1. A method for simulating a run-time user interaction with a voice application, said method comprising the steps of:
- loading a user simulation script programmed to specify simulated voice interactions with the voice application;
- deriving from the voice application a nominal output of the voice application; and
- processing the user simulation script to generate both a simulated output for the voice application corresponding to the nominal output and a simulated input for the voice application corresponding to a pre-determined user input to the voice application.
2. The method of claim 1,
- wherein the user simulation script is specified in a customized mark-up language.
3. The method of claim 1,
- wherein the step of processing further comprises simulating a text equivalent and an execution time for each of the nominal output and the pre-determined user input.
4. The method of claim 1,
- wherein the simulated output simulates an output from a text to speech engine in response to the simulated input.
5. The method of claim 1,
- wherein the simulated output simulates an output from an automatic speech recognition engine in response to the simulated input.
6. The method of claim 1,
- wherein the simulated output simulates a pre-recorded audio source.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
- a) deriving additional nominal outputs of the voice application;
- b) processing the user simulation script to generate additional simulated outputs for the voice application corresponding to the additional nominal outputs;
- c) processing the user simulation script to generate additional simulated inputs to the voice application; and
- d) repeating steps a), b) and c) until the user simulation script is exhausted to simulate a complete set of user interactions with the voice application, in response to and as input for a complete set of user prompts from the voice application.
8. A machine readable storage having stored thereon a computer program for simulating a run-time user interaction with a voice application, said computer program comprising a routine set of instructions which when executed by a machine cause the machine to perform the steps of:
- loading a user simulation script programmed to specify simulated voice interactions with the voice application;
- deriving from the voice application a nominal output of the voice application; and
- processing the user simulation script to generate both a simulated output for the voice application corresponding to the nominal output and a simulated input for the voice application corresponding to a pre-determined user input to the voice application.
9. The machine readable storage of claim 8,
- wherein the user simulation script is specified in a customized mark-up language.
10. The machine readable storage of claim 8,
- wherein the step of processing comprises simulating a text equivalent and an execution time for each of the nominal output and the pre-determined user input.
11. The machine readable storage of claim 8,
- wherein the simulated output simulates an output from a text to speech engine in response to the simulated input.
12. The machine readable storage of claim 8,
- wherein the simulated output simulates an output from an automatic speech recognition engine in response to the simulated input.
13. The machine readable storage of claim 8,
- wherein the simulated output simulates a pre-recorded audio source.
14. The machine readable storage of claim 8, further causing said machine to perform the steps of:
- a) deriving additional nominal outputs of the voice application;
- b) processing the user simulation script to generate additional simulated outputs for the voice application corresponding to the additional nominal outputs;
- c) processing the user simulation script to generate additional simulated inputs to the voice application; and
- d) repeating steps a), b) and c) until the user simulation script is exhausted to simulate a complete set of user interactions with the voice application, in response to and as input for a complete set of user prompts from the voice application.
15. A simulation tool for simulating a run-time user interaction with a voice application running on an application server, said tool being configured to load a user simulation script programmed to specify simulated voice interactions with the voice application, and to: (i) process the voice application to derive a nominal output of the voice application; and (ii) process the user simulation script to generate a simulated output for the voice application corresponding to the nominal output, and to generate a simulated input for the voice application corresponding to a pre-determined user input to the voice application.
16. The simulation tool of claim 15,
- wherein the user simulation script is specified in a customized mark-up language.
17. The simulation tool of claim 15,
- wherein the simulated output simulates a text equivalent and an execution time for the nominal output; and
- wherein the simulated input simulates a text equivalent and an execution time for the pre-determined user input.
18. The simulation tool of claim 15,
- wherein the simulated output simulates an output from a text to speech engine in response to the simulated input.
19. The simulation tool of claim 15,
- wherein the simulated output simulates an output from an automatic speech recognition engine in response to the simulated input.
20. The simulation tool of claim 15,
- wherein the simulated output simulates a pre-recorded audio source.
