1. A computer system comprising a first processing component, a second processing component, and dialogue management means for providing an interface between the first and second components, wherein the dialogue management means comprises: (a) means for maintaining an inventory, comprising a plurality of items, (b) means for enabling said first processing component to assign values to said items in said inventory, (c) means for checking whether a predetermined set of said items in said inventory have all had values assigned to them, and (d) means for enabling said second processing component to access said items in said inventory when said checking means indicates that said predetermined set of said items in said inventory have all had values assigned to them.