34. The computer readable storage medium of claim 27 , wherein said step of locating at least a first speech endpoint comprises: identifying a most likely word in said audio signal; and determining whether a duration of said most likely word is long enough to indicate that said most likely word represents said first speech endpoint.
34. The computer readable storage medium of claim 27 , wherein said step of locating at least a first speech endpoint comprises: identifying a most likely word in said audio signal; and determining whether a duration of said most likely word is long enough to indicate that said most likely word represents said first speech endpoint. 37. The computer readable storage medium of claim 34 , wherein said determining step comprises: computing said most likely word's duration back to a most recent speech-to-pause transition in said audio signal, if said most likely word is silence; verifying that an audio signal frame containing said most likely word is subsequent to an audio signal frame containing a speech starting point; and identifying said most likely word as a speech ending point if said duration meets or exceeds a second pre-defined threshold.