Mixed initiative interface control

A control method for modular, mixed initiative, human-machine interface, the control method comprising the steps of:

• defining moves in a dialog control unit, the moves defining units of interaction about a topic of information, the moves comprising at least one system move and at least one user move, each system move being structured such that, when it is implemented by the dialog control unit, it generates a prompt to be issued to a user and it enables a plurality of possible user moves which can follow the system move, each possible user move, when enabled, constraining recognizable user inputs by activating only corresponding interpretation grammars that, when matched by a user input, trigger the corresponding user move, the user move also identifying information relating to processing to be performed based upon a received and recognized user input and information regarding a next move to be invoked;
• and
• controlling the interface with the dialog control unit to obtain information in a mixed initiative manner from a user, wherein the moves are combined to form composite prompts and grammars.