Telephonic communications – Audio message storage – retrieval – or synthesis
Reexamination Certificate
1996-12-05
2001-03-27
Zele, Krista (Department: 2742)
Telephonic communications
Audio message storage, retrieval, or synthesis
C379S083000, C379S085000, C379S088010, C379S088020, C379S088070, C379S088090
Reexamination Certificate
active
06208713
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to devices for maintaining a telephone directory of names and telephone numbers which a user frequently calls. More particularly, the invention relates to locating a desired record from among a plurality of records in an input recognizing telephone directory. Input which may be recognized by such a directory includes voice input and handwritten input.
Telephones equipped with electronic personal telephone directories for storing the name, number and other reference information of frequently called contacts have become commonplace in both mobile cellular applications and in wired residential and business applications. Typically, speech recognition, soft keys, or touch screen interfaces are used to dial a phone number selected from a list stored electronically in a personal directory. In existing systems, the user must create and administer their personal directory manually. This is accomplished by manually keying in a telephone number of a new entry. The user may also be required or provided the option to key in the text of the name corresponding to the number entered and other personal information such as location (home, office, cell, etc.)
Some systems have the added feature of being speech recognition driven. In such systems, the user simply states the name of the party to be called, and the system performs speech recognition to correlate the spoken name with a speech template stored in association with the directory number of the party to be called. These systems are typically user-trained. The user must train the speech recognizer with two or three examples of an utterance to be associated with each directory number entered. With personal directories supporting on the order of 50 entries or more, the creation of a personal directory can be time consuming and tedious.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of locating a desired record amongst a plurality of records in a telephone directory. The method involves associating a frequency field with each of the records, the frequency field being operable to store a frequency metric. A characteristic field is also associated with each of the records, the characteristic field being operable to store a characteristic representation of at least one identifying characteristic of a rendering associated with the record. An input representation of a rendering purporting to identify the desired record is produced and the input representation is compared with the contents of the characteristic fields of at least some of the records and confidence metrics are assigned to the records respectively, each of the confidence metrics representing a respective probability that a respective record is the desired record. A determination is then made as to which of the records have the first and second highest confidence metrics. The frequency fields of the records having the first and second highest confidence metrics are then read and the record with the highest frequency metric is identified as the desired record.
Preferably, the contents of the frequency field of the desired record are increased when the desired record is located.
Preferably, a determination is made as to whether or not at least one of the first and second confidence metrics has a value greater than a first pre-defined value, a difference between the first and second confidence metrics is determined and a determination is made as to whether the difference is greater than a second pre-defined value.
Preferably, where the difference is greater than the second pre-defined value, the desired record is selected as the record having the first highest confidence metric.
A determination may be made to determine whether the contents of the frequency field of the record having the first highest frequency metric are greater than a third pre-defined value and where the contents of the frequency field, of the record having the highest frequency metric, are greater than the third pre-defined value, the record having the highest frequency metric is selected as the desired record. Preferably, where the first highest frequency metric is less than the third pre-defined value, the user is prompted to repeat the rendering.
Preferably, the act of producing an input representation of a rendering includes digitizing an utterance made by the user. Preferably, an oral utterance from the user is digitized to produce the input representation.
Preferably, when the highest confidence metric is not greater than a fourth pre-defined value or the difference between the confidence metrics is not greater than a fifth pre-defined value, and when the difference in confidence metrics is less than the fifth pre-defined value, and when the second highest confidence metric is less than the fourth pre-defined value, a determination is made as to which of the first and second records has the first highest frequency metric and the user is prompted to confirm that the record having the first highest frequency metric is the desired record. Where the user confirms that the record having the first highest frequency metric is the desired record, the record which has the first highest frequency metric is selected and the contents of the frequency field of the desired record are incremented. Where the user denies that the record having the first highest frequency metric is the desired record, the user is prompted to confirm that the record having the second highest frequency metric is the desired record. Where the user confirms that the record having second highest frequency metric is the desired record, the record which has the second highest frequency metric is selected and the contents of the frequency field of the desired record are incremented.
Preferably, where the user denies that the record having second highest frequency metric is the desired record, the user is prompted to repeat the rendering.
A determination may be made to determine which of the records having the first and second highest confidence metrics has the highest value in its frequency field, a Figure of Merit is determined based on a weighted sum of the confidence metric associated with the record having the frequency field with the greatest value, the difference between the first and second confidence metrics, and the contents of the frequency field of the record having the highest frequency field contents and a determination is made as to whether the Figure of Merit is greater than a sixth pre-defined value and if so, the record having the frequency field with the greatest value is selected as the desired record.
The frequency field may store a frequency of use metric related to the number of times the record is used or the frequency field may store a frequency of success metric related to the number of times the related record is selected as the desired record.
Optionally, the frequency field includes a frequency of use field operable to store a frequency of use metric related to the number of times the record is used and a frequency of success field operable to store a frequency of success metric related to the number of times the record is selected as the desired record.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for carrying out the above method.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a computer-readable storage medium operable to store codes operable to direct a computer to perform the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the invention.
The above method and apparatus provides some intelligence to a personal telephone directory by selecting a desired record from a plurality of records on the basis of frequency of use of a particular record or frequency of success in associating a utterance issued by the user with a desired record, or both. Use of this additional information, in conjunction with confidence metrics, improves the accuracy of selecting the desired record from the plurality of records. Use of frequency of success or frequency of use information
Beaton Brian Finlay
Rahrer Timothy Joseph
Smith Colin Donald
Hoosain Allan
Nortel Networks Limited
Zele Krista
LandOfFree
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