All The Claims

1. A patient gown comprising:
an outer gown having a body portion with arm openings and an upper opening and a first means for fastening for selectively closing a front thereof;
an inner jacket including a second means for fastening for selectively closing a front thereof, said inner jacket releasably fastened to said outer gown to cooperate therewith to form an upper opening, wherein said inner jacket is adapted to cover a desired portion of the patient; and
a third means for releasably fastening said inner jacket to said outer gown.
2. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein the first means for releasably fastening, the second means for releasably fastening, and the third means for releasably fastening are one of hook-and-loop fasteners, magnets, zippers, buttons, snaps, a pressure-sensitive resealable adhesive, and a combination of the foregoing.
3. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein said outer gown and said inner jacket are formed from one of cotton, a polyester, a cotton-polyester blend, rayon, silk, a plastic, and wool.
4. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein said outer gown and said inner jacket are formed from a disposable fibrous material.
5. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein said outer gown and said inner jacket are formed from a disposable plastic material.
6. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein said outer gown is sleeveless.
7. The patient gown of claim 1, an upper portion of said outer gown having shoulder straps cooperating to form the upper opening, a front of the shoulder straps releasably fastened to a back of the shoulder straps.
8. The patient gown of claim 7, wherein an upper portion of said inner jacket is releasably fastened to the back of the shoulder straps of said outer gown.
9. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein said inner jacket is releasably fastened to an interior of said outer gown.
10. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein said inner jacket is adapted to cover the upper body of the patient.
11. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein said inner jacket is adapted to cover a breast area of the patient.
12. The patient gown of claim 1, said outer gown further including an aperture adapted to provide access to a desired portion of a patient without removal of said outer gown to facilitate one of injections, insertion of catheters, insertion of IVs, examination of the desired portion, and a combination thereof.
13. The patient gown of claim 12, wherein the aperture is formed adjacent to one of a lower opening of the patient gown, an upper opening of the patient gown, and in a body of the patient gown.
14. A patient gown comprising:
an outer gown having a body portion with arm openings and an upper opening and a first means for fastening for selectively closing a front thereof, an upper portion of said outer gown having shoulder straps cooperating to form the upper opening, wherein a front of the shoulder straps is releasably fastened to a back of the shoulder straps;
an inner jacket including a second means for fastening for selectively closing a front thereof, said inner jacket releasably fastened to said outer gown, and an upper portion of said inner jacket releasably fastened to the back of the shoulder straps of said outer gown, wherein said inner jacket is adapted to cover a desired portion of the patient; and
a third means for releasably fastening said inner jacket to said outer gown.
15. The patient gown of claim 14, wherein said inner jacket is adapted to cover the upper body of the patient.
16. The patient gown of claim 14, wherein said inner jacket is adapted to cover a breast area of the patient.
17. The patient gown of claim 14, said outer gown further including an aperture adapted to provide access to a desired portion of the patient without removal of said outer gown to facilitate one of injections, insertion of catheters, insertion of IVs, examination of the desired portion, and a combination thereof.
18. The patient gown of claim 17, wherein the aperture is formed adjacent to one of a lower opening of the patient gown, an upper opening of the patient gown, and in a body of the patient gown.
19. A patient gown comprising:
an outer gown having a body portion with arm openings, an upper opening, an aperture adapted to provide access to a desired portion of the patient without removal of said outer gown, and a first means for fastening for selectively closing a front thereof, an upper portion of said outer gown having shoulder straps cooperating to form the upper opening, wherein one surface of the shoulder straps is releasably fastened to another surface of the shoulder straps;
an inner jacket including a second means for fastening for selectively closing a front thereof, said inner jacket releasably fastened to an interior of said outer gown, and an upper portion of said inner jacket releasably fastened to the back of the shoulder straps of said outer gown, wherein said inner jacket is adapted to cover a desired portion of the patient; and
a third means for releasably fastening said inner jacket to said outer gown.
