US 2008/0306743 A1 · SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING MODULAR SPOKEN-DIALOG COMPONENTS

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for switching contexts within a spoken dialog between a user and a spoken dialog system. The spoken dialog system utilizes modular subdialogs that are invoked by at least one flow controller that is a finite state model and that associated with a dialog manager. The spoken dialog system includes a dialog manager with a flow controller and a reusable subdialog module. The method includes, while the spoken dialog is being controlled by the subdialog module that was invoked by the flow controller, receiving context-changing input associated with speech from a user that changes a dialog context and comparing the context-changing input to at least one context shift. And, if any of the context shifts are activated by the comparing step, then passing control of the spoken dialog to the flow controller with context shift message and destination state.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A spoken dialog system that switches contexts within a spoken dialog between a user, the spoken dialog system comprising:

a dialog manager with a first-flow controller and a second-flow controller, each of the first-flow controller and the second-flow controller being a finite state model;
a module configured, while the spoken dialog is being controlled by the first-flow controller, to receive context-changing input associated with speech from a user that changes the dialog context;
a module configured to compare the context-changing input to a table of context shifts;
a module configured, if any of the context shifts are activated by the comparison, to pass control to an invoked second flow controller indicated by the context shift;
a module configured, if no context shift is activated by the comparison, to maintain control of the spoken dialog with the first controller;
and
a module configured to store a local context associated with each of the first and second-flow controllers, the local context maintaining a state of the flow controller that is independent of the implemented dialogs, wherein the second-flow controller receives data values stored in the local context of the first-flow controller.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method of using modular spoken-dialog components

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System and method of using modular spoken-dialog components

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11