Method and apparatus for improving speech recognition accuracy

Details Method and apparatus for improving speech recognition accuracy Method and apparatus for improving speech recognition accuracy

2001-09-21

2004-01-06

Abebe, Daniel (Department: 2654)

Data processing: speech signal processing, linguistics, language

Speech signal processing

Recognition

C704S251000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06675142

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The field of the invention is methods and apparatuses for continuous speech recognition. More particularly, the invention relates to methods for presenting the user with control over speech recognition accuracy.
Speech recognition systems currently exist which enable a user to continuously dictate speech into a microphone, whereupon that speech is transformed to text by a computer, and the text is displayed on the computer's monitor. In a continuous speech recognition system designed to decode speech without pauses between words, it is reasonable to expect that errors of decoding will take place and will have to be corrected by the user. Often, a particular type of error will continuously recur during a particular dictation session. For example, the system may repeatedly mis-recognize a particular word, such as “and,” for example.
Prior-art speech recognition systems receive and transcribe received speech based on various system parameters and databases, such as audio levels, topic libraries, and speaker-dependent training databases, for example. In some systems, a user trained on the system may be able to determine what type of recognition accuracy problem is occurring, and adjust or change the various parameters or databases in order to improve the recognition accuracy of the user's speech. Many users, however, may not have the inclination or patience to learn how to identify recognition accuracy problems or how to adjust the system parameters to improve upon those problems. In addition, some users may prefer not to monitor the text being generated during a speech recognition session, and may not realize that recognition problems are occurring. Both of these types of users may become frustrated and decide not to use the system.
What is needed is a method and apparatus for transcribing dictated speech that enables a user easily to change system parameters or user behaviors in order to improve the recognition accuracy of the system. What is further needed is a method and apparatus for transcribing dictated speech that can identify when speech recognition problems are occurring, and can assist the user in identifying the particular type of problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes an apparatus and method for transcribing speech that receives input speech, and transcribes the input speech into transcribed speech that includes a sequential listing of words in text format. During transcription, the method and apparatus monitor the accuracy of the transcribed speech, and determine whether the accuracy of the transcribed speech is sufficient. If the accuracy is not sufficient, the method and apparatus automatically activate a speech recognition improvement tool. Using the speech recognition improvement tool, the method and apparatus improve the accuracy of the transcribing process.
The method is carried out by a transcription apparatus which includes at least a computer, a monitor, and a microphone. The method can be executed by a machine that executes a plurality of code sections of a computer program that is stored on a machine-readable storage.
A general object of the invention is to provide a transcription system user with the ability and the information to easily change system parameters and/or user behaviors in order to improve the recognition accuracy of the system. Another object of the invention is to provide the user with this ability automatically.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5027406 (1991-06-01), Roberts et al.
patent: 5960447 (1999-09-01), Holt et al.
patent: 6006183 (1999-12-01), Lai et al.
patent: 6138099 (2000-10-01), Lewis et al.
patent: 6292778 (2001-09-01), Sukar

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