20. The patient gown of claim 19, wherein the aperture is formed adjacent to one of a lower opening of the patient gown, an upper opening of the patient gown, and in a body of the patient gown to facilitate one of injections, insertion of catheters, insertion of IVs, examination of the desired portion, and a combination thereof.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A connector including a plurality of contacts having at least one contact portion adapted to contact a connecting object, a housing arranging and holding said contacts and having a fitting opening into which said connecting object is inserted, and a pivoting member for causing said contacts to be elastically deformed to urge said contacts against said connecting object,
wherein said contacts each comprise a first piece having the contact portion at one end adapted to contact said connecting object, a pressure receiving portion at the other end adapted to be urged by said pivoting member, and a projection inwardly extending from the front end of said pressure receiving portion; a second piece having a fulcrum portion at one end and a connection portion at the other end adapted to be connected to a board; and an elastic portion for connecting said first piece and said fulcrum portion; and said contact portion, said elastic portion, said fulcrum portion and said connection portion being arranged substantially in the form of a crank,
wherein said housing includes a ceiling portion for covering said contact portions of the contacts, said ceiling portion being formed at least on both the ends with protection walls for preventing said ceiling portion from being raised when said connecting object is accidentally subjected to undue external force, and
wherein said pivoting member includes an actuating portion for pivotally moving said pivoting member, urging portions continuously arranged in the longitudinal direction of the pivoting member, and anchoring grooves independent from one another for receiving therein said pressure receiving portions and adapted to engage said projections, respectively, and said pivoting member is mounted on said housing so that the urging portions are pivotally moved between the connection portions and the pressure receiving portions of the contacts, and the rotational axis of said urging portions is moved with their pivotal movement to achieve their compact rotation.
2. A connector including a plurality of contacts having at least one contact portion adapted to contact a connecting object, a housing arranging and holding said contacts and having a fitting opening into which said connecting object is inserted, and a pivoting member for causing said contacts to be elastically deformed to urge said contacts against said connecting object,
wherein said contacts consist of two kinds of contacts arranged alternately staggered,
said contacts of the one kind each comprising a first piece having the contact portion at one end adapted to contact said connecting object and a pressure receiving portion at the other end adapted to be urged by said pivoting member; a second piece having a fulcrum portion at one end and a connection portion at the other end adapted to be connected to a board; and an elastic portion for connecting said first piece and said fulcrum portion; and said contact portion, said elastic portion, said fulcrum portion and said connection portion being arranged substantially in the form of a crank, and
said contacts of the other kind each comprising a first piece having the contact portion at one end adapted to contact said connecting object and a pressure receiving portion at the other end adapted to be urged by said pivoting member; a second piece having a connection portion at one end adapted to be connected to a board and a fulcrum portion at the other end; and an elastic portion for connecting said first piece and said fulcrum portion; and said contact portion, said elastic portion, said fulcrum portion and said connection portion being arranged substantially in the form of a U-shape, and said pressure receiving portions of the contacts of at least either the one kind or the other kind being each provided at the front end with an inwardly extending projection,
wherein said housing includes a ceiling portion for covering said contact portions of the contacts, said ceiling portion being formed at least on both the ends with protection walls for preventing said ceiling portion from being raised when said connecting object is accidentally subjected to undue external force, and
wherein said pivoting member includes an actuating portion for pivotally moving said pivoting member, urging portions continuously arranged in the longitudinal direction of the pivoting member, and anchoring grooves independent from one another for receiving therein said pressure receiving portions and adapted to engage said projections, respectively, and said pivoting member is mounted on said housing so that the urging portions are pivotally moved between the connection portions and the pressure receiving portions of the contacts of the one kind and between the pressure receiving portions of the contacts of the other kind and the housing, and the rotational axis of said urging portions is moved with their pivotal movement to achieve their compact rotation.
