Method, apparatus and computer program product for implementing preselection announce for user selectable buttons

• US 20030055648A1
• Filed: 09/14/2001
• Published: 03/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cragun, Brian John
• Application Number:
  US09/953,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20030055648A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/270
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/0293 with an integrated touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/032 Feedback about selected symbol, e.g. display
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/033 by speech

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product implement preselection announce for user selectable buttons in a computer system. The computer system includes a processor coupled to the multiple user selectable buttons and a memory for storing a preselection announce program and a button record for each of the multiple user selectable buttons. The processor monitors for a button touch. Responsive to identifying a button touch, a function for the button is identified and audio data for the button is announced. Responsive to identifying a button touch, video data for the button also is displayed. The processor checks for a button press and responsive to identifying a button press, performs the function for the user-selected button.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for implementing preselection announce for multiple user selectable buttons in a computer system comprising the steps of:

monitoring for a button touch,

responsive to identifying a button touch, identifying a function for the button, and

responsive to identifying a button touch, announcing audio data for the button.

2. A computer-implemented method for implementing preselection announce for multiple user selectable buttons as recited in claim 1 further includes the step of responsive to identifying a button touch, displaying display data for the button.

3. A computer-implemented method for implementing preselection announce for multiple user selectable buttons as recited in claim 1 further includes the step, checking for a button press for the button, responsive to not identifying a button press, displaying display data for the button, and responsive to identifying a button press, performing said identified function for the button.

4. A computer-implemented method for implementing preselection announce for multiple user selectable buttons as recited in claim 1 further includes the steps of storing a button record for each of the multiple user selectable buttons.

5. A computer-implemented method for implementing preselection announce for multiple user selectable buttons as recited in claim 4 wherein the step storing said button record for each of the multiple user selectable buttons includes the steps of storing a button identification, a button function, audio data, and display data in said button record for each of the multiple user selectable buttons.

6. A computer-implemented method for implementing preselection announce for multiple user selectable buttons as recited in claim 5 wherein the step, responsive to identifying a button touch, of identifying said function for the button, includes the steps of look-up of said button function for the user selected button in said button record for the button and checking for a button press for the button.

7. A computer-implemented method for implementing preselection announce for multiple user selectable buttons as recited in claim 6 wherein the step responsive to identifying said button touch, of announcing audio data for the button includes the steps responsive to not identifying a button press, of look-up of said audio data for the user selected button in said button record for the button.

8. A computer-implemented method for implementing preselection announce for multiple user selectable buttons as recited in claim 7 includes the step of applying said audio data for the user selected button to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to produce an analog audio signal and applying said analog audio signal to a speaker for announcing audio data for the button.

9. A computer-implemented method for implementing preselection announce for multiple user selectable buttons as recited in claim 5 further includes the steps of, checking for a button press for the button, and responsive to not identifying a button press, look-up of said display data for the user selected button in said button record for the button and displaying said display data for the button.

10. A computer-implemented method for implementing preselection announce for multiple user selectable buttons as recited in claim 5 wherein the step storing said button record includes storing user data.

11. Apparatus for implementing preselection announce for multiple user selectable buttons comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to said processor;

said memory storing a button record for each of the multiple user selectable buttons;

said memory storing a preselection announce program for operatively controlling said processor;

said processor for monitoring for a button touch, responsive to identifying a button touch, for identifying a function for the button, and for announcing audio data for the button.

12. Apparatus for implementing preselection announce for multiple user selectable buttons as recited in claim 11 includes a speaker and an audio digital-to-analog converter (DAC) coupled to said processor;

said audio DAC for producing an analog audio signal and applying said analog audio signal to said speaker for announcing audio data for the button.

13. Apparatus for implementing preselection announce for multiple user selectable buttons as recited in claim 11 includes a display coupled to said processor;

said display for displaying display data for the button responsive to said processor identifying a button touch.

14. Apparatus for implementing preselection announce for multiple user selectable buttons as recited in claim 11 wherein each said button record for each of the multiple user selectable buttons includes predefined ones of a button identification, a button function, audio data, display data and user data.

15. Apparatus for implementing preselection announce for multiple user selectable buttons as recited in claim 11 wherein said processor for monitoring for a button press;

and said processor responsive to not identifying a button press and responsive to identifying a button touch, for announcing audio data for the button; and

said processor responsive to identifying a button press for performing said identified function for the button.

16. A computer program product for implementing preselection announce for multiple user selectable buttons in a computer system including a processor coupled to the multiple user selectable buttons, said computer program product including a plurality of computer executable instructions stored on a computer readable medium, wherein said instructions, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to perform the steps of:

monitoring for a button touch,

responsive to identifying a button touch, identifying a function for the button, and

responsive to identifying said button touch, announcing audio data for the button.

17. A computer program product for implementing preselection announce for multiple user selectable buttons as recited in claim 16 wherein said instructions, when executed by said processor, further cause said processor to perform the step of displaying display data for the button responsive to identifying said button touch.

18. A computer program product for implementing preselection announce for multiple user selectable buttons as recited in claim 16 wherein said instructions, when executed by said processor, further cause said processor to perform the steps of storing a button record for each of the multiple user selectable buttons.

19. A computer program product for implementing preselection announce for multiple user selectable buttons as recited in claim 16 wherein said instructions, when executed by said processor, further cause said processor to perform the steps of storing a button identification, a button function, audio data, and display data in a button record for each of the multiple user selectable buttons.

20. A computer program product for implementing preselection announce for multiple user selectable buttons as recited in claim 16 wherein said instructions, when executed by said processor, further cause said processor to perform the steps of monitoring for a button press, and responsive to identifying a button press, performing said identified function for the button.