END-OF-UTTERANCE DETERMINATION FOR VOICE PROCESSING

A voice processing system receives spoken input from a user, which is subjected to speech recognition to convert the spoken input into a text equivalent. The semantic and/or prosodic properties of the spoken input are then analysed, and based on the results of this analysis, it is determined whether or not the user input has effectively completed. Thus for example if a semantic analysis indicates that the user is no longer saying anything useful, then the system may decide to interrupt the user and play a further prompt to him or her, clarifying what extra input is required.