Audio-visual games and game computer programs embodying interactive speech recognition and methods related thereto

Abstract

Featured is a game applications programs, software, systems and methods that are such as to provide an interactive gaming experience for one or more game players by using speech recognition techniques in combination with interactive techniques and functionalities thereby as creating an interface that allows spoken words and / or phrases of a game player to initiate any one of a number of functionalities, actions or informational outputs in connection with the conduct of the game. Such methods, programs, and systems can further include creating an interface that allows a game player to initiate a function or action to be performed by the game player's character, to initiate a dialog or interaction between a player's character and a non-player character appearing in a game or to request information from a non-player character or about a phase of the game in general as part of the play of the game.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 588,703 filed Jul. 15, 2004, the teaching of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to audio-visual video games implemented for dedicated gaming systems, computer systems or via the Internet, and more particularly to such audio-visual games that embody speech recognition methods and devices for use in the conduct of the game and more specifically such audio-visual games embodying interactive techniques and methods that allow one or more players to interact or actively participate in the play of the game, including simulating natural language interactions with non-player characters of the game, where such interactive participation is accomplished using speech recognition methods and devices. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] User Interface (UI) control systems for interactive computer and video games typically consist of...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] In further embodiments, the dialoging process includes identifying a specific phrase, term or word of each of the text messages being displayed, which phrase term or word is a keyword for selecting a given text message and thus the corresponding response to be outputted. In one particular embodiment, the phrase, term or word is located at the beginning of the displayed text message (e.g., the first word of the text message). In another particular embodiment, the initiating phrase, term or word is highlighted in the text message being displayed but is not necessarily located at the beginning of the text message. Thus, the designer of the game can create text messages that are more naturally phrased while still providing a mechanism by which the game player can initiate a dialog with the non-player character using speech or the spoken natural language of the game player. Such naturally phrased text messages also are advantageous in that the game player can quickly, readily and naturally initiate and carry on such dialog with the non-player character.

[0012] In more particular embodiments, such an open dialog process can further include reviewing one or more of game environmental context information and character history to arrive at the response or responsive action. In this way, the dialoging process can map nouns, concepts and other language elements to the appropriate game event, action or object (i.e., game context) so as to thereby significantly enhance the ability of the speech recognition system to more accurately derive the player's intent, desired action, question or statement because reference also is being made to what has happened or is happening in the play of the game.

Problems solved by technology

Traditional hardware-controller UI limits immersive game-play, not least because it is an imperfect replacement for the most common and intuitive means humans use to interact with one another in the real world: spoken language.

This application of speech recognition, however, still falls short of immersive game play, because it is one-way, from player to game character An essential aspect of the immersive game experience, dialog between the human player and the computer game characters, has not been addressed, either by traditional UI via hardware-controller or by Command and Control speech recognition.

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