Method and apparatus for multiple value confirmation and correction in spoken dialog systems
View Patent ↗A method for multiple value confirmation and correction in spoken dialog systems. A user is allowed to correct errors in values captured by the spoken dialog system, such that the interaction necessary for error correction between the system and the user is reduced. When the spoken dialog system collects a set of values from a user, the system provides a spoken confirmation of the set of values to the user. The spoken confirmation comprises the set of values and possibly pause associated with each value. Upon hearing an incorrect value, the user may react and barge-in the spoken confirmation and provide a corrected value. Responsive to detecting the user interruption during the pause or after the system speaking of a value, the system halts the spoken confirmation and collects the corrected value. The system then provides a new spoken confirmation to the user, wherein the new spoken confirmation includes the corrected value.
1. A method for multiple value confirmation and correction in a spoken dialog system, the method comprising:
responsive to collecting a set of values from a user, presenting a spoken confirmation of the set of values to the user, wherein the spoken confirmation includes a sequence of prompts spoken by the spoken dialog system, the sequence of prompts comprising spoken values of the set of values as understood by the spoken dialog system and a pause after each of the spoken values, each pause having a dynamically tuned duration and each pause except the last immediately followed by a next spoken value in the sequence of prompts;
detecting a user interruption of at least one of a spoken value or a pause during the spoken confirmation, wherein the user interruption comprises an indication that the spoken value is incorrect, and wherein the user interruption of the spoken value is detected within a predetermined time interval after the spoken value is uttered;
responsive to detecting the user interruption, halting the spoken confirmation and collecting from the user a corrected value corresponding to the spoken value;
providing a new spoken confirmation to the user, wherein the new spoken confirmation includes the corrected value, and wherein the new spoken confirmation is dynamically tuned by modifying the duration of at least one pause in the sequence of prompts and modifying the intonation of at least one of the prompts in the sequence of prompts based on the spoken dialog system's confidence in an accuracy of the set of values in the new spoken confirmation;
repeating the detecting, halting, and providing steps until values in the new spoken confirmation are correct; and
responsive to lack of detecting a user interruption during the sequence of prompts of the spoken confirmation, confirming the set of values.