US Patent 7418384 Voice data input device and method

A data input device for inputting numeric data by voice includes a range prediction part, a history holding part, a speech recognition part, a recognition result holding part, a comparison part, a presentation part, and a result storing part. The range prediction part estimates a range of a value expected to be input on the basis of meter-reading history data held in the history holding part. The speech recognition part recognizes speech representing a meter reading and stores the recognition result in the recognition result holding part. The comparison part determines whether or not the meter reading for this month represented by the data stored in the recognition result holding part is within the prediction range. If the meter reading for this month is within the prediction range, the presentation part presents the recognition result to a user, and the speech recognition result is stored in the result storing part.