Patent ID: 7610556
Filing Date: 2009-10-27
Classification: G10L

Abstract:
1. A method of providing a dialog interface between a computer system and a user, the method comprising: (a) rendering information to the user if a dialog does not exist between the computer system and the user to initiate a dialog with the user using the computer system by accessing a task model defining tasks in a hierarchical structure, wherein at least some of the tasks comprise sub-tasks related to actions for rendering the information to the user, and wherein the rendering of the information to the user includes sequentially rendering the sub-tasks to complete a larger task; (b) receiving user input; (c) ascertaining semantic information of the user input; (d) ascertaining a current dialog state as a function of the semantic information; (e) adjusting a user preference as a function of the dialog with the user; and (f) repeating at least steps (b) and (c) and rendering information to the user according to both a verbal action and a non-verbal action related to the verbal action when a rule of a set of rules has been met, each rule of the set of rules comprising a verbal action and a non-verbal action to be performed as a function of the current dialog state, a filled form of slots of semantic information of the user input, and the user preference, wherein the information to be rendered in step (f) is prioritized, and wherein the user preference indicates a level of priority of information to be rendered.