Abstract: A method of proofreading and correcting dictated text contained in an electronic document comprises the steps of: selecting proofreading criteria for identifying textual errors contained in the electronic document; playing back each word contained in the electronic document; and, marking as a textual error each played back word in nonconformity with at least one of the proofreading criteria. The method can further comprise the step of editing each the marked textual error identified in the marking step. In particular, the editing step can include reviewing each the marked textual error identified in the marking step; accepting user specified changes to each marked textual error reviewed in the reviewing step; and, unmarking each marked textual error corrected by the user in the accepting step.

Abstract: A method and a system for use in a computer speech recognition system for adding new vocabulary by using language model statistics corresponding to an existing vocabulary word. The method involves a series of steps including receiving a user input identifying a first word for which no language model statistics exist in the speech recognition system. The first word is for inclusion within the existing vocabulary of the speech recognition system. In response to a second user input identifying a second word for which language model statistics exist in the speech recognition system, recalling from a computer memory the language model statistics for the second word. The speech recognition system then automatically creates language model statistics for the first word by duplicating the language model statistics of the second word and replacing each occurrence of the second word in the duplicated language model statistics with the first word.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transcribing text from multiple speakers in a computer system having a speech recognition application. The system receives speech from one of a plurality of speakers through a single channel, assigns a speaker ID to the speaker, transcribes the speech into text, and associates the speaker ID with the speech and text. In order to detect a speaker change, the system monitors the speech input through the channel for a speaker change.

Abstract: An efficient method and system, particularly well-suited for correcting natural language understanding (NLU) commands, corrects spoken commands misinterpreted by a speech recognition system. The method involves a series of steps, including: receiving the spoken command from a user; parsing the command to identify a paraphrased command; displaying the paraphrased command; and accepting corrections of the paraphrased command from the user. The paraphrased command is segmented according to command language categories, which include a command action category, an action object category, and an action and/or object modifying category. The paraphrased command is displayed in a user interface window segmented into these command language categories. The user interface window also contains alternative commands for each segment of the paraphrased command.

Abstract: A method for enrolling a user in a speech recognition system, without requiring reading, comprises the steps of: generating an audio user interface having an audible output and an audio input; audibly playing a text phrase; audibly prompting the user to speak the played phrase; repeating the steps of audibly prompting the user not to speak, audibly playing the phrase and audibly prompting the user to speak, for a plurality of further phrases; and, processing enrollment of the user based on the audibly prompted and subsequently spoken phrases. A graphical user interface can also be generated for: displaying text corresponding to the phrases and to the audible prompts; displaying a plurality of icons for user activation; and, selectively distinguishing different ones of the icons at different times by at least one of: color; shape; and, animation.

Abstract: In a computer system having a word processing application adapted for speech recognition, a method and system to propagate corrections in dictated text. in response to a first user command, a first error word is selected to be corrected from a word processing file containing dictated text. The error word is replaced by a correct word selected by a user. The system subsequently searches the dictated text contained in the document fie in response to another user command to locate a second or subsequent error word that is a close acoustic match to the first error word. The second or subsequent error word may then be replaced using a word selected from an alternate word list.

Abstract: A method and system efficiently identifies voice commands for a user of a speech recognition system. The method involves a series of steps including: receiving input from a user; monitoring the computer system to log system events and ascertain a current system state; predicting a probable next event according to the current system state and logged events; and identifying acceptable voice commands to perform the next event. The system events include commands, system control activities, timed activities, and application activation. These events are statistically analyzed in light of the current system state to determine the probable next event. The voice commands for performing the probable next event are displayed to the user.

Abstract: A method for creating dictation macros includes a series of steps including storing selected text from a text string and displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) for naming a dictation macro responsive to a first user command. The GUI can have a section for naming the macro. The step of creating a baseform for a macro name entered into the section of the GUI responsive to a second user command can be included. Also, the method can include associating the macro name with the stored selected text from the text string as a dictation macro. A method for creating dictation macros in a speech application also can include creating text and selecting the text. The method can include invoking a first user command for the speech application to create a dictation macro and naming the dictation macro. The step of invoking a second user command for the speech application to create a baseform for the macro name and associate the macro name with the selected text as the dictation macro also can be included.

