Methods and apparatus for context and experience sensitive prompting in voice applications

A method of prompt selection in a voice recognition system employing a plurality of modules including at least a voice dialing module and a voice mail module, each of the plurality of modules including multiple functions, comprising the steps of:

• passing information indicating an active function currently being used by a user from a module to a prompt module;
• storing user records including a function usage tally indicating the number of times a user has successfully performed each of the multiple functions on a function by function basis;
• utilizing the active function information by the prompt module to retrieve both a user experience level for the system and for the function, said identifying including obtaining function usage tally information for the active function;
• and
• selecting a prompt appropriate for the user experience level for the active function, the prompt being a message from the system to the user calling for a user input appropriate to the active function, selecting of a prompt tending to favor the presentation of more abbreviated prompts to users with higher experience levels while favoring the presentation of more elaborate prompts providing greater detail about the nature of input needed for users with lower experience levels with the active function;
• wherein a usage history for the user is organized on a module by module basis and the function usage tally is used as an index for the prompt selection prompt.