The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for improving the responsiveness and accuracy of
speech recognition systems with tightly integrated
Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) and voice resources, more particularly to a
system and method for providing an improved
speech recognition enhanced
user interface through a reduction in the effective talk-over period. The
speech recognition system comprises a host
server, managing and arbitrating between a voice resource and an ASR resource, among other resources, through the exchange of run-time controls. The novel method provides for a
daisy chain architecture within the speech
recognition system, whereby the
voice data, or prompt, output by the voice resource is passed directly to the ASR resource, where it is output to the
system user. Upon detection of speech from the user, the ASR resource stops transmitting the prompt to the system user, transparent to both the voice resource and the
server, followed by a "speech detected" message sent to the
server. The
delay between the time at which the speech is detected and the time at which the voice resource stops playing the prompt, as a result of a "stop play" request received from the server, goes unnoticed by the system user due to the ASR resource intervention.