Multi modal interface
First Claim
1. A system for synchronizing application programs which together provide a multi-modal user interface, the system comprising:
- i) a plurality of application programs, a first of which provides a first user interface of the multi-modal interface, and a second of which provides an second user interface of the multi-modal interface;
ii) a synchronization manager;
iii) communications links between the synchronization manager and each of the application programs and by means of which the synchronization manager can communicate with the application programs;
iv) communications links between the synchronization manager and each of the application programs over which the application programs can transfer data to the synchronization manager;
wherein the synchronization manager comprises a client component for each of the first and second application programs and a server component, the client components being operative to detect user interface related actions in the application programs and application generated events and to transmit such detected actions, in the form of data updates, to the server component, the server component being operative to communicate such data updates to the application programs, the arrangement being such that user interface related actions in respect of one application program are detected by a client component, and the relevant data from the detected actions are communicated by the server component to the other application programs so that the application programs are synchronised.
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Abstract
A system for synchronizing application programs which together provide a multi-modal user interface, which comprises multiple application programs which provide the various interface of the multi-modal interface and which are in communication with a synchronization manager. Means are provided to detect status changes in the application programs and to communicate such status changes, in the form of data updates to the synchronisation manager. The synchronization manager is operative to communicate such a data update to the application program in which the data update did not originate so that the application programs are synchronised.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A system for synchronizing application programs which together provide a multi-modal user interface, the system comprising:
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i) a plurality of application programs, a first of which provides a first user interface of the multi-modal interface, and a second of which provides an second user interface of the multi-modal interface;
ii) a synchronization manager;
iii) communications links between the synchronization manager and each of the application programs and by means of which the synchronization manager can communicate with the application programs;
iv) communications links between the synchronization manager and each of the application programs over which the application programs can transfer data to the synchronization manager;
wherein the synchronization manager comprises a client component for each of the first and second application programs and a server component, the client components being operative to detect user interface related actions in the application programs and application generated events and to transmit such detected actions, in the form of data updates, to the server component, the server component being operative to communicate such data updates to the application programs, the arrangement being such that user interface related actions in respect of one application program are detected by a client component, and the relevant data from the detected actions are communicated by the server component to the other application programs so that the application programs are synchronised. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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2. A system for synchronizing application programs which together provide a multi-modal user interface, the system comprising
i) first and second application programs, the first of which provides a first user interface of the multi-modal interface, and the second of which provides a second user interface of the multi-modal interface; -
ii) a synchronization manager;
iii) communications links between the synchronization manager and each of the application programs by means of which the synchronization manager can communicate with the application programs;
iv) communications links between the synchronization manager and each of the application programs over which the application programs can transfer data to the synchronization manager;
wherein means are provided to detect status changes in the first and second application programs, means being provided to communicate such status changes, in the form of data updates to the synchronisation manager, the synchronization manager being operative to communicate such a data update to the application program in which the data update did not originate so that the first and second application programs are synchronised.
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13. A method for synchronizing application programs which together provide a multi-modal user interface, the multi-modal interface comprising a plurality of application programs, a first of which provides a first user interface of the multi-modal interface, and a second of which provides a second user interface of the multi-modal interface, and a synchronization manager which can communicate with the application programs, the synchronization manager comprising a client component for each of the first and second application programs and a server component, the client components being operative to detect user interface related actions in the application programs and changes in the state of the application programs and to transmit such detected actions and changes of state, in the form of data updates, to the server component, the server component being operative to communicate such data updates to the application programs;
- the method comprising;
(i) detecting user interface related actions in the application programs;
(ii) transmitting such detected actions, in the form of data updates, to the synchronisation manager;
(iii) converting, as necessary, under the control of the synchronisation manager, the data updates into forms suitable for each of the other application programs, (iv) communicating the converted data updates from the synchronisation manager to the application programs;
so that user interface related actions in respect of one application program are detected by the client component, and the relevant data from the detected actions are communicated by the server component to the other application programs to synchronise the application programs. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22)
- the method comprising;
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14. A method for synchronizing application programs which together provide a multi-modal user interface, the multi-modal interface comprising first and second application programs, the first of which provides a first user interface of the multi-modal interface, and the second of which provides a second user interface of the multi-modal interface, a synchronization manager able to communicate with the application programs, the method comprising the steps of
(i) detecting status changes in the first and second application; -
(ii) communicating such status changes, in the form of data updates to the synchronisation manager; and
(iii) transmitting from the synchronization manager such a data update to the application program in which the data update did not originate so that the first and second application programs are synchronised. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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23. A system for the provision of a multi-modal user interface which has a first user interface part and a second user interface part, at least the first user interface part operating according to stored dialogues;
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control means arranged to control the operation of the multi-modal interface and operatively connected to the first and second parts;
wherein the first part has, for at least some of the possible dialogues which it supports, multiple alternative versions of the dialogues, the system being configured to switch between dialogues and between the alternative versions of the dialogues in dependence upon conditions in the multi-modal user interface. - View Dependent Claims (24, 27)
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25. A system for the provision of a multi-modal user interface which has a first user interface part and a second user interface part, at least the first user interface part including first means to provide cues to a user of the system according to stored dialogues and second means to receive input from the user;
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control means arranged to control the operation of the multi-modal interface and operatively connected to the first and second means;
wherein the first means has, for at least some of the possible dialogues which it supports, multiple alternative versions of the dialogues, the system being configured to switch between dialogues and between the alternative versions of the dialogues in dependence upon conditions in the multi-modal user interface. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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33. A system as claimed in any one of claims 30 to 32, wherein the conditions in the multi-modal user interface to which can cause switching between dialogues and/or tracks in a dialogue include:
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user input;
user preferences;
the presence or absence of additional modes of the multi-modal user interface; and
system state.
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Specification