Open architecture for a voice user interface

A method of processing requests for information from an information network using a distributed computer system with voice recognition and audio feedback capability, wherein the computer system includes a media server, a dialog engine, and a plurality of channels coupled between the media server and the dialog engine for transmitting information between the media server and the dialog engine, the method comprising:

• receiving user input and information regarding a user in the media server via a call to a telephone subsystem;
• recognizing a voice command in the user input;
• requesting a dialog engine;
• transmitting the recognized command to the dialog engine;
• retrieving the requested information from the information network via the dialog engine;
• sharing the retrieved information between the dialog engine and the media server;
• converting the information text to speech format when the retrieved arrives from the information network in text format;
• and
• issuing a prompt to play the information to the user via the telephony subsystem;