BladeWare^VXML Interpreter

BladeWare^VXML Interpreter is the first product of a comprehensive open-source VoiceXML browser product offering. BladeWare^VXML is an open-source VoiceXML interpreter that follows the W3C VoiceXML 2.1 dialog markup language specification, enabling developers to take advantage of well-known Web technologies and tools when building voice applications. An interpreter, like BladeWare^VXML, is the keystone component of any standards-compliant voice browser.

BladeWare^VXML is based on OpenVXi, originally developed by SpeechWorks International, Inc., and has been adopted by more telephony platforms than any VoiceXML interpreter. BladeWare^VXML was specifically designed to integrate into an existing telephony platform. It consists of a collection of replaceable components to provide maximum flexibility to developers. Developers can keep the components they need and substitute their own where appropriate. BladeWare^VXML is also easily enhanced to support proprietary grammar formats, URI types, and VoiceXML objects.

BladeWare^VXML provides the VoiceXML component to all developers, who need to add VoiceXML capabilities to their products, eliminating the need to develop the technology on their own and to track changes and additions to the VoiceXML standard. For companies with VoiceXML platforms, BladeWare^VXML serves as a reference to ensure that they are executing VoiceXML consistently so they can deliver cross-platform compatibility. As with other open-source technologies, developers can take advantage of any subsequent contributions to BladeWare^VXML by Commetrex or any other developers worldwide.

BladeWare^VXML is designed for portability. It is suitable for use in VoiceXML-based applications such as browsers, testers, and debuggers on a wide variety of architectures, including 64-bit processors. Though workable for desktop systems, it targets high-density telephony systems.

BladeWare^VXML is fully internationalized and language agnostic. Since it is based on OpenVXi, it has been used in dozens of languages including US English, Mexican Spanish, Japanese, French, German, and Korean.

BladeWare^VXML is not a VoiceXML browser. (BladeWare^VXML Browser) is scheduled for release in 1Q2008. Integrating a stand-alone interpreter into a telephony platform requires engineering, testing and ongoing maintenance. A functional browser capable of processing user input and output requires the interpreter to be integrated with speech recognition, text-to-speech and telephony components, as well as subsystems for prompt playing and audio delivery. Integrators may want to replace or enhance the BladeWare^VXML logging component to redirect messages to the platform's management components. Also note that BladeWare^VXML does not include tools for building VoiceXML applications. It does, however, work with any third party offering that outputs VoiceXML. Finally, BladeWare^VXML is intended for deployments and does not include support for runtime debugging, at this time.

BladeWare^VXML Browser Rollout
The initial release of BladeWare^VXML Interpreter includes the following enhancements to OpenVXi:

• Full VoiceXML 2.1 compliance
• Abstract INET from VXI 3.X and develop a libCurl implementation
• Resolve Schema generation issues
• Redefine ASR/TTS integration layers to facilitate MRCP and distributed Prompt/Rec resources.
• Implementation of a DTMF recognizer
• Default run implementation

Future releases of BladeWare^VXML Browser will include the following further enhancements:

• Integration with Commetrex’ OTF Kernel/BladeWare
• Extend the implementation of the DTMF recognizer to utilize OTF/BladeWare Signal Detector
• Build INET OTF resource
• Integrate the BladeWare^VXML Interpreter with INET OTF resource
• Determine the appropriate MRCP solution
• Integrate MRCP solution

BladeWare^VXML Interpreter Package Contents
BladeWare^VXML Interpreter package consists of the following components:

• VoiceXML interpreter source
• BladeWare^VXML interface headers
• Reference implementations for the Internet, ECMAScript, Object, Log, Thread, and Value components
• Reference simulator implementations for the Recognition, Prompt, and Telephony components
• Reference application manager
• HTML based Documentation
• Sample VoiceXML applications
• Microsoft Visual C++ 8.0 Project files to build the source on Win32
• GNU make makefiles to build the source on Linux
• Pre-built binaries for Win32

The architecture of the overall system is described in the Architecture Description, while BladeWare^VXML interfaces are documented in the Interface Reference. The Release Notes describe the VoiceXML 2.1 interpretation and coverage as well as limitations of the reference component implementations. The Commetrex Public License provides licensing terms.

Commetrex Value Add
Commetrex delivers the underlying technologies that enable support for evolving and emerging standards. This frees platform and solution providers to concentrate their resources on building capabilities that result in true competitive advantage. Commetrex' role as the owner of BladeWare^VXML is to:

• Actively contribute to and maintain BladeWare^VXML source code, as well as incorporate improvements from the community. Contributions to BladeWare^VXML can be submitted to the SourceforgeBladeWare^VXML .
• Keep BladeWare^VXML current with the latest specifications.
• Offer integration, deployment and maintenance support plans to implementations of BladeWare^VXML 1.0 and beyond, leveraging Commetrex' deep knowledge of VoiceXML and a team of developers that have worked extensively with the BladeWare^VXML code base.

Licensing Options
BladeWare^VXML is available for free download from www.sourceforge.net. The interpreter is available under the GNU General Public License (GPL) at www.gnu.org. For developers who wish to use BladeWare^VXML for commercial distribution without GPL restrictions, Commetrex offers a commercial license (BladeWare^VXML Commercial Edition or BladeWare^VXMLCE) that includes both source code and software support and maintenance. Additional advantages of the commercial license include redistribution rights, warranty indemnification, access to beta versions, and priority response to feature requests.

Related Publications

• BladeWare Product Bulletin
• OTF Kernel Product Bulletin
• OpenMedia Product Bulletin