Data processing: speech signal processing – linguistics – language – Speech signal processing – Application
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-15
2004-06-29
Dorvil, Richemond (Department: 2654)
Data processing: speech signal processing, linguistics, language
Speech signal processing
Application
C704S270100, C704S270000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06757656
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
(Not Applicable)
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
(Not Applicable)
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to the field of audio interfaces and more particularly to a system and method for concurrent presentation of multiple audio information sources.
2. Description of the Related Art
An Auditory User Interface (AUI) is an interface in which a computer aurally recognizes a user's commands, responds to the commands aurally, and carries out tasks associated with the commands. As with Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs), AUIs work directly with the computational core of a computer application. More specifically, AUIs provide a speech-enabling approach that separates computation from the user interface and integrates speech into the human-computer interaction. AUIs are particularly useful in environments in which a user desires to communicate with a computer aurally because he or she has a limited ability to interact with a computer's visual display.
Conventional AUI systems have been limited in that they typically present only one audio information source to a user at a time. This limitation exists because AUI systems have not had the ability to allow a user to focus on a single audio information source when multiple audio information sources are presented. This drawback is significant because there are numerous situations in which a user may desire to concurrently monitor numerous audio information sources. For example, an automobile driver who is visually focusing on a highway may need to concurrently interact with a satellite-based global navigation system and a cellular telephone. Similarly, a pilot who is flying an airplane may also need to concurrently track the status of several computer systems, along with the locations and distances of other aircraft. In yet another example, visually impaired or blind AUI users may need to quickly isolate an audio information source, such as a radio, prior to interacting with another audio information source, such as a telephone.
The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art by allowing such users to more easily focus on one or more audio information sources from a plurality of audio information sources. In some cases, the invention can also reduce the reliance on GUIs, allowing all users, including those with visual and other physical impairments, to use and incorporate complex computer functions into their lives.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for concurrent presentation of multiple audio information sources. In the method, audio information from at least two audio information sources is concurrently presented, and a user speech selection of one of the audio information sources is accepted. At least one of the audio information sources can then be reconfigured. The reconfiguration audibly distinguishes the user selected audio information source from other audio information sources.
A machine readable storage, according to the invention, has stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to cause the steps of concurrently presenting audio information from at least two audio information sources, accepting a user speech selection of one of the audio information sources, and reconfiguring at least one of the audio information sources so that the reconfiguration audibly distinguishes the user selected audio information source from other audio information sources.
The presenting step can further include presenting one or more audio information source which is audibly distinguishable from that of the other audio information sources. In the presenting step, at least one audio information source can be presented at a volume level which differs from that of the other audio information sources. Alternatively, the presenting step can include having at least one audio information source which originates from a direction that differs from that of the other audio information sources, having at least one audio information source which moves in a direction that differs from that of the other audio information sources, or having at least one audio information source which has at least one sound characteristic which differs from that of the other audio information sources. The presenting step can also include adjusting a sound-related characteristic of at least one audio information source. The sound-related characteristic can be at least one of the group consisting of pitch, echoing, and frequency.
The accepting step can also include accepting a command from the user which identifies at least one of the audio information sources. The command can be a voice command. Moreover, the command from the user can be substantially the same as at least one word generated by the audio information source. The command can also describe the location of the audio information source relative to the user, or be at least one word associated with the name of the audio information source.
In a preferred embodiment, the method can also include a step of accepting a user selection of one or more audio information sources through a user interface, in which the user interface electronically communicates the user selection to one or more audio information sources. In this embodiment, the user interface can be a keypad.
The presenting step can further include, prior to the accepting step, the step of temporarily reconfiguring at least one audio information source, whereby the user can consider whether to select the temporarily reconfigured audio information source. Prior to the accepting step, the method can also include the step of having at least one audio information source identify itself by generating sound which describes the audio information source. The reconfiguring step can include adjusting the volume of at least one selected or non-selected audio information source.
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Gong Qing
Lewis James R.
Vanbuskirk Ronald E.
Wang Huifang
Dorvil Richemond
International Business Machines - Corporation
Nolan Daniel
Senterfitt Akerman
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