methods and apparatus for identifying a user group in connection with user group - based speech recognition . an exemplary method comprises receiving , from a user , a user group identifier that identifies a user group to which the user was previously assigned based on training data . the user group comprises a plurality of individuals including the user . the method further comprises using the user group identifier , identifying a pattern processing data set corresponding to the user group , and receiving speech input from the user to be recognized using the pattern processing data set .