Methods and devices for operating the multi-function peripherals

• US 20030036909A1
• Filed: 08/19/2002
• Published: 02/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Kato, Yoshinaga
• Application Number:
  US10/223,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20030036909A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5016 User-machine interface; Display panels; Control console
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00122 using speech synthesis or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00416 Multi-level menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00429 using a navigation tree

Abstract

An interface device interfaces a visually impaired with a multi function machine primarily based upon an audio input and an audio output. Once the interface device identifies the use of the multi function machine by the visually impaired, the interface device switches the operation mode of the multifunction machine from the normal operation mode to the audio operation mode so that the interface is primarily through audio inputs and outputs. Based upon the audio inputs and outputs, the visually impaired operator is able to navigate through a multi-layered menu to select and specify operational items and conditions.

Claims

1. A method of interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine, the multi function machine having an audio operation mode and a normal operation mode, comprising the steps of:

identifying a use of the multi function machine by the visually impaired;

switching an operational mode of the multi function machine from the normal operation mode to the audio operation mode upon identifying the use by the visually impaired;

generating a layered menu having multiple layers, each layer having a predetermine number of operational items;

receiving a voice input with respect to the layered menu from the visually impaired in the audio operation mode; and

responding to the voice input by an audio feedback to the visually impaired.

2. The method of interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 1 where the voice input is a movement command to move to a certain location with in the layered menu.

3. The method of interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 2 where the movement command is to move with in one of the multiple layers.

4. The method of interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 2 where the movement command is to move between the multiple layers.

5. The method of interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 2 where the audio feedback outputs names of the operational items.

6. The method of interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 5 wherein the names of operational items are outputted all at once.

7. The method of interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 5 wherein one of the names of operational items is outputted at a time.

8. The method of interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 1 where the voice input is a selection command to select one of the operational items.

9. The method of interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 8 where the audio feedback outputs a name of the selected one of the operational items.

10. The method of interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 8 where the voice input is a confirmation command to confirm the selected one of the operational items.

11. The method of interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 10 where the audio feedback outputs a name of the selected one of the operational items.

12. The method of interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 1 where the voice input is a keyword to be searched.

13. The method of interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 12 where the audio feedback outputs a search result of the keyword.

14. The method of interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 13 where the search result is help information.

15. The method of interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 1 where the audio feedback includes a sound icon, a voice message and background music.

16. The method of interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 15 where the voice message is outputted at a predetermined pitch based upon a corresponding predetermined condition.

17. The method of interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 15 where the voice message is outputted at a predetermined speed based upon a corresponding predetermined condition.

18. The method of interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 15 where the background music is outputted at a predetermined speed based upon a corresponding predetermined condition.

19. The method of interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 1 where the use of the multi function machine by the visually impaired is identified by reading a non-contact IC card near the multi function machine.

20. The method of interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 1 where the use of the multi function machine by the visually impaired is identified by inserting a headset into the multi function machine.

21. An interface device for interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine, the multi function machine having an audio operation mode and a normal operation mode, comprising:

a function control unit for identifying a use of the multi function machine by the visually impaired and for switching an operational mode of the multi function machine from the normal operation mode to the audio operation mode upon identifying the use by the visually impaired;

an operational control unit connected to said function unit for controlling a user input and a user output based upon the operational mode;

a voice input unit connected to said operational unit for inputting a voice input as the user input with respect to the layered menu in the audio operation mode;

a menu control unit connected to said operational control unit for tracking a current position in a layered menu having multiple layers based upon the user input, each layer having a predetermine number of operational items; and

a voice output unit connected to said operational unit for outputting an audio feedback in response to the user input.

22. The interface device for interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 21 where the voice input is a movement command to move to a certain location with in the layered menu.

23. The interface device for interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 22 where the movement command is to move with in one of the multiple layers.

24. The interface device for interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 22 where the movement command is to move between the multiple layers.

25. The interface device for interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 22 where the audio feedback outputs names of the operational items.

26. The interface device for interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 25 wherein the names of operational items are outputted all at once.

27. The interface device for interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 25 wherein one of the names of operational items is outputted at a time.

28. The interface device for interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 21 where the voice input is a selection command to select one of the operational items.

29. The interface device for interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 28 where the audio feedback outputs a name of the selected one of the operational items.

30. The interface device for interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 28 where the voice input is a confirmation command to confirm the selected one of the operational items.

31. The interface device for interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 30 where the audio feedback outputs a name of the selected one of the operational items.

32. The interface device for interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 21 where the voice input is a keyword to be searched.

33. The interface device for interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 32 where the audio feedback outputs a search result of the keyword.

34. The interface device for interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 33 where the search result is help information.

35. The interface device for interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 21 where the audio feedback includes a sound icon, a voice message and background music.

36. The interface device for interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 35 where the voice message is outputted at a predetermined pitch based upon a corresponding predetermined condition.

37. The interface device for interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 35 where the voice message is outputted at a predetermined speed based upon a corresponding predetermined condition.

38. The interface device for interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 35 where the background music is outputted at a predetermined speed based upon a corresponding predetermined condition.

39. The interface device for interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 21 where the use of the multi function machine by the visually impaired is identified by reading a non-contact IC card near the multi function machine.

40. The interface device for interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 21 where the use of the multi function machine by the visually impaired is identified by inserting a headset into the multi function machine.

41. The interface device for interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 21 further comprising:

a visual input unit connected to said operational control unit for inputting the user input by touching a predetermined surface area; and

a visual display unit connected to said operational control unit for displaying the user output.

42. The interface device for interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 21 further comprising:

a voice recognition unit connected to said voice input unit for recognizing the voice input to generate a search keyword; and

a help operation unit connected to said voice input unit and said voice output unit for searching the keyword in a predetermined help file to generate searched data and for outputting the searched data to said voice output unit.

43. The interface device for interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 42 further comprising a voice synthesis unit connected to said voice output unit for synthesizing a voice output signal based upon the searched data.

44. A recording medium for storing computer instructions for interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine, the multi function machine having an audio operation mode and a normal operation mode, the computer instructions performing the tasks of:

generating a layered menu having multiple layers, each layer having a predetermine number of operational items;

identifying a use of the multi function machine by the visually impaired;

switching an operational mode of the multi function machine from the normal operation mode to the audio operation mode upon identifying the use by the visually impaired;

receiving a voice input with respect to the layered menu from the visually impaired in the audio operation mode; and

responding to the voice input by an audio feedback to the visually impaired.

45. The recording medium for storing computer instructions according to claim 44 where the voice input is a movement command to move to a certain location with in the layered menu.

46. The recording medium for storing computer instructions according to claim 45 where the audio feedback outputs names of the operational items.

47. The recording medium for storing computer instructions according to claim 44 where the voice input is a selection command to select one of the operational items.

48. The method of interfacing a visually impaired with a multi function machine according to claim 47 where the audio feedback outputs a name of the selected one of the operational items.

49. The recording medium for storing computer instructions according to claim 44 where the voice input is a keyword to be searched.

50. The recording medium for storing computer instructions according to claim 49 where the audio feedback outputs a search result of the keyword.

51. The recording medium for storing computer instructions according to claim 44 where the audio feedback includes a sound icon, a voice message and background music.

52. The recording medium for storing computer instructions according to claim 51 where the voice message is outputted at a predetermined pitch based upon a corresponding predetermined condition.

53. The recording medium for storing computer instructions according to claim 51 where the voice message is outputted at a predetermined speed based upon a corresponding predetermined condition.

54. The recording medium for storing computer instructions according to claim 51 where the background music is outputted at a predetermined speed based upon a corresponding predetermined condition.