Method and system for using spatial metaphor to organize natural language in spoken user interfaces

• US 20040037434A1
• Filed: 06/12/2003
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shadow Prompt Technology AG
• Original Assignee: Enterprise Integration Group, Inc. (Perspecta, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stringham, Rex, Balentine, Bruce, Munroe, Justin
• Granted Patent: US 7,729,915 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for providing audio information to a user. The method and apparatus provide information in a manner consistent with a spatial metaphor, allowing a user to visualize and more easily navigate an application. The information is preferably presented to the user as a background audio prompt that indicates the environment and a foreground audio prompt that indicates the alternatives available to the user.

Claims

1. A method of providing audio information to a user, the method comprising the steps of:

presenting a background prompt indicating to the user an environment; and

presenting one or more foreground prompts indicating to the user a selection means for an available option.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the area comprises at least one of a rotunda, a hall, and an open market.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the background prompt comprises audio representative of people talking.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of altering the background prompt to reflect perceived movement of the user within the area.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the foreground prompt comprises audio representative of overheard commands spoken by other customers.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the foreground prompt comprises alternatives available to the user and sounds representative of one or more of movement within the area and action within the area.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more foreground prompts vary in terms of one or more of tone, volume, pace, speaker, and pitch.

8. A method of providing audio information to a user, the method comprising the steps of:

presenting a background prompt in a first mode indicating to the user an area; and

presenting concurrently with the background prompt a foreground prompt in a second mode indicating to the user a selection means for an available option.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the area comprises at least one of a rotunda, a hall, and an open market.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the background prompt comprises audio representative of people talking.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of altering the background prompt to reflect perceived movement of the user within the area.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the foreground prompt comprises audio representative of overheard commands spoken by other customers.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the foreground prompt comprises alternatives available to the user and sounds representative of one or more of movement within the area and action within the area.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein each of the one or more foreground prompts vary in terms of one or more of tone, volume, pace, speaker, and pitch.

15. A method of interfacing to a user to perform a transaction, the method comprising the steps of:

playing background audio that corresponds to a visual representation of at least one of a location of the user, background noise, and movement of the user within an area to the user;

presenting foreground audio that corresponds to the user overhearing nearby customers performing similar transactions as the user;

receiving a command from the user;

determining whether the command represents movement within the area or a transaction;

upon a determination that the command represents movement within the area, modifying at least one of the foreground audio and the background audio to reflect the movement within the area; and

upon a determination that the command represents a transaction, performing the transaction.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the location comprises at least one of a rotunda, a hall, and an open market.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the background prompt comprises audio representative of people talking.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of altering the background prompt to reflect perceived movement of the user within the area.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the foreground prompt comprises audio representative of overheard commands spoken by other customers.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the foreground prompt comprises alternatives available to the user and sounds representative of one or more of movement within the area and action within the area.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein each of the one or more foreground prompts vary in terms of one or more of tone, volume, pace, speaker, and pitch.