Task oriented dialog model and manager

A data structure representing a hierarchical task-oriented dialog model stored on or in a computer readable medium, the data structure comprising:

• a first object representing a top-level dialog task;
• a second object representing a roleset of the top-level dialog task, the second object comprising data,representing a valid range of values for a third object associated with the second object;
• and
• the third object for storing a value, to be selected from the range of values represented by the second object.

A spoken dialog system, comprising:

• a computer;
• a computer readable medium, operatively coupled to the computer, storing a data structure defining a task-oriented dialog model;
• and
• a Dialog Managei application running on the computer for conducting a dialog based on the task-oriented dialog model defined by the data structure.

A dialog design tool for specifying information according to a task-oriented dialog model, comprising:

• a computer readable medium having instructions for receiving and outputting information specifying a task model according to a task-oriented dialog model;
• a visual display for viewing visual output from said tool;
• input means for receiving data relating to the specification of the task model;
• and
• output means forioutputting an object formatted in accordance with a task specified in accordance with a specified task oriented dialog model.

A Dialog Manager for managing a dialog in accordance with an object output from a dialog design tool formatted according to a specified task oriented dialog model, comprising:

• first input means for loading the specified task oriented dialog model into the Dialog Manager;
• second input means for receiving arguments and variables from an external source defining inputs from a user participating in a dialog task defined by the specified task oriented dialog model;
• output means for outputting sounds to a user participating in a dialog task defined by the specified task oriented dialog model;
• and
• dialog managing means to carry out a dialog that completes the dialog task defined by the specified task oriented dialog model by outputting output data from said output means and receiving input data from said second input means;
• wherein said output data is determined as a function of said input data and said specified task oriented dialog model.