Abstract: A method for correcting misrecognition errors comprises the steps of: dictating to a speech application; marking misrecognized words during the dictating step; and, after the dictating and marking steps, displaying and correcting the marked misrecognized words, whereby the correcting of the misrecognized words is deferred until after the dictating step is concluded and the dictating step is not significantly interrupted. The displaying and correcting step can be implemented by invoking a correction tool of the speech application, whereby the correcting of the misrecognized words trains the speech application.

Abstract: A method for managing a What Can I Say (WCIS) function in an application having a plurality of commands which can be voice activated comprises the steps of: storing a set of substantially all voice activatable commands associated with the application; identifying those of the commands in the set which are displayable by the application; and, in response to a user input, displaying in a graphical user interface (GUI) a subset of the voice activatable commands which are not displayable by the application. Moreover, the method includes displaying in the GUI, in response to a user input, a list of the stored set of substantially all voice activatable commands associated with the application; displaying in the GUI a pull down menu identifying different categories by which the commands can be viewed in the list; and, displaying the GUI with a pull down menu identifying commands that can be performed against a voice command.

Abstract: A method for updating an original speaker's speech file in a speech application, comprises the steps of: creating a recognition file during a speech recognition session using the original speaker's language model on a first machine and with a first user identification; copying the recognition file; creating a file log of corrections, including changes to the language model and baseforms for newly added words, during a correction session utilizing the copied recognition file and out of association with the original speaker's language model in the first machine with the first user identification; and, copying the changes to the language model and the baseforms for newly added words from the file log back to the original speaker's speech file on the first machine using the first user identification. The copied recognition file can be opened and corrected on a second machine or with a second user identification.

Abstract: A method for reconciling pronunciation differences between respective vocabularies of recognition and text to speech (TTS) engines in a speech application, first compares respective pronunciations of each word in the recognition engine's vocabulary with each word's pronunciation by the TTS engine, second, for each word for which the pronunciations are different, the recognition engine's pronunciation of the different word is added to an exception dictionary of the TTS engine. Before adding the recognition engine's pronunciation of the different word to the exception dictionary, each different word is tested for form consistent with the exception dictionary. Each different word which is not consistent in form with the exception dictionary is converted to a suitable form prior to being added to the exception dictionary. The pronunciations are compared by comparing baseforms of the pronunciations.

Abstract: A method for displaying voice commands with multiple variables in a speech application, comprises the steps of: compiling a list of each voice command which can include at least one variable; storing with each the voice command each variable associated with each voice the command in the list; displaying in response to a user request a command and each of its associated variables; and, displaying each of the associated variables within delimiters to indicate to the user that a choice must be made from a set of choices for each the associated variable together with the command. A set of choices for each stored variable can be stored. The set of the choices for each variable associated with the voice command and at least one word to use to select one of the choices in each the set when uttering the voice command can be supplied in response to a user request.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for a speech application to read dictated text back to the user. As playback of dictated audio runs, the application searches ahead for words unassociated with the dictated audio. When the application encounters words unassociated with the dictated audio, the application sends the words to a Text-To-Speech engine to synthesize a spoken instance of each word. This method enhance the user's review of the effectiveness of the dictated text by providing an opportunity for the user to hear the entire document played back both the text that was dictated and the text that was typed.

Abstract: A method for correcting frequently misrecognized words and commands in a speech application. According to the method, when a need for correcting a frequently misrecognized word/command spoken by a user is detected, a recording is made of the misrecognized word/command in isolation. Subsequently, an in-isolation base form for the misrecognized word/command is established from the in-isolation recording. The in-isolation base form is then saved and the misrecognized word/command in recorded in context. Next, an in-context base form is established for the misrecognized word/command from the context recording and a comparison is made between the in-isolation and in-context base forms. The in-context base form is saved only if the in-isolation and in-context base forms are markedly different from one another. A sentence is displayed using the frequently misrecognized word/command in context and the user is prompted to speak the sentence.