Abstract: Systems and methods for building speech-based applications using reusable dialog components based on VoiceXML (Voice eXtensible Markup Language). VoiceXML reusable dialog components can be used for building a voice interface for use with multi-modal, multi-channel and conversational applications that offer universal access to information anytime, from any location, using any pervasive computing device regardless of its I/O modality. In one embodiment, a framework for reusable dialog components built within the VoiceXML specifications is based on the <subdialog> tag and ECMAScript parameter objects to pass parameters, configuration and results. This solution is interpreted at the client side (VoiceXML browser). In another embodiment, a framework for reusable dialog components is based on JSP (Java Server Pages) and beans that generate VoiceXML subdialogs. This solution can be evaluated at the server side. These frameworks can be mixed and matched depending on the application.

Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-modal messaging that enable a user to compose, send and retrieve messages, such as SMS, MMS, IM or ordinary e-mail messages, for example, using one or more I/O (input/output) modalities (e.g., speech I/O and/or GUI I/O). A method for composing messages combines the advantages of a multi-modal interface (e.g., grammar-based speech and touchscreen or similar input devices) and message templates, which allows a user to construct a message with significantly less effort in a fraction of the time required by conventional methods. The user can dictate his/her messages using speech and/or GUI input, for example, based on a library of message templates which can be personalized by the user to fit his/her social interaction needs.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamically assigning weights to the subset of commands in a natural language dialog system based on prior context of the user's interaction with the system. The search space of the translation process may be reduced when some context information is available. A user presents input to the natural language understanding system. The system translates the user input into a formal command and calculates a weight value for a next set of formal commands based on the formal command. The command weights may then be dynamically boosted for the next set of formal commands before executing the formal command. The exemplary aspects of the present invention reduce the time needed to complete a task since the search space of the translation process may be reduced if context information is available and improve the accuracy of the process by using knowledge that users regularly use repeating patterns for repeating tasks.

Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-modal messaging that enable a user to compose, send and retrieve messages, such as SMS, MMS, IM or ordinary e-mail messages, for example, using one or more I/O (input/output) modalities (e.g., speech I/O and/or GUI I/O). A method for composing messages combines the advantages of a multi-modal interface (e.g., grammar-based speech and touchscreen or similar input devices) and message templates, which allows a user to construct a message with significantly less effort in a fraction of the time required by conventional methods. The user can dictate his/her messages using speech and/or GUI input, for example, based on a library of message templates which can be personalized by the user to fit his/her social interaction needs.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamically assigning weights to the subset of commands in a natural language dialog system based on prior context of the user's interaction with the system. The search space of the translation process may be reduced when some context information is available. A user presents input to the natural language understanding system. The system translates the user input into a formal command and calculates a weight value for a next set of formal commands based on the formal command. The command weights may then be dynamically boosted for the next set of formal commands before executing the formal command. The exemplary aspects of the present invention reduce the time needed to complete a task since the search space of the translation process may be reduced if context information is available and improve the accuracy of the process by using knowledge that users regularly use repeating patterns for repeating tasks.

Abstract: A system and method of the present invention for determining and maintaining dialog focus in a conversational speech system includes presenting a command associated with an application to a dialog manager. The application associated with the command is unknown to the dialog manager at the time it is made. The dialog manager determines a current context of the command by reviewing a multi-modal history of events. At least one method is determined responsive to the command based on the current context. The at least one method is executed responsive to the command associated with the application.

Abstract: Systems and methods for building multi-modal browsers applications and, in particular, to systems and methods for building modular multi-modal browsers using a DOM (Document Object Model) and MVC (Model-View-Controller) framework that enables a user to interact in parallel with the same information via a multiplicity of channels, devices, and/or user interfaces, while presenting a unified, synchronized view of such information across the various channels, devices and/or user interfaces supported by the multi-modal browser. The use of a DOM framework (or specifications similar to DOM) allows existing browsers to be extended without modification of the underling browser code. A multi-modal browser framework is modular and flexible to allow various fat client and thin (distributed) client approaches.

Abstract: A method and system, which may be implemented by employing a program storage device readable by machine, and tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for ensuring robustness of a natural language understanding (NLU) system, includes tagging recognized words of a command input to the NLU system to associate the command with a context, and translating the command to at least one formal command based on the tagged words. A top ranked formal command is determined based on scoring of the tagged recognized words and scoring translations of the at least one formal command. Whether the top ranked formal command is accepted is determined by comparing a feature vector of the top ranked formal command to representations of feature vectors stored in an accept model. The top ranked formal command is executed if accepted and incorrect commands are prevented from execution to provide a robust NLU system.