3. A connector including a plurality of contacts having at least one contact portion adapted to contact a connecting object, a housing arranging and holding said contacts and having a fitting opening into which said connecting object is inserted, and a pivoting member for causing said contacts to be elastically deformed to urge said contacts against said connecting object,
wherein said contacts each comprise a first piece having the contact portion at one end adapted to contact said connecting object, a pressure receiving portion at the other end adapted to be urged by said pivoting member, and a projection inwardly extending from the front end of said pressure receiving portion; a second piece having a fulcrum portion at one end, and a connection portion at the other end adapted to be connected to a board; and an elastic portion for connecting said first piece and said fulcrum portion; and said contact portion, said elastic portion, said fulcrum portion and said connection portion being arranged substantially in the form of a crank,
wherein said housing includes a ceiling portion for covering said contact portions of the contacts, said ceiling portion being formed at least on both the ends with protection walls for preventing said ceiling portion from being raised when said connecting object is accidentally subjected to undue external force,
wherein said pivoting member includes an actuating portion for pivotally moving said pivoting member, urging portions continuously arranged in the longitudinal direction of the pivoting member, and anchoring grooves independent from one another for receiving therein said pressure receiving portions and adapted to engage said projections, respectively, and
wherein said pivoting member is mounted on said housing such that before connecting said connecting object to said connector, the lower ends of said urging portions are positioned between the projections of said pressure receiving portions and said connection portions of said contacts, that second on pivotally moving said actuating portion of the pivoting member, said urging portions are moved in a direction opposite to said fitting opening so that the lower ends of said urging portions are embraced between the projections of said pressure receiving portions and said extension portions of said contacts, that third on further pivotally moving said actuating portion of the pivoting member, said urging portions at their second position are pivotally moved about the center of said urging portions as their rotational axis, that fourth on further pivotally moving said actuating portion of the pivoting member, said urging portions at their third position are pivotally moved about the center of said urging portions as their rotational axis so that said urging portions stand substantially upright between said pressure receiving portions and said connection portions, and the rotational axis is moved toward the upper ends of said urging portions in contact with said projections, and that finally on further pivotally moving said actuating portion of the pivoting member, said urging portions at their fourth position are pivotally moved about a center in the proximity of the upper ends of said urging portions in contact with said projections to cause said urging portions to engage said projections, thereby moving the rotational axis of said urging portions with their pivotal movement to achieve their compact rotation.
4. A connector including a plurality of contacts having at least one contact portion adapted to contact a connecting object, a housing arranging and holding said contacts and having a fitting opening into which said connecting object is inserted, and a pivoting member for causing said contacts to be elastically deformed to urge said contacts against said connecting object,
wherein said contacts consist of two kinds of contacts arranged alternately staggered,
said contacts of the one kind each comprise a first piece having the contact portion at one end adapted to contact said connecting object and a pressure receiving portion at the other end adapted to be urged by said pivoting member; a second piece having a fulcrum portion at one end, and a connection portion at the other end adapted to be connected to a board; and an elastic portion for connecting said first piece and said fulcrum portion; and said contact portion, said elastic portion, said fulcrum portion and said connection portion being arranged substantially in the form of a crank, and
said contacts of the other kind each comprise a first piece having the contact portion at one end adapted to contact said connecting object, and a pressure receiving portion at the other end adapted to be urged by said pivoting member; a second piece having a connection portion at one end adapted to be connected to a board, and a fulcrum portion at the other end; and an elastic portion for connecting said first piece and said fulcrum portion; and said contact portion, said elastic portion, said fulcrum portion and said connection portion being arranged substantially in the form of a U-shape, and said pressure receiving portions of the contacts of at least either the one kind or the other kind being each provided at the front end with an inwardly extending projection,
wherein said housing includes a ceiling portion for covering said contact portions of the contacts, said ceiling portion being formed at least on both the ends with protection walls for preventing said ceiling portion from being raised when said connecting object is accidentally subjected to undue external force,
wherein said pivoting member includes an actuating portion for pivotally moving said pivoting member, urging portions continuously arranged in the longitudinal direction of the pivoting member, and anchoring grooves independent from one another for receiving therein said pressure receiving portions and adapted to engage said projections, respectively, and
wherein said pivoting member is mounted on said housing such that before connecting said connecting object to said connector, the lower ends of said urging portions are positioned between the projections of said pressure receiving portions and the connection portions and the housing and, that second on pivotally moving said actuating portion of the pivoting member, said urging portions are moved in a direction opposite to said fitting opening so that the lower ends of said urging portions are embraced between the projections of said pressure receiving portions and the extension portions of said contact and the housing, that third on further pivotally moving said actuating portion of the pivoting member, said urging portions at their second position are pivotally moved about the center of said urging portions as their rotational axis, that fourth on further pivotally moving said actuating portion of the pivoting member, said urging portions at their third position are pivotally moved about the center of said urging portions as their rotational axis so that said urging portions stand substantially upright between said pressure receiving portions and said connection portions and the housing, and the rotational axis is moved toward the upper ends of said urging portions in contact with said projections, and that finally on further pivotally moving said actuating portion of the pivoting member, said urging portions at their fourth position are pivotally moved about a center in the proximity of the upper ends of said urging portions in contact with said projections to cause said urging portions to engage said projections, thereby moving the rotational axis of said urging portions with their pivotal movement to achieve their compact rotation.
