Patent ID: RE42868

Claim:
A speech recognition apparatus comprising: a store of data containing entries to be identified and recognition information defining for each entry a connection with a word of a first set of words vocabulary and a connection with a word of a second set of words: vocabulary; speech recognition means; and control means operable: (a) to control the speech recognition means to identify, by reference to recognition information for the first set of words vocabulary , as many words of the first set as vocabulary meet a predetermined criterion of similarity to first received voice signals; (b) upon such identification, to compile a reduced list of all words of from the second set vocabulary, wherein the reduced list comprises only words from the second vocabulary which are connected with entries connected also with the identified word(s) words of the first set vocabulary ; and (c) to control the speech recognition means as to identify, by reference to recognition information for the second set of words vocabulary , at least one word of the reduced list which resembles second received voice signals.