A clarification algorithm for spoken dialogue systems

The paper presents an algorithm for spoken dialogue systems that uses mixed initiative interactions and identification of multiple call-types to clarify the needs of the user efficiently. The representation of the application domain includes the relationships between key topics in the domain, the prompts used to discern between these topics, and the call-types associated with the topics. This representation is used by the algorithm to maintain the state of the conversation. By maintaining a picture of how all of the information conveyed by the user fits into this domain, regardless of whether it was information specifically requested by the system, the algorithm expedites the clarification process.