5. The connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein when the connecting object is connected to the connector, the urging portions of the pivoting member are positioned such that before connecting said connecting object to said connector, the lower ends of said urging portions are positioned between the projections of said pressure receiving portions and the connection portions and the housing or extension portions, that second on pivotally moving said actuating portion of the pivoting member, said urging portions are moved in a direction opposite to said fitting opening so that the lower ends of said urging portions are embraced between the projections of said pressure receiving portions and the connection portions and the housing or extension portions, that third on further pivotally moving said actuating portion of the pivoting member, said urging portions at their second position are pivotally moved about the center of said urging portions as their rotational axis, that fourth on further pivotally moving said actuating portion of the pivoting member, said urging portions at their third position are pivotally moved about the center of said urging portions as their rotational axis so that said urging portions stand substantially upright between said pressure receiving portions and said connection portions and the housing or the extension portions, and the rotational axis is moved toward the upper ends of said urging portions in contact with said projections, and that finally on further pivotally moving said actuating portion of the pivoting member, said urging portions at their fourth position are pivotally moved about a center in the proximity of the upper ends of said urging portions in contact with said projections to cause said urging portions to engage said projections.
6. The connector as set forth in any one of claim 1, wherein said ceiling portion is further provided with a protection wall substantially at its center for preventing said ceiling portion from being raised when the connecting object is accidentally subjected to undue external force.
7. The connector as set forth in any one of claim 1, wherein said contacts and said contacts of the one kind are each provided with an extension portion extending from the fulcrum portion in such a direction that said extension portion faces to said contact portion.
8. The connector as set forth in claim 2, wherein said contacts of the other kind are each provided with an extension portion extending from the fulcrum portion in such a direction that said extension portion faces to said pressure receiving portion, and said pivoting member is mounted on the housing so that said urging portions of the pivoting member are pivotally moved between said extension portions and said pressure receiving portions.
9. The connector as set forth in any one of claim 2, wherein a further contact portion adapted to contact the connecting object is provided on said extension portion of each of said contacts and said contacts of the one kind, and a further contact portion adapted to contact the connecting object is also provided between said fulcrum portion and the connection portion of each of said contacts of the other kind.
10. The connector as set forth in any one of claim 2, wherein said housing is provided with recessed portions on the side of the fitting opening for conducting a connecting object, and the contacts of the other kind are so arranged that the connection portions of the contacts do not extend from said recessed portions.
11. The connector as set forth in any one of claim 1, wherein the connecting object is provided with anchoring portions, and there are provided locking members each having an engaging portion adapted to engage said anchoring portion and said locking members are substantially the same in construction as that of said contacts, said contacts of the one kind or said contacts of the other kind.
12. The connector as set forth in claim 9, wherein said further contact portion provided on said extension portion of each of said contacts and said contacts of the one kind is constructed to have elasticity, and said further contact portion provided between the fulcrum portion and the connection portion of each of said contacts of the other kind is constructed to have elasticity.
13. The connector as set forth in claim 11, wherein the housing is provided with anchoring portions at locations corresponding to the connection portions of said contacts or said contacts of the one kind, while the connection portions of said contacts and said contacts of the one kind are each provided with an inclined engaging portion adapted to engage said anchoring portion, and said extension portions of said contacts and said contacts of the one kind are not held by the housing.
14. The connector as set forth in claim 13, wherein when inserting said contact or said contact of the one kind into said housing from the opposite side of said fitting opening, at the commencement of the engagement of the anchoring portion with the engaging portion, the contact portion of the contact is substantially in parallel with an inserting hole of the housing, and on proceeding of the insertion the contact is obliquely inclined so that the contact portion of the contact comes into contact with the upper wall of the inserting hole, and wherein when the insertion of the contact has been completed, the contact portion has returned in parallel with the inserting hole with the aid of said inclined engaging portion.
15. The connector as set forth in claim 9, wherein said further contact portion provided on said extension portion of each of said contacts and said contacts of the one kind and said further contact portion provided between said fulcrum portion and the connection portion of each of said contacts of the other kind are of a bent shape to extend into said fitting opening and have elasticity.
16. The connector as set forth in claim 15, wherein a tip of each of said further contact portions is provided with a protrusion.
17. The connector as set forth in any one of claim 1, wherein the fitting opening is inclined for easy insertion of connecting object.
18. The connector as set forth in claim 17, wherein inclination of the fitting opening is in an angle between 15 to 25 degree with respect to the base of housing of the connector.

1. A musical instrument tuning apparatus capable of slidingly adjusting a position of a first portion of a musical instrument relative to a second portion of said musical instrument to thereby change a length of an air passage of said musical instrument, the positioning apparatus comprising:
a tuning sleeve having a first sleeve end, a second sleeve end, a sleeve inner surface and a sleeve outer surface, the sleeve inner surface configured to fit over a first portion of a musical instrument, the sleeve outer surface having a first thread;
a tuning collar having a first collar end, a second collar end, a collar inner surface and a collar outer surface, the collar inner surface having a second thread configured to threadingly engage the first thread belonging to the sleeve outer surface, the first collar end configured to abut a second portion of said musical instrument; wherein:
when the tuning apparatus and second portion are mounted on the first portion of the musical instrument with the first collar end in abutment with the second portion, upon rotation of the tuning collar in a first direction, the tuning collar is configured to travel relative to the tuning sleeve and urge the second portion in a direction away from the tuning sleeve, to thereby change a pitch of the musical instrument.
2. The musical instrument tuning apparatus accordingly to claim 1, wherein:
the first portion of the musical instrument is a neck portion of the saxophone;
the second portion of the musical instrument is a mouthpiece of the saxophone; and
the tuning apparatus is configured to adjust a position of the mouthpiece relative to the next portion and thereby adjust a length of an air passage formed by the mouthpiece and neck portion.
3. The musical instrument tuning apparatus of claim 2, wherein the tuning collar further comprises a finger-actuated adjustment portion.
4. The musical instrument tuning apparatus of claim 2, wherein the tuning collar is independent of the mouthpiece so that rotating the tuning collar does not rotate the mouthpiece.
5. A saxophone tuning apparatus for a saxophone having a mouthpiece that is slidable relative to a neck portion thereof, comprising:
a tuning sleeve mountable on a neck portion of a saxophone; and
a tuning collar engageable to the tuning sleeve;
wherein manipulation of the tuning collar changes a position of the mouthpiece relative to the neck portion, thereby adjusting a length of an air passage to change a pitch of the saxophone, when the tuning sleeve is mounted on said neck portion and the tuning collar is operatively engaged to said tuning sleeve and to said mouthpiece.
6. The saxophone tuning apparatus of claim 5, wherein:
an outer surface of the tuning sleeve is provided with a first thread;
an inner surface of the tuning collar is provided with a second thread;
the tuning collar is configured to abut the mouthpiece; and
rotation of the tuning collar moves the mouthpiece and changes the pitch of the saxophone.
7. The saxophone tuning apparatus of 5, wherein the tuning collar further comprises a finger-actuated adjustment portion.
8. A musical instrument in combination with a musical instrument mouthpiece positioning apparatus, the musical instrument comprising a mouthpiece slidable relative to a mounting portion of the musical instrument, the musical instrument mouthpiece positioning apparatus comprising a tuning sleeve and a tuning collar, wherein:
the tuning sleeve is positioned on the mounting portion;
the tuning collar is engaged to the tuning sleeve;
the mouthpiece is in abutment with the tuning collar; and
manipulation of the tuning collar changes a position of the mouthpiece relative to the mounting portion and thereby adjusts a length of an air passage to change a pitch of the musical instrument.
9. The combination of claim 8, wherein the tuning collar further comprises a finger-actuated adjustment portion.
10. The combination of claim 8, wherein the tuning collar is independent of the mouthpiece so that rotating the tuning collar does not rotate the mouthpiece.
11. The combination of claim 8, wherein the tuning sleeve slidably engages the mounting portion.
12. The combination of claim 8, wherein:
the tuning sleeve comprises a smooth inner surface and a threaded outer surface; and
the tuning collar comprises a threaded inner surface.
13. The combination of claim 8, wherein, in an un-tuned position, the mouthpiece abuts the tuning collar.
14. The combination of claim 8, wherein in a tuned position the mouthpiece abuts the tuning collar.
15. The combination of claim 8, wherein the pitch of the instrument is changed by rotating the collar so that the collar moves along the mounting portion in the direction of the mouthpiece.
16. A method of tuning a musical instrument comprising a mouthpiece connectable to a mounting portion of the musical instrument, the method comprising:
mounting a tuning sleeve onto the mounting portion;
threadingly mounting a tuning collar onto the tuning sleeve;
positioning a mouthpiece in abutment with the tuning collar; and
manipulating the tuning collar to thereby change a position of the mouthpiece relative to the mounting portion to thereby adjust a length of an air passage and change a pitch of the musical instrument.
17. The method of claim 16, comprising:
rotating the tuning collar to thereby change a position of the mouthpiece relative to the mounting portion.
18. A method of tuning a musical instrument comprising a mouthpiece connectable to a mounting portion of the musical instrument, the mounting portion having an external thread associated therewith, the method comprising:
threadingly mounting a tuning collar onto the external thread;
positioning a mouthpiece in abutment with the tuning collar; and
manipulating the tuning collar to thereby change a position of the mouthpiece relative to the mounting portion to thereby adjust a length of an air passage and change a pitch of the musical instrument.
19. The method of claim 18, comprising:
rotating the tuning collar to thereby change a position of the mouthpiece relative to the mounting portion.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method for handling expected repeat speech queries, the method causing a computing device to perform steps comprising:
detecting a misrecognized speech input from a user;
determining a tendency of the user to repeat speech inputs based on previous user interactions; and
adapting a speech recognition model based on the determined tendency before an expected repeat speech input.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the method further causing the computing device to recognize the expected repeat speech input from the user based on the adapted speech recognition model.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein adapting the speech recognition model further comprises modifying one of an acoustic model, a language model, and a semantic model.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein adapting the speech recognition model further comprises preparing a personalized search speech recognition model for the expected repeat speech input based on the user’s usage history and entries in a recognition lattice.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the method further causing the computing device to retain an unmodified speech recognition model in parallel with the adapted speech recognition model.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, the method further causing the computing device to perform steps comprising:
recognizing the repeat input query with the unmodified speech recognition model and with the adapted speech recognition model;
determining a recognition certainty for the unmodified speech recognition model and the adapted speech recognition model; and
basing further interaction with the user on the determined recognition certainty.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the method further causing the computing device to perform steps comprising:
determining likely speech characteristics of the expected repeat speech input; and
tailoring the adapted speech recognition model to the likely speech characteristics of the expected repeat speech input.
8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the method further causing the computing device to record user behavior in a speech input history.
9. A system for handling expected repeat speech queries, the system comprising:
a processor;
a detection module configured to control the processor to detect via a processor a misrecognized input from a user;
a determination module configured to control the processor to determine a tendency of the user to repeat inputs based on previous user interactions; and
an adaptation module configured to control the processor to adapt an input recognition model based on the determined tendency before an expected repeat input query.
10. The system of claim 9, the system further comprising a recognition module configured to control the processor to recognize the expected repeat input from the user based on the adapted input recognition model.
11. The system of claim 9, wherein the adaptation module further controls the processor to modify one of an acoustic model, a language model, and a semantic model.
12. The system of claim 9, wherein adapting the input recognition model further comprises preparing a personalized search input recognition model for the expected repeat input query based on the user’s usage history and entries in a recognition lattice.
13. The system of claim 9, the system further comprising a retention module configured to control the processor to retain an unmodified input recognition model in parallel with the adapted input recognition model.
14. The system of claim 13, the system further comprising:
a recognition module configured to control the processor to recognize the repeat input query with the unmodified input recognition model and with the adapted input recognition model;
a second determination module configured to control the processor to determine a recognition certainty for the unmodified input recognition model and the adapted input recognition model and base further interaction with the user on the determined recognition certainty.
15. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program having instructions for controlling a computing device to handle expected repeat speech queries, the instructions comprising:
detecting misrecognized speech from a user to a spoken dialog system;
determining a tendency of the user to repeat input speech based on previous user interactions; and
adapting a speech recognition model based on the determined tendency before an expected repeat input speech.
16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, the instructions further comprising retaining an unmodified speech recognition model in parallel with the adapted speech recognition model.
17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, the instructions further comprising:
recognizing the repeat input speech with the unmodified speech recognition model and with the adapted speech recognition model;
determining a recognition certainty for the unmodified speech recognition model and the adapted speech recognition model; and
basing further interaction with the user on the determined recognition certainty.
18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, the instructions further comprising:
determining likely speech characteristics of the expected repeat input speech; and
tailoring the adapted speech recognition model to the likely speech characteristics of the expected repeat input speech.
19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein determining the tendency of the user to repeat speech queries further comprises:
retrieving an input speech history associated with the user; and
calculating a repeat query likelihood based on similarity of the misrecognized input speech to one or more entries in the retrieved input speech history.
20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, the instructions further comprising recording user behavior in an input speech history.