System and method for remotely enforcing operational protocols

• US 20040059582A1
• Filed: 09/19/2002
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kumhyr, David Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 7,356,474 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/30 Distributed recognition, e.g. in client-server systems, for mobile phones or network applications

Abstract

A system and method for remotely enforcing operational protocols is provided. In a remote environment, such as that found with a police environment, voice recognition technology is used to determine the situation and invoke actions according to an appropriate protocol. Actions may be set to be mandatory or discretionary. A secure log is maintained of the actions undertaken. Actions include automatically retrieving data from a remote database, automatically communicating with another unit or headquarters, and automating devices used in the remote environment. Voice recognition technology also extracts data from the user'"'"'s speech and builds variables used as parameters in performing the actions. Data is returned to the user in either audible or textual form and either played to the user on a speaker or displayed on a display device.

Claims

1. A method for computer control of a plurality of operational subsystems, said method comprising:

identifying a particular operational situation;

retrieving a protocol corresponding to the identified operational situation, the protocol including both system and user input actions;

automatically performing one or more system actions as specified in the protocol; and

storing the system and user input actions to provide a record of the operational situation.

2. The method as described in claim 1 wherein at least one of the system actions is selected from the group consisting of a device automation, an automated communication, and an automated data retrieval.

3. The method as described in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving user input action, wherein the user input is vocal;

analyzing the vocal user input; and

identifying the operational situation based upon the analyzed vocal user input.

4. The method as described in claim 3 further comprising:

identifying one or more action parameters based upon the analyzed vocal user input; and

including at least one of the action parameters as a parameter of at least one of the system actions.

5. The method as described in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a license plate identifier as part of the user input, wherein the license plate identifier includes one or more phonetic alphabet signals;

matching the phonetic signal to a letter; and

inserting the matched letter in the license plate identifier.

6. The method as described in claim 1 wherein one or more of the user input and system actions are optional and wherein one or more of the user input and system actions are mandatory, the method further comprising:

checking for an action override input from the user; and

overriding the system action in response to both receiving the action override input and determining that the system action is optional.

7. The method as described in claim 1 wherein performing one of the system actions further comprises:

sending a request signal through a communications network to an information provider;

receiving a reply from the information provider; and

communicating data included in the reply to a user.

15. The method as described in claim 1 wherein at least one of the system actions is selected from the group consisting of a device automation, an automated communication, and an automated data retrieval.

16. The method as described in claim 1 further comprising:

means for receiving user input action, wherein the user input is vocal;

means for analyzing the vocal user input; and

means for identifying the operational situation based upon the analyzed vocal user input.

17. The method as described in claim 3 further comprising:

means for identifying one or more action parameters based upon the analyzed vocal user input; and

means for including at least one of the action parameters as a parameter of at least one of the system actions.

18. The method as described in claim 1 further comprising:

means for receiving a license plate identifier as part of the user input, wherein the license plate identifier includes one or more phonetic alphabet signals;

means for matching the phonetic signal to a letter; and

means for inserting the matched letter in the license plate identifier.

19. The method as described in claim 1 wherein one or more of the user input and system actions are optional and wherein one or more of the user input and system actions are mandatory, the method further comprising:

means for checking for an action override input from the user; and

means for overriding the system action in response to both receiving the action override input and determining that the system action is optional.

20. The method as described in claim 1 wherein performing one of the system actions further comprises:

means for sending a request signal through a communications network to an information provider;

means for receiving a reply from the information provider; and

means for communicating data included in the reply to a user.

8. An information handling system comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory accessible by the processors;

a nonvolatile storage device accessible by the processors;

a input mechanism for receiving input actions from a user; and

an automation tool for controlling a plurality of operational subsystems, the automation tool including;

means for identifying a particular operational situation;

means for retrieving a protocol corresponding to the identified operational situation, the protocol including both system and user input actions;

means for automatically performing one or more system actions as specified in the protocol; and

means for storing the system and user input actions to provide a record of the operational situation.

9. The information handling system as described in claim 8 further comprising:

means for receiving user input action, wherein the user input is vocal;

means for analyzing the vocal user input; and

means for identifying the operational situation based upon the analyzed vocal user input.

11. The information handling system as described in claim 8 further comprising:

means for receiving a license plate identifier as part of the user input, wherein the license plate identifier includes one or more phonetic alphabet signals;

means for matching the phonetic signal to a letter; and

means for inserting the matched letter in the license plate identifier.

12. The information handling system as described in claim 8 wherein one or more of the user input and system actions are optional and wherein one or more of the user input and system actions are mandatory, the information handling system further comprising:

means for checking for an action override input from the user; and

means for overriding the system action in response to both receiving the action override input and determining that the system action is optional.

13. The information handling system as described in claim 8 wherein performing one of the system actions further comprises:

means for sending a request signal through a communications network to an information provider;

means for receiving a reply from the information provider; and

means for communicating data included in the reply to a user.

10. The information handling system as described in claim 10 further comprising:

means for identifying one or more action parameters based upon the analyzed vocal user input; and

means for including at least one of the action parameters as a parameter of at least one of the system actions.

14. A computer program product stored on a computer operable media for control of a plurality of operational subsystems, said computer program product comprising:

means for identifying a particular operational situation;

means for retrieving a protocol corresponding to the identified operational situation, the protocol including both system and user input actions;

means for automatically performing one or more system actions as specified in the protocol; and

means for storing the system and user input actions to provide a record of the operational situation.