Method and apparatus for continuous spelling speech recognition with early identification

A method for recognizing a desired word based on a continuous spoken spelling of that word by a user before the word has been completely spoken and as each uttered letter of the spelling is received, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving one or more continuously uttered letters of the word from a user;
• processing the letters into a speech signal having a format that is compatible with a speech recognition engine as each of the letters is received;
• analyzing the speech signal using a speech recognition engine to determine hypotheses for the letters as they are received and to periodically output, before the word has been completely spoken, an updated string of hypothesized letters as hypotheses for the letters are determined, the updated string representing a partial spelling of the word represented by the uttered letters;
• comparing the updated strings of hypothesized letters representing partial spellings to a preselected vocabulary comprising a list of words using a spelling engine as the letters are received until a best match is obtained between a given string of hypothesized letters and a single vocabulary word.

A computer-implemented method for automatically recognizing a word based on an electronic speech signal that represents a continuous spoken spelling of the word before the word has been completely spoken and as each uttered letter of the word is received, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving and processing one or more continuously uttered letters of the word into the electronic speech signal;
• analyzing the electronic speech signal to determine hypotheses for one or more letters of the word as the speech signal and uttered letters are received and before the word has been completely spoken;
• periodically outputting, before the word has been completely spoken, an updated string of hypothesized letters as the hypotheses are determined, the updated string representing the portion of the word;
• comparing the updated string to a plurality of pre-selected vocabulary words as the letters are received until a best match is obtained between the updated string and one vocabulary word;
• and
• outputting the vocabulary word, before the word has been completely spoken, based on the best match.