INTERACTIVE USER INTERFACE USING SPEECH RECOGNITION AND NATURAL LANGUAGE PROCESSING

A system and method to interact with a computer using utterances, speech processing and natural language processing. The system comprises a speech processor to search a first grammar file for a matching phrase for the utterance, and to search a second grammar file for the matching phrase if the matching phrase is not found in the first grammar file. The system also includes a natural language processor to search a database for a matching entry for the matching phrase; and an application interface to perform an action associated with the matching entry if the matching entry is found in the database. The system utilizes context-specific grammars, thereby enhancing speech recognition and natural language processing efficiency. Additionally, the system adaptively and interactively “learns” words and phrases, and their associated meanings.