A speech recognition system includes a token builder, a noise estimator, a
template padder, a gain and noise adapter and a dynamic time warping (DTW)
unit. The token builder produces a widened test token representing an
input test utterance and at least one frame before and after the input
test utterance. The noise estimator estimates noise qualities of the
widened test token. The template padder pads each of a plurality of
reference templates with at least one blank frame either the beginning or
end of the reference template. The gain and noise adapter adapts each
padded reference template with the noise and gain qualities thereby
producing adapted reference templates having noise frames wherever a blank
frame was originally placed and noise adapted speech where speech exists.
The DTW unit performs a noise adapted DTW operation comparing the widened
token with one of the noise adapted reference templates.