Sentence based queries from a user are analyzed using a natural language engine to determine appropriate answers from an electronic database. The system and methods are useful for Internet based search engines, as well as distributed speech recognition systems such as a client-server system. The latter are typically implemented on an intranet or over the Internet based on user queries at his/her computer, a PDA, or a workstation using a speech input interface.

System and method for natural language processing of sentence based queries

A real-time system (100) incorporating speech recognition and linguistic processing for recognizing a spoken query by a user and distributed between client (150) and server (180), is disclosed. The system (100) accepts user's queries in the form of speech at the client (150) where minimal processing extracts a sufficient number of acoustic speech vectors representing the utterance. These vectors are sent via a communications channel (160A) to the server (180) where additional acoustic vectors are derived. Using Hidden Markov Models (HMMs), and appropriate grammars and dictionaries conditioned by the selections made by the user, the speech representing the user's query is fully decoded into text (or some other suitable form) at the server (180). The text corresponding to the user's query is then simultaneously sent to a natural language engine (190) and a database processor (186) where optimized SQL statements are constructed for a full-text search from a database (188) for a record set of several stored questions that best matches the user's query. Further processing in the natural language engine (190) narrows the search to a single stored question. The answer corresponding to this single stored question is next retrieved from the file path and sent to the client (150) in compressed form. At the client (150), the answer to the user's query is articulated to the user using a text-to-speech engine (159) in his or her native natural language. The system (100) requires no training and can operate in several natural languages.

Distributed real time speech recognition system

A real-time speech recognition system includes distributed processing across a client and server for recognizing a spoken query by a user. Both the client and server can dedicate a variable number of processing resources for performing speech recognition functions. The partitioning of responsibility for speech recognition operations can be done on a client by client or connection by connection basis.

Adjustable resource based speech recognition system

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for multiple web-based content category searching for web content on a mobile communication facility comprising capturing speech presented by a user using a resident capture facility on the mobile communication facility; transmitting at least a portion of the captured speech as data through a wireless communication facility to a speech recognition facility; generating speech-to-text results for the captured speech utilizing the speech recognition facility; and transmitting the text results and a plurality of formatting rules specifying how search text may be used to form a query for a search capability on the mobile communications facility, wherein each formatting rule is associated with a category of content to be searched.

Multiple web-based content category searching in mobile search application

A speech-enabled WWW based computing system allows a user to interact with content associated with a web page and select items of interest using speech as a mode of input. Dynamic grammars can assist in the recognition operations to improve speed and comprehension.

Internet based speech recognition system with dynamic grammars

A distributed speech recognition system includes a speech processor linked to a plurality of speech recognition engines. The speech processor includes an input for receiving speech files from a plurality of users and storage means for storing the received speech files until such a time that they are forwarded to a selected speech recognition engine for processing. Each of the speech recognition engines includes a plurality of servers selectively performing different functions. The system further includes means for selectively activating or deactivating the plurality of servers based upon usage of the distributed speech recognition system.

Andrew MacGintie

Papers

Distributed speech recognition system with speech recognition engines offering multiple functionalities