Patent ID: 8355484

Claim:
An automatic dialog system for producing speech output, comprising: a filler generator configured to select a transitional message in response to receiving a communication from a user; and a speech synthesis system configured to mask a latency associated with processing the communication by providing the transitional message to the user while processing the communication and until providing a response to the user, and provide the response to the user in accordance with the communication subsequent to providing the transitional message to the user, wherein the transitional message comprises a paralinguistic event and/or a phrase, providing the transitional message to the user comprises synthesizing the transitional message in the speech synthesis system, providing the response to the user comprises synthesizing the response in the speech synthesis system, the filler generator is further configured to select a plurality of transitional messages, and the speech synthesis system is further configured to provide each of the plurality of transitional messages to the user, while the automatic dialog system processes the communication and until the speech synthesis system provides the response to the user.