Media Resource Control Protocol (MRCP) is a new IETF protocol, providing a key enabling technology that eases the integration of speech technologies into network equipment and accelerates their adoption resulting in exciting and compelling interactive services to be delivered over the telephone. MRCP leverages IP telephony and Web technologies such as SIP, HTTP, and XML (Extensible Markup Language) to deliver an open standard, vendor-independent, and versatile interface to speech engines. Speech Processing for IP Networks brings these technologies together into a single volume, giving the reader a solid technical understanding of the principles of MRCP, how it leverages other protocols and specifications for its operation, and how it is applied in modern IP-based telecommunication networks. Focusing on the MRCPv2 standard developed by the IETF SpeechSC Working Group, this book will also provide an overview of its precursor, MRCPv1. Speech Processing for IP Networks: * Gives a complete background on the technologies required by MRCP to function, including SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol), and HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). * Covers relevant W3C data representation formats including Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML), Speech Recognition Grammar Specification (SRGS), Semantic Interpretation for Speech Recognition (SISR), and Pronunciation Lexicon Specification (PLS). * Describes VoiceXML - the leading approach for programming cutting-edge speech applications and a key driver to the development of many of MRCP’s features. * Explains advanced topics such as VoiceXML and MRCP interworking. This text will be an invaluable resource for technical managers, product managers, software developers, and technical marketing professionals working for network equipment manufacturers, speech engine vendors, and network operators. Advanced students on computer science and engineering courses will also find this to be a useful guide.