Abstract: A voice-based digital assistant (VDA) uses a conversation intelligence (CI) manager module having a rule-based engine on conversational intelligence to process information from one or more modules to make determinations on both i) understanding the human conversational cues and ii) generating the human conversational cues, including at least understanding and generating a backchannel utterance, in a flow and exchange of human communication in order to at least one of grab or yield a conversational floor between a user and the VDA. The CI manager module uses the rule-based engine to analyze and make a determination on a conversational cue of, at least, prosody in a user's flow of speech to generate the backchannel utterance to signal any of i) an understanding, ii) a correction, iii) a confirmation, and iv) a questioning of verbal communications conveyed by the user in the flow of speech during a time frame when the user still holds the conversational floor.

Abstract: A method for classifying lexical stress in an utterance includes generating a feature vector representing stress characteristics of a syllable occurring in the utterance, wherein the feature vector includes a plurality of features based on prosodic information and spectral information, computing a plurality of scores, wherein each of the plurality of scores is related to a probability of a given class of lexical stress, and classifying the lexical stress of the syllable based on the plurality of scores.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for adding new vocabulary to interactive translation and dialog systems. In one embodiment, a method for adding a new word to a vocabulary of an interactive dialog includes receiving an input signal that includes at least one word not currently in the vocabulary, inserting the word into a dynamic component of a search graph associated with the vocabulary, and compiling the dynamic component independently of a permanent component of the search graph to produce a new sub-grammar, where the permanent component comprises a plurality of words that are permanently part of the search graph.

Abstract: A method for classifying lexical stress in an utterance includes generating a feature vector representing stress characteristics of a syllable occurring in the utterance, wherein the feature vector includes a plurality of features based on prosodic information and spectral information, computing a plurality of scores, wherein each of the plurality of scores is related to a probability of a given class of lexical stress, and classifying the lexical stress of the syllable based on the plurality of scores.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for enhancing interactive translation and dialogue systems. In one embodiment, a method for conducting an interactive dialogue includes receiving an input signal in a first language, where the input signal includes one or more words, processing the words in accordance with a vocabulary, and adjusting a probability relating to at least one of the words in the vocabulary for an output signal. Subsequently, the method may output a translation of the input signal in a second language, in accordance with the vocabulary. In one embodiment, adjusting the probability involves adjusting a probability that the word will be used in actual conversation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for enhancing interactive translation and dialogue systems. In one embodiment, a method for conducting an interactive dialogue includes receiving an input signal in a first language, where the input signal includes one or more words, processing the words in accordance with a vocabulary, and adjusting a probability relating to at least one of the words in the vocabulary for an output signal. Subsequently, the method may output a translation of the input signal in a second language, in accordance with the vocabulary. In one embodiment, adjusting the probability involves adjusting a probability that the word will be used in actual conversation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for adding new vocabulary to interactive translation and dialogue systems. In one embodiment, a method for adding a new word to a vocabulary of an interactive dialogue includes receiving an input signal that includes at least one word not currently in the vocabulary, inserting the word into a dynamic component of a search graph associated with the vocabulary, and compiling the dynamic component independently of a permanent component of the search graph to produce a new sub-grammar, where the permanent component comprises a plurality of words that are permanently part of the search graph.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for performing natural language translation in a finite domain, e.g., where the finite domain describes a specific subject area or field of use. In one embodiment, a method for translating user input relating to a finite domain includes receiving user input in a source language and translating the user input into a target language in accordance with the finite domain. In some embodiments, the resultant output is substantially grammatically correct and/or sociolinguistically appropriate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for performing natural language translation in a finite domain, e.g., where the finite domain describes a specific subject area or field of use. In one embodiment, a method for translating user input relating to a finite domain includes receiving user input in a source language and translating the user input into a target language in accordance with the finite domain. In some embodiments, the resultant output is substantially grammatically correct and/or sociolinguistically appropriate.