Abstract: A method and apparatus derive a dynamic grammar composed of a subset of a plurality of data elements that are each associated with one of a plurality of reference identifiers. The present invention generates a set of selection identifiers on the basis of a user-provided first input identifier and determines which of these selection identifiers are present in a set of pre-stored reference identifiers. The present invention creates a dynamic grammar that includes those data elements that are associated with those reference identifiers that are matched to any of the selection identifiers. Based on a user-provided second identifier and on the data elements of the dynamic grammar, the present invention selects one of the reference identifiers in the dynamic grammar.

Abstract: A method and apparatus derive a dynamic grammar composed of a subset of a plurality of data elements that are each associated with one of a plurality of reference identifiers. The present invention generates a set of selection identifiers on the basis of a user-provided first input identifier and determines which of these selection identifiers are present in a set of pre-stored reference identifiers. The present invention creates a dynamic grammar that includes those data elements that are associated with those reference identifiers that are matched to any of the selection identifiers. Based on a user-provided second identifier and on the data elements of the dynamic grammar, the present invention selects one of the reference identifiers in the dynamic grammar.

Abstract: A method and apparatus derive a dynamic grammar composed of a subset of a plurality of data elements that are each associated with one of a plurality of reference identifiers. The present invention generates a set of selection identifiers on the basis of a user-provided first input identifier and determines which of these selection identifiers are present in a set of pre-stored reference identifiers. The present invention creates a dynamic grammar that includes those data elements that are associated with those reference identifiers that are matched to any of the selection identifiers. Based on a user-provided second identifier and on the data elements of the dynamic grammar, the present invention selects one of the reference identifiers in the dynamic grammar.

Abstract: A method and apparatus derive a dynamic grammar composed of a subset of a plurality of data elements that are each associated with one of a plurality of reference identifiers. The present invention generates a set of selection identifiers on the basis of a user-provided first input identifier and determines which of these selection identifiers are present in a set of pre-stored reference identifiers. The present invention creates a dynamic grammar that includes those data elements that are associated with those reference identifiers that are matched to any of the selection identifiers. Based on a user-provided second identifier and on the data elements of the dynamic grammar, the present invention selects one of the reference identifiers in the dynamic grammar.

Abstract: A method and apparatus derive a dynamic grammar composed of a subset of a plurality of data elements that are each associated with one of a plurality of reference identifiers. The present invention generates a set of selection identifiers on the basis of a user-provided first input identifier and determines which of these selection identifiers are present in a set of pre-stored reference identifiers. The present invention creates a dynamic grammar that includes those data elements that are associated with those reference identifiers that are matched to any of the selection identifiers. Based on a user-provided second identifier and on the data elements of the dynamic grammar, the present invention selects one of the reference identifiers in the dynamic grammar.

Abstract: A method and apparatus derive a dynamic grammar composed of a subset of a plurality of data elements that are each associated with one of a plurality of reference identifiers. The present invention generates a set of selection identifiers on the basis of a user-provided first input identifier and determines which of these selection identifiers are present in a set of pre-stored reference identifiers. The present invention creates a dynamic grammar that includes those data elements that are associated with those reference identifiers that are matched to any of the selection identifiers. Based on a user-provided second identifier and on the data elements of the dynamic grammar, the present invention selects one of the reference identifiers in the dynamic grammar.

Abstract: A method and apparatus derive a dynamic grammar composed of a subset of a plurality of data elements that are each associated with one of a plurality of reference identifiers. The present invention generates a set of selection identifiers on the basis of a user-provided first input identifier and determines which of these selection identifiers are present in a set of pre-stored reference identifiers. The present invention creates a dynamic grammar that includes those data elements that are associated with those reference identifiers that are matched to any of the selection identifiers. Based on a user-provided second identifier and on the data elements of the dynamic grammar, the present invention selects one of the reference identifiers in the dynamic grammar.

Abstract: A method and apparatus recognize an identifier entered by a user. A caller enters a predetermined identifier through a voice input device or a touch-tone keypad of a telephone handset. A signal representing the entered identifier is transmitted to a remote recognizer, which responds to the identifier signal by producing a recognized output intended to match the entered identifier. The present invention compares this recognized identifier with a list of valid reference identifiers to determine which one of these reference identifiers most likely matches the entered identifier. In performing this determination, the present invention compares each character of the recognized identifier with a character in a corresponding character position of each reference identifier in light of a plurality of confusion sets.

Abstract: A speech recognition system recognizes spoken utterances received as a speech signal from a user. A prompt for requesting a spoken utterance from the user is assigned a response identifier which indicates at least one of a plurality of speech recognizers to best recognize a particular type of spoken utterance. The system includes a processor for receiving the speech signal from the user in response to the prompt. The processor also directs the speech signal to the at least one speech recognizer indicated by the response identifier. The speech recognizer generates a plurality of spoken utterance choices from the speech signal and a probability associated with each of the plurality of choices. At least one of the spoken utterance choices is selected based on the associated probabilities.

