Abstract: A method of parsing a stream of tokens representative of language usage is provided in one embodiment.

Abstract: A speech controlled computer user interface communicates between a user and at least one application program. The user interface has a speech layer, an utterance layer, and a discourse layer. The speech layer is in communication with the user and converts between speech messages and text messages. The utterance layer is in communication with the speech layer, and converts between text messages and semantic meaning messages. The discourse layer is in communication with the utterance layer and the at least one application program, and processes messages from the user and the at least one application program, and generates responsive messages to the user and the at least one application program.

Abstract: A universal voice-data handling system for interfacing between a software application program and at least one speech-related application interface. The voice-data handling system includes a computer system; a run-time module, loaded into and running on the computer system, the run-time module adapted to a specialized task for running concurrently and interactively with the at least one speech-related application interface; and an initialization file, loaded into the computer system, containing parameters specific to the software application program the initialization file being generated by an application, based on the behavior required by the speech-related software application program for specifying a behavior of the run-time module in relation to the software application program the initialization file being generated by an application, based on the behavior required by the speech-related software application program.