Abstract: A system and method for recognizing commands in natural language includes a speech recognizer for decoding language and semantic information in utterances provided by a user. A dialog manager provides a hierarchical ordering of handlers, each handler being trained to be responsive to decoded utterances. The dialog manager manages arbitration between the handlers to determine a winning handler for an utterance and decodes the command in accordance with the winning handler.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamically assigning weights to the subset of commands in a natural language dialog system based on prior context of the user's interaction with the system. The search space of the translation process may be reduced when some context information is available. A user presents input to the natural language understanding system. The system translates the user input into a formal command and calculates a weight value for a next set of formal commands based on the formal command. The command weights may then be dynamically boosted for the next set of formal commands before executing the formal command. The exemplary aspects of the present invention reduce the time needed to complete a task since the search space of the translation process may be reduced if context information is available and improve the accuracy of the process by using knowledge that users regularly use repeating patterns for repeating tasks.

Abstract: A system and method for providing conversational computing via a protocol for automatic dialog management and arbitration between a plurality of conversational applications, and a framework for supporting such protocol, in a multi-modal and/or multi-channel environment. A DMAF (dialog manager and arbitrator facade) interfaces with one or more applications, and a hierarchical DMA architecture enables arbitration across the applications and within the same application between various sub-dialogs.

Abstract: A method and system for modeless operation of a multi-modal user interface through implementation of independent decision networks includes presenting a command to a dialog manager and comparing the command to a table of decision networks to determine if a corresponding decision network entry exists. The dialog manager creates a new instance of a decision network when a corresponding decision network entry is found. The new instance of the decision network is traversed in an isolated thread of execution such that a plurality of decision networks of a same instance or different instances may be active simultaneously. The new instance of the decision network is executed responsive to the command.

Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-modal messaging that enable a user to compose, send and retrieve messages, such as SMS, MMS, IM or ordinary e-mail messages, for example, using one or more I/O (input/output) modalities (e.g., speech I/O and/or GUI I/O). A method for composing messages combines the advantages of a multi-modal interface (e.g., grammar-based speech and touchscreen or similar input devices) and message templates, which allows a user to construct a message with significantly less effort in a fraction of the time required by conventional methods. The user can dictate his/her messages using speech and/or GUI input, for example, based on a library of message templates which can be personalized by the user to fit his/her social interaction needs.

Abstract: A method for providing a personality for a conversational system includes providing a plurality of attributes for determining a behavior of the conversational system. When a command is presented to the conversational system for execution, the command is responded to by employing the plurality of attributes such that the user experiences an interface with human characteristics.

Abstract: A command prediction system for natural language understanding systems, in accordance with the present invention, includes a user interface for receiving commands from a user. A command predictor receives the commands from the user interface and predicts at least one next command which is likely to be presented by the user based on a command history. A probability calculator is included in the command predictor for determining a probability for each of the at least one next command based on the command history such that a list of predicted commands and their likelihood of being a next command are provided.

Abstract: A method, in accordance with the present invention, which may be implemented by a program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform steps for providing emotions for a conversational system, includes representing each of a plurality of emotions as an entity. A level of each emotion is updated responsive either user stimuli or internal stimuli or both. When a threshold level is achieved for each emotion, the user stimuli and internal stimuli are reacted to by notifying components subscribing to each emotion to take appropriate action.

Abstract: A new application programming language is provided which is based on user interaction with any device which a user is employing to access any type of information. The new language is referred to herein as a “Conversational Markup Language (CML). In a preferred embodiment, CML is a high level XML based language for representing “dialogs” or “conversations” the user will have with any given computing device. For example, interaction may comprise, but is not limited to, visual based (text and graphical) user interaction and speech based user interaction. Such a language allows application authors to program applications using interaction-based elements referred to herein as “conversational gestures.” The present invention also provides for various embodiments of a multimodal browser capable of supporting the features of CML in accordance with various modality specific representations, e.g.

Abstract: A system and method of the present invention for determining and maintaining dialog focus in a conversational speech system includes presenting a command associated with an application to a dialog manager. The application associated with the command is unknown to the dialog manager at the time it is made. The dialog manager determines a current context of the command by reviewing a multi-modal history of events. At least one method is determined responsive to the command based on the current context. The at least one method is executed responsive to the command associated with the application.

Abstract: A system and method for providing conversational computing via a protocol for automatic dialog management and arbitration between a plurality of conversational applications, and a framework for supporting such protocol, in a multi-modal and/or multi-channel environment. A DMAF (dialog manager and arbitrator facade) interfaces with one or more applications, and a hierarchical DMA architecture enables arbitration across the applications and within the same application between various sub-dialogs.

Abstract: Systems and methods for building speech-based applications using reusable dialog components based on VoiceXML (Voice eXtensible Markup Language). VoiceXML reusable dialog components can be used for building a voice interface for use with multi-modal, multi-channel and conversational applications that offer universal access to information anytime, from any location, using any pervasive computing device regardless of its I/O modality. In one embodiment, a framework for reusable dialog components built within the VoiceXML specifications is based on the <subdialog> tag and ECMAScript parameter objects to pass parameters, configuration and results. This solution is interpreted at the client side (VoiceXML browser). In another embodiment, a framework for reusable dialog components is based on JSP (Java Server Pages) and beans that generate VoiceXML subdialogs. This solution can be evaluated at the server side. These frameworks can be mixed and matched depending on the application.