Abstract: A speech recognition system recognizes spoken utterances received as a speech signal from a user. A prompt for requesting a spoken utterance from the user is assigned a response identifier which indicates at least one of a plurality of speech recognizers to best recognize a particular type of spoken utterance. The system includes a processor for receiving the speech signal from the user in response to the prompt. The processor also directs the speech signal to the at least one speech recognizer indicated by the response identifier. The speech recognizer generates a plurality of spoken utterance choices from the speech signal and a probability associated with each of the plurality of choices. At least one of the spoken utterance choices is selected based on the associated probabilities.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recognizing an input identifier on the basis of a set of comparison identifiers. After a user provides the input identifier according to a first form, the present invention provides a recognized identifier based on the input identifier. The present invention then generates a plurality of comparison identifiers on the basis of the recognized identifier. The user is then prompted to provide the input identifier again, but this time according to a second form that is different than the first form. A second recognized identifier is then generated on the basis of the input identifier provided according to the second form. If a match exists between the second recognized identifier and one of the comparison identifiers, the matched comparison identifier is selected as corresponding to the input identifier.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing a set of reference identifiers to a candidate subset of reference identifiers. The reference identifiers are associated in memory with a plurality of index codes. A user provides an input identifier, causing a recognizing device of the present invention to produce a recognized identifier on the basis of the input identifier. The present invention determines an index code based on the recognized identifier and on the basis of a plurality of pre-stored confusion sets of characters that group together in individual confusion sets those characters having a relatively high likelihood of being confused with each other by the recognizing device. After matching the determined index code with one of the reference index codes, the present invention determines which reference index codes are within a predetermined distance of the matched reference index code.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recognizing an input identifier by comparing a recognized identifier based on the input identifier to a set of reference identifiers maintained in memory. When a match is found between the recognized identifier and one of the reference identifiers, a user is prompted with the matched reference identifier. If the user confirms that the matched reference identifier corresponds to the input identifier, a transaction is executed based on the matched reference identifier. If the user rejects the matched reference identifier, the recognized identifier is compared again to the set of reference identifiers, but for this comparison, the previously rejected reference identifier has been excluded from the set of reference identifiers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recognizing an identifier entered by a user. A caller enters a predetermined identifier through a voice input device or a touch-tone keypad of a telephone handset. A signal representing the entered identifier is transmitted to a remote recognizer, which responds to the identifier signal by producing a recognized output intended to match the entered identifier. The present invention compares this recognized identifier with a list of valid reference identifiers to determine which one of these reference identifiers most likely matches the entered identifier. In performing this determination, the present invention employs a confusion matrix, which is an arrangement of probabilities that indicate the likelihood that a given character in a particular character position of the reference identifier would be recognized by the recognizer as a character in the corresponding character position of the recognized identifier.

Abstract: A production script for interactions between participants and an automated data collection system is created by selectively tuning an experimental script through successive trials until a recognition rate of the system is at least an acceptability threshold. The data collection system uses a semi-constrained grammar, which is a practical accommodation of a larger range of possible inputs than a menu. The data collection system collects data by recognizing utterances from participants in accordance with the production script.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recognizing an identifier entered by a user. A caller enters a predetermined identifier through a telephone handset. A signal representing the entered identifier is transmitted to a remote recognizer, which responds to the signal by producing a recognized output intended to match the entered identifier. The present invention compares this recognized identifier with a list of valid reference identifiers to determine which one of these reference identifiers most likely matches the entered identifier. In performing this determination, the present invention employs a confusion matrix, which is an arrangement of probabilities that indicate the likelihood that a given character in a particular character position of the reference identifier would be recognized by the recognizer as a character in the corresponding character position of the recognized identifier.

Abstract: A speech recognition system recognizes a customer identifier received as a speech signal from a customer. The system generates a first plurality of customer identifier choices from the speech signal and a probability associated with each of the first plurality of choices. The system includes a database having stored thereon a plurality of customer attribute parameters indexed to a second plurality of customer identifier choices. The system queries the database using the first plurality of choices, and retrieves one or more customer attribute parameters from the database. The probabilities are adjusted by the system based on the retrieved customer attribute parameters. The customer identifier is then selected from the first plurality of choices based on the adjusted probabilities.

Abstract: A customer service system includes a natural language device, a remote device remotely coupled to the natural language device over a network and a database coupled to the natural language device. The database has a plurality of answers stored on it that are indexed to natural language keys. The natural language device implements a natural language understanding system. The natural language device receives a natural language question over the network from the remote device. The question is analyzed using the natural language understanding system. Based on the analysis, the database is then queried. An answer to the question is received based on the query, and the answer is provided to the remote device over the network.

Abstract: A Dynamic Time/Frequency Warping (DTFW) technique is disclosed for speaker verification, speech recognition and channel normalization, among other uses. The DTFW technique utilities best path dynamic programming methods using a 3-dimensional time frequency array representing the spectral differences between a test utterance (the utterance being analyzed) and a reference utterance (template). The array is created by summing the squares of the differences of each feature in each frame of the template with each feature in each frame of the utterance in question. Dynamic programming techniques are then used to find the minimal distance path matching the test utterance and the template so as to optimize the time and frequency warping paths.

Abstract: The cost of a telephone toll call is shared by arranging the billing system of the telephone toll carrier to permit sharing of the period cost for at least one indivisible time period of a toll call. Accordingly, at least a portion of the period cost associated with at least one of the indivisible time periods of a toll call is assigned to both the terminating and originating subscribers, so that each subscriber to the toll call is billed for a portion of the total basic cost incurred for each of those indivisible periods of time over which it is agreed that the period costs will be shared. An authorization signal, indicating that the subscriber who would not have shared in the period costs for any indivisible period if the call had the call been placed as in the prior art--typically the terminating subscriber--agrees to accept his share of the period costs, may be required before any period cost sharing periods can occur.