. The user interaction subsystem also can take results from the back-end application and clarification requests and other dialoguing from the natural language interpretation system, both in device-independent form, and convert them for forwarding to the particular I/O agency.