Patent ID: 6647363
Filing Date: 2003-11-11
Classification: G06F,G10L

Abstract:
A method for automatically responding to an inquiry from a user, comprising:executing a machine-controlled human-machine dialogue to determine a plurality of predetermined query items specifying information to be verbally presented to the user; retrieving a plurality of information items from a storage in dependence on the query items; determining an intention of the user from a predetermined set of intentions, the intention reflecting a preferred way of presenting the information items; selecting the verbal presentation scenario from a predetermined set of presentation scenarios in dependence on the determined intention, wherein the presentation scenarios are selected from the group consisting of semantic content of delivered information items, emphasis on or repetition of various information items, and tailoring of actual vocabulary used; generating at least one natural language phrase to present the obtained information items according to a presentation scenario; and verbally presenting the generated phrase(s) to the user.