Data processing: speech signal processing – linguistics – language – Speech signal processing – Application
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-23
2001-11-20
Korzuch, William (Department: 2741)
Data processing: speech signal processing, linguistics, language
Speech signal processing
Application
C704S275000, C704S272000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321198
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Related Applications
This application relates to and employs teachings set forth in our copending application's referenced below which comprise a part of the prior art.
U.S. Ser. No. 08/932,938 for a System and Method for Speech Enabled Application and U.S. Ser. No. 08/932,937 for a System and Method for Creating a Language Grammar were filed Sep. 17, 1997 and are incorporated by reference herein.
2. Field of the Invention
The present invention broadly relates to tools for use by designers of natural language dialogues. More particularly, the present invention relates to computer software tools which simplify the design of dialogues and permit confirmation of the correctness of a design by means of simulation rather than requiring final software implementation of a design before correctness of the design can be confirmed.
3. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore, dialogue designers were required to complete a design or part of a design using manual techniques. Subsequently, the designer or the design system required an interactive voice responsive (IVR) component or other voice activated systems to be implemented in order to test or confirm the effectiveness of the design. The dialogue designer was of necessity a very highly skilled person and the prior art system of implementation was both time consuming and costly.
Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide a dialogue design tool that would enable dialogue designers of lesser skill to design dialogues that may be proven by simulation before implementation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a dialogue designer with tools which permit a dialogue design to be created in a database where it can be simulated by other tools which test and confirm the correctness of the dialogue before implementation.
It is another principle object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method enabling a dialogue to be expressed in a database.
It is another principle object of the present invention to simulate the use of the dialogue and document that use for purposes of implementation by a database.
It is another principle object of the present invention to provide a general purpose dialogue tool for enhancing the effectiveness of dialogue designers.
It is principle object of the present invention to provide a computer driven Natural Language Speech Assistant (NLSA) for use by developers of Interactive Voice Response (IVR) applications.
It is principle object of the present invention to provide IVR developers with a NLSA tool that virtually eliminates a need for specialized knowledge of speech, linguistics or Backus-Naur Format (BNF) coding to create new or enhanced existing IVR spoken language applications.
It is the principle object of the present invention to provide a novel NLSA for use in IVR applications that is compatible with commercially available Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) systems, thus, permitting substitution or upgrading of the latest ASR units.
It is a principle object of the present invention to provide a novel NLSA tool which is employed for development of an IVR application and comprises a novel Dialogue Assistant (DA) component that is also used for dialogue simulation.
It is a principle object of the present invention to provide a NLSA system which permits construction of a call flow application using a Dialogue Assistant (DA) component enabling designers to verify the call flow cycle by simulation of the application before finalizing the application and writing code.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a NLSA system for designing and demonstrating prototype applications or component parts of an IVR application.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a plurality of novel tools in a DA which enables an IVR developer to design and simulate a call flow application through the early stages of development of the application and to permit automatic or manual fault-free implementation of any part of the application.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel NLSA system for creating dialogue design components-such as prompts, anticipated responses, and replies used as building blocks in a DA.
It is another object of the present invention to interpose a human observer monitor into the call flow response during simulated run time to further perfect rapid interaction between the caller and the simulated dialogue.
It is general object of the present invention to provide a NLSA comprising a unique set of development tools and run time components that enable IVR developers to design, create, proof and run call flow applications which engage callers in an intelligent spoken dialogue and eliminate keypad and single hyphen word answers.
It is general object of the present invention to provide a novel call and/or dialogue flow development kit that may be integrated into ASR systems for IVR developers which permits checking and monitoring of steps during development.
According to these and other objects of the present invention there is provided a novel DA that permits a dialogue to be defined in terms of system prompts, caller responses, system replies and dialogue flow which is combined into a human readable output in the form of a design specification document. Having partially or totally completed a dialogue design in an associated database, the designer is capable of conducting a simulation of the design so as to test and confirm its effectiveness using the novel DA before implementation.
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Diedrichs Raymond Alan
Hank Wayne Arnold
Irwin James Scott
Walsh Joseph Patrick
Abebe Daniel
Korzuch William
Sowell John B.
Starr Mark T.
Unisys Corporation
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