System and method for speech activated navigation

Abstract

The invention discloses a system and method for speech-activated navigating or browsing via a speech control interface used in a speech-activated multifunctional communications system. In one embodiment, the invention provides an approach to extend speech-activated navigation by linking an output of an open vocabulary recognizer to an Internet search engine in order that a user may have more options to search information related to his spoken commands. In another embodiment, the invention provides a means to enable the user to orally navigate a database via a speech control interface wherein the selections and associated selection criteria are organized into a hierarchical view menu. In another embodiment, the invention provides an approach with high flexibility and accuracy to recognize the user's command using a new grammar structure and a matching score system.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 09 / 999,551, filed Oct. 24, 2001 (Attorney Docket No. AGLE0049), all of which is incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference thereto.FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] This invention relates generally to speech recognition technology, and more specifically to a system and method for speech-activated navigation. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Speech recognition system has been in development for more than 25 years resulting in a variety of hardware and software tools for personal computers. Products and services employing speech recognition are developing rapidly and are continuously applied to new markets. [0004] With the sophistication of speech recognition technologies, networking technologies, and telecommunication technologies, a multifunctional speech-activated communications system, which incorporates TV program service, video on demand (VOD) service, and Internet service and...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] In another embodiment, the invention provides a means for alleviating the tedium of hierarchical menu browsing, through the automatic creation of an automatic speech recognition system and associated grammar(s) and database(s), embodying the same list of selections and selection criteria present in a given hierarchical menu system, but c

Problems solved by technology

This trend of integration, however, creates new technical challenges, particularly in the field of navigating or browsing via a speech control interface.

For example, when the system is in the Internet browsing mode, the user could feel disappointed if the system is not responsive to a spoken command which is not very well matched with a button label displayed on a Web page.

Another example of technical challenge is that, when the system is in a video on demand (VOD) mode, traditional method of navigating hierarchical menus will no longer meet the efficiency needs.

A key drawback of hierarchical menu systems, however, is that they can be tedious and cumbersome to use.

Another example of technical challenge is that when the system is in a video on demand (VOD) mode, if the user did not speak exactly the button label displayed by the speech control interface or if the input utterance is lower than a pre-set confidence level, the system may fail to recognize the correct command and thus the system would be unable to provide the service that the user requested.

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