Speech Recognition Grammar Expansion via Statistical Language Model

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current speech recognition systems face limitations in recognizing and interpreting speech inputs that fall outside the predefined grammar, leading to reduced accuracy and inability to differentiate between gibberish and linguistically well-formed speech, especially when users provide inputs not covered by the developer-provided grammar.

Innovation Solution

The implementation enhances speech recognition by using a statistical language model that includes annotations providing syntax and semantics, which processes user input to generate a wider range of candidates while preserving the underlying context and semantics, allowing for improved recognition and interpretation of speech inputs through weighting and expansion of the base speech recognition grammar.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a base speech recognition grammar is used with predefined syntax and semantics, then the system structure is simple and easy to construct, but the system cannot recognize speech inputs that fall outside the predefined grammar

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of grammar constructionVSAvoidgrammar coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges a base speech recognition grammar with a statistical language model to create an enhanced recognition system. The base grammar provides structured syntax and semantics while the statistical model expands coverage to handle unseen speech patterns, combining the advantages of both predefined and adaptive approaches

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The enhanced speech recognition system achieves multi-functionality by integrating multiple components: the base grammar for structured recognition, the statistical language model for expanded coverage, and candidate generation mechanisms. This universal system can handle both predefined and unexpected speech inputs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the speech recognition grammar is expanded to cover more speech inputs, then the recognition coverage increases, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeech input coverageVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the speech recognition system into distinct functional components: the base grammar module, the statistical language model module, and the candidate generation module. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while working together to achieve comprehensive coverage without overwhelming system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The statistical language model acts as an intermediary between the base grammar and the speech input. It bridges the gap by generating candidate transcripts that connect predefined grammar structures with unseen speech patterns, expanding coverage without directly increasing grammar complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If a statistical language model is used to generate more candidates, then the recognition accuracy improves, but the processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecognition accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by generating a limited set of high-probability candidate transcripts from the statistical language model rather than exhaustively evaluating all possible transcripts. This selective approach maintains high recognition accuracy while reducing processing time through focused candidate generation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Reliability

If the base grammar is weighted using statistical speech recognition information, then the recognition robustness improves, but the computational resources required increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecognition robustnessVSAvoidcomputational resources
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of grammar candidates by assigning statistical weights to them based on speech recognition information. This parameter modification enhances recognition robustness by prioritizing more likely candidates while managing computational resources through weighted evaluation rather than exhaustive processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8682661B1Robust speech recognition
Publication Date: 2014.03.25 GOOGLE LLC
  • US8682661B1 patent drawing
  • US8682661B1 patent drawing
  • US8682661B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for recognizing speech input. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a user input and a grammar including annotations, the user input comprising audio data and the annotations providing syntax and semantics to the grammar, retrieving third-party statistical speech recognition information, the statistical speech recognition information being transmitted over a network, generating a statistical language model (SLM) based on the grammar and the statistical speech recognition information, the SLM preserving semantics of the grammar, processing the user input using the SLM to generate one or more results, comparing the one or more results to candidates provided in the grammar, identifying a particular candidate of the grammar based on the comparing, and providing the particular candidate for input to an application executed on a computing device.