US6499013B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interactive user interface using speech recognition and natural language processing
Assignee: Apple Inc
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Filing: 1998-09-09
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Granted: 2002-12-24
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Expires: 2018-09-09
Abstract
Abstract A system and method to interact with a computer using utterances, speech processing and natural language processing. The system comprises a speech processor to search a first grammar file for a matching phrase for the utterance, and to search a second grammar file for the matching phrase if the matching phrase is not found in the first grammar file. The system also includes a natural language processor to search a database for a matching entry for the matching phrase; and an application interface to perform an action associated with the matching entry if the matching entry is found in the database. The system utilizes context-specific grammars, thereby enhancing speech recognition and natural language processing efficiency. Additionally, the system adaptively and interactively “learns” words and phrases, and their associated meanings.
Inventors
- 👤 Dean Weber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:34
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10L; G10L15/00; G10L15/08; G10L15/18; G10L15/183; G10L15/19; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/16; G06F3/167; G06F40/00; G06F40/20; G06F40/279; G06F40/289; G06F40/30; G10L15/22; G10L15/26; H; H04; H04L; H04L9/00; H04L9/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 61
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of interacting with a computer using utterances, the method comprising the steps of: searching a first grammar file for a matching phrase for said utterance; searching a second grammar file for said matching phrase if said matching phrase is not found in said first grammar file; searching a natural language database for a matching entry for said matching phrase; and performing an action associated with said matching entry if said matching entry is found in said database.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of interacting with a computer using utterances, the method comprising the steps of: searching a first grammar file for a matching phrase for said utterance; searching a second grammar file for said matching phrase if said matching phrase is not found in said first grammar file; searching a natural language database for a matching entry for said matching phrase; and performing an action associated with said matching entry if said matching entry is found in said database.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of updating at least one of said database, said first grammar file and said second grammar file with said matching phrase if said matching entry is not found in said database.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said first grammar file is a context-specific grammar file.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said second grammar file is a general grammar file.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 4 further including the step of searching a dictation grammar for said matching phrase if said matching phrase is not found in said general grammar file.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of searching a context-specific grammar associated with said matching entry for a subsequent matching phrase for a subsequent utterance.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of replacing at least one word in said matching phrase prior to said step of searching said database.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said step of replacing said at least one word comprises substituting a wildcard for said at least one word.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said step of replacing said at least one word comprises substituting a proper name for said at least one word.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of text formatting said matching phrase prior to said step of searching said database.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of weighting individual words in said matching phrase according to a relative significance of said individual words prior to said step of searching said database.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of generating a confidence values for said matching entry.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of comparing said confidence value with a threshold value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of determining whether a required number of words from said matching phrase are present in said matching entry.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of prompting a user whether said matching entry is a correct interpretation of said utterance if said required number of words from said matching phrase are not present in said matching entry.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of prompting a user for additional information if said matching entry is not a correct interpretation of said utterance.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of updating at least one of said database, said first grammar file and said second grammar file with said additional information.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
89 words
A system for interacting with a computer using utterances, the system comprising: a speech processor for searching a first grammar file for a matching phrase for said utterance, and for searching a second grammar file for said matching phrase if said matching phrase is not found in said first grammar file; a natural language processor for searching a database for a matching entry for said matching phrase; and an application interface for performing an action associated with said matching entry if said matching entry is found in said database.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
89 words
A system for interacting with a computer using utterances, the system comprising: a speech processor for searching a first grammar file for a matching phrase for said utterance, and for searching a second grammar file for said matching phrase if said matching phrase is not found in said first grammar file; a natural language processor for searching a database for a matching entry for said matching phrase; and an application interface for performing an action associated with said matching entry if said matching entry is found in said database.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 18 wherein said natural language processor updates at least one of said database, said first grammar file and said second grammar file with said matching phrase if said matching entry is not found in said database.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 19 wherein said first grammar file is a context-specific grammar file.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 20 wherein said second grammar file is a general grammar file.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 21 wherein said speech processor searches a dictation grammar for said matching phrase if said matching phrase is not found in said general grammar file.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 19 wherein said speech processor searches a context-specific grammar associated with said matching entry for a subsequent matching phrase for a subsequent utterance.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 18 wherein said natural language processor replaces at least one word in said matching phrase prior to searching said database.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 24 further comprising a variable replacer in said natural language processor for substituting a wildcard for said at least one word in said matching phrase.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 24 further comprising a pronoun substituter in said natural language processor for substituting a proper name for said at least one word in said matching phrase.