Patent ID: 6356869
Filing Date: 2002-03-12
Classification: G10L

Abstract:
A discourse management apparatus, said apparatus comprising:an input for receiving successively signals representative of information data elements relating to a certain task a user is desirous of achieving; a processing unit coupled to said input for processing said signals, said processing unit being operative to implement a finite state machine capable to acquire a plurality of functional states linked by transitions, said transitions forming a set; said processing unit being responsive to an information data element in a first signal applied to said input for enabling a sub-set of said set of transitions; said processing unit processing an information data element in a second signal applied to said input subsequently to said first signal to cause said finite state machine to evolve by following at least one of said transitions in said sub-set of transitions; said processing unit having an output, said processing unit being operative to generate a signal having a practical utility in achieving the certain task when the finite state machine evolves to a given state.