System and method for developing interactive speech applications

A memory device storing computer-readable instructions for enabling a developer to construct an interactive speech application in a speech processing system, the instructions being for causing a computer to:

• perform a plurality of predefined interactive dialogue tasks, at least the instructions associated with the tasks forming a respective plurality of dialogue module templates;
• produce, in response to developer input, a plurality of dialogue module instances for use in an interactive speech application, wherein each dialogue module instance is based on, and is a customized version of, one of the dialogue module templates, the dialogue module templates and the dialogue module instances being forms of dialogue modules;
• and
• establish, in response to developer input, at least one relationship between at least two dialogue modules to define a dialogue flow.

A computer program product, residing on a computer-readable medium, for enabling a speech-application developer to construct an interactive speech application for use by an application user, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing a computer to:

• provide a plurality of dialogue modules, each dialogue module including computer-readable instructions for causing a computer to accomplish a predefined interactive dialogue task;
• select, in response to developer input, at least one of the plurality of dialogue modules to accomplish at least one respective interactive dialogue task;
• and
• establish, in response to developer input, at least one relationship between the at least one dialogue module and a dialogue-processing unit other than the at least one dialogue module to define a flow of dialogue between the application user and the interactive speech application.