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 18 further comprising a string formatter for text formatting said matching phrase prior to searching said database.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 18 further comprising a word weighter for weighting individual words in said matching phrase according to a relative significance of said individual words prior to searching said database.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 18 further comprising a search engine in said natural language processor for generating a confidence value for said matching entry.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 29 wherein said natural language processor compares said confidence value with a threshold value.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 30 further comprising a boolean tester for determining whether a required number of words from said matching phrase are present in said matching entry.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 31 wherein said natural language processor prompts a user whether said matching entry is a correct interpretation of said utterance if said required number of words from said matching phrase are not present in said matching entry.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 31 wherein said natural language processor prompts a user for additional information if said matching entry is not a correct interpretation of said utterance.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 33 wherein said natural language processor updates at least one of said database, said first grammar file and said second grammar file with said additional information.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
83 words
A computer-readable medium encoded with data and instructions, the data and instructions causing an apparatus executing the instructions to: search a first grammar file for a matching phrase for said utterance; search a second grammar file for said matching phrase if said matching phrase is not found in said first grammar file; search a natural language database for a matching entry for said matching phrase; and perform an action associated with said matching entry if said matching entry is found in said database.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
83 words
A computer-readable medium encoded with data and instructions, the data and instructions causing an apparatus executing the instructions to: search a first grammar file for a matching phrase for said utterance; search a second grammar file for said matching phrase if said matching phrase is not found in said first grammar file; search a natural language database for a matching entry for said matching phrase; and perform an action associated with said matching entry if said matching entry is found in said database.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 35 further comprising instructions to: update at least one of said database, said first grammar file and said second grammar file with said matching phrase if said matching entry is not found in said database.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein said first grammar file is a context-specific grammar file.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 37 wherein said second grammar file is a general grammar file.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 38 further including instructions to: search a dictation grammar for said matching phrase if said matching phrase is not found in said general grammar file.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 36 further comprising instructions to: search a context-specific grammar associated with said matching entry for a subsequent matching phrase for a subsequent utterance.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 35 further comprising instructions to: replace at least one word in said matching phrase prior to searching said database.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 41 wherein said replacing said at least one word comprises substituting a wildcard for said at least one word.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 41 wherein said replacing said at least one word comprises substituting a proper name for said at least one word.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 35 further comprising instructions to: text format said matching phrase prior to said searching said database.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 35 further comprising instructions to: weigh individual words in said matching phrase according to a relative significance of said individual words prior to searching said database.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 35 further comprising instructions to: generate a confidence values for said matching entry.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 45 further comprising instructions to: compare said confidence value with a threshold value.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 47 further comprising instructions to: determine whether a required number of words from said matching phrase are present in said matching entry.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
41 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 48 further comprising instructions to: prompt a user whether said matching entry is a correct interpretation of said utterance if said required number of words from said matching phrase are not present in said matching entry.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 49 further comprising instructions to: prompt a user for additional information if said matching entry is not a correct interpretation of said utterance.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 50 further comprising instructions to: update at least one of said database, said first grammar file and said second grammar file with said additional information.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
78 words
A natural language processing apparatus comprising: means for searching a first grammar file for a matching phrase for an utterance; means for searching a second grammar file for said matching phrase if said matching phrase is not found in said first grammar file; means for searching a natural language database for a matching entry for said matching phrase; and means for performing an action associated with said matching entry if said matching entry is found in said database.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
78 words
A natural language processing apparatus comprising: means for searching a first grammar file for a matching phrase for an utterance; means for searching a second grammar file for said matching phrase if said matching phrase is not found in said first grammar file; means for searching a natural language database for a matching entry for said matching phrase; and means for performing an action associated with said matching entry if said matching entry is found in said database.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 52 further comprising: means for updating at least one of said database, said first grammar file and said second grammar file with said matching phrase if said matching entry is not found in said database.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 53 wherein said first grammar file is a context-specific grammar file.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 54 wherein said second grammar file is a general grammar file.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 55 further comprising: means for searching a dictation grammar for said matching phrase if said matching phrase is not found in said general grammar file.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 52 further comprising: means for replacing at least one word in said matching phrase prior to searching said database.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-12-23 | 2006-06-24 | 2006-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-12-23 | 2010-06-24 | 2010-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-12-23 | 2014-06-24 | 2014-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |