A method of training a natural language call routing system using an
unsupervised trainer is provided. The unsupervised trainer is adapted to
tune performance of the call routing system on the basis of feedback and
new topic information. The method of training comprises: storing audio
data from an incoming call as well as associated unique identifier
information for the incoming call; applying a highly accurate speech
recognizer to the audio data from the waveform database to produce a text
transcription of the stored audio for the call; forwarding outputs of the
second speech recognizer to a training database, the training database
being adapted to store text transcripts from the second recognizer with
respective unique call identifiers as well as topic data; for a call
routed by the call router to an agent: entering a call topic determined
by the agent into a form; and supplying the call topic information from
the form to the training database together with the associated unique
call identifier; and for a call routed to automated fulfillment: querying
the caller regarding the true topic of the call; and adding this topic
information, together with the associated unique call identifier, to the
training database; and performing topic identification model training and
statistical grammar model training on the basis of the topic information
and transcription information stored in the training database.