Methods and Apparatus for Masking Latency in Text-to-Speech Systems
AssigneeNuance Communications, Inc.
InventorsEllen Marie Eide, Wael Mohamed Hamza
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Abstract
A technique for masking latency in an automatic dialog system is provided. A communication is received from a user at the automatic dialog system. The communication is processed in the automatic dialog system to provide a response. At least one transitional message is provided to the user from the automatic dialog system while processing the communication. A response is provided to the user from the automatic dialog system in accordance with the received communication from the user.
Claims20
A method of masking latency in an automatic dialog system, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a communication from a user at the automatic dialog system;
- processing the communication in the automatic dialog system to provide a response;
- providing at least one transitional message to the user from the automatic dialog system while processing the communication;
- and
- providing a response to the user from the automatic dialog system in accordance with the received communication from the user.
An automatic dialog system for producing speech output, comprising a speech synthesis system that provides at least one transitional message to the user while processing a received communication from the user and that provides at least one response to the user in accordance with the received communication from the user.
Apparatus for producing speech output in an automatic dialog system, comprising:
- a memory;
- and
- at least one processor coupled to the memory and operative to:
- (i) receive a communication from a user at the automatic dialog system;
- (ii) process the communication in the automatic dialog system to provide a response;
- (iii) provide at least one transitional message to the user from the automatic dialog system while processing the communication;
- and (iv) provide a response to the user from the automatic dialog system in accordance with the received communication from the user.
An article of manufacture for producing speech output in an automatic dialog system, comprising a machine readable medium containing one or more programs which when executed implement the steps of:
- receiving a communication from a user at the automatic dialog system;
- processing the communication in the automatic dialog system to provide a response;
- providing at least one transitional message to the user from the automatic dialog system while processing the communication;
- and
- providing a response to the user from the automatic dialog system in accordance with the received communication from the user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.