Navigation and data entry for open interaction elements

• US 20050071172A1
• Filed: 03/02/2004
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: James, Frances
• Granted Patent: US 7,389,236 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/228 of application context

Abstract

Techniques for using open interaction elements (OIEs) in voice-enabled systems are described. OIEs include multi-select and dictation fields of a user interface, into which a user may enter multiple selections or free-form information. To allow the user to exit from such OIEs, that is, to change from a data entry mode to a navigation mode, multiple exit strategies may be simultaneously enabled for use by the user. For example, an explicit exit command may be available to the user, in addition to an implicit exit command or time-out exit strategy. In this way, users may individually select a preferred or practical way of exiting an OIE.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a voice-enabled user interface;

a voice module operable to input data spoken by a user and operable to receive voice commands spoken by the user in both of a data entry mode associated with data entry into an element of the voice-enabled user interface and a navigation mode associated with navigating to or from the element; and

an open interaction element characterized by an ability to accept multiple data entries when the voice module is in the data entry mode,

wherein the voice module is operable to enable a first exit option and a second exit option from the open interaction element for use by the user, to thereby allow the user to switch from the data entry mode to the navigation mode using either of the first exit option and the second exit option.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first exit option is characterized by receipt of an explicit exit command spoken by the user, and the second exit option is characterized by receipt of a navigation command spoken by the user.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the voice module is operable to enable a third exit option from the open interaction element for use by the user, the third exit option characterized by an automatic transition from the data entry mode to the navigation mode after a passing of a pre-determined period of time.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the voice module is operable to enable a third exit option from the open interaction element for use by the user, the third exit option characterized by a verbal command common to a plurality of elements in the voice-enabled user interface, receipt of which initiates a tabbing functionality between the open interaction element and a designated one of the plurality of elements.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the voice module is operable to enable the first and second exit options simultaneously.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the voice module is operable to enable the first and second exit options in a temporally overlapping manner.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the voice module includes a speech recognition engine operable to recognize the voice commands spoken by the user in both of the data entry modes and the navigation modes.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein a navigation command spoken by the user includes one of a plurality of verbal commands associated with one of a plurality of elements in the voice-enabled user interface, receipt of which initiates accessing the associated interaction element.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the voice module receives one of the plurality of verbal commands associated with one of the plurality of interaction elements and identifies an element in the voice-enabled user interface to be accessed, the identified element being associated with the received verbal command.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein a navigation command spoken by the user includes a verbal command common to a plurality of elements of the voice-enabled user interface which may be navigated to or from when in the navigation mode, where receipt of the verbal command initiates individual identification of each of the plurality of elements.

11. A command grammar for a voice-enabled user interface comprising:

an explicit exit command grammar for receiving an explicit exit command from a user for exiting an open interaction element in the voice-enabled user interface, the open interaction element being characterized by an ability to accept multiple data entries when in a data entry mode; and

an implicit exit command grammar for receiving a navigation command from the user for navigating to or from one of a plurality of elements in the voice-enabled user interface associated with the received navigation command, wherein receipt of the navigation command initiates exiting from the open interaction element and entering a navigation mode associated with navigating to or from one of the plurality of elements.

12. The command grammar for a voice-enabled user interface of claim 11 further comprising a time-out grammar for detecting a pause in speaking of the user, the pause characterized by a passing of a pre-determined period of time, and resulting in initiating an exit from the open interaction element.

13. The command grammar for a voice-enabled user interface of claim 11 further comprising a tab grammar for receiving a verbal command common to a plurality of elements in the voice-enabled user interface, receipt of which initiates a tabbing functionality between the open interaction element and a designated one of the plurality of elements.

14. The command grammar for a voice-enabled user interface of claim 11 further comprising an all elements grammar for receiving a verbal command common to a plurality of elements of the voice-enabled user interface which may be navigated to or from, where receipt of the verbal command initiates an identification of each of the plurality of elements.

15. A method comprising:

outputting an open interaction element in a voice-enabled user interface, the open interaction element being characterized by an ability to accept multiple data entries when in a data entry mode;

receiving data for entry into the open interaction element; and

enabling a first exit option and a second exit option from the open interaction element for use by the user, to thereby allow the user to switch from the data entry mode to a navigation mode associated with navigating to or from elements in the voice-enabled user interface, where the first exit option is characterized by receipt of an explicit exit command spoken by the user, and the second exit option is characterized by receipt of a navigation command spoken by the user.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising enabling a third exit option from the open interaction element for use by the user, the third exit option characterized by an automatic transition from the data entry mode to the navigation mode after a passing of a pre-determined period of time.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising enabling a third exit option from the open interaction element for use by the user, the third exit option characterized by a verbal command common to a plurality of elements in the voice-enabled user interface, receipt of which initiates a tabbing functionality between the open interaction element and a designated one of the plurality of elements.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising enabling one or more exit options simultaneously.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the navigation command spoken by the user includes one of a plurality of verbal commands associated with one of a plurality of elements in the voice-enabled user interface, receipt of which initiates accessing the associated interaction element.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the navigation command spoken by the user includes a verbal command common to a plurality of elements of the voice-enabled user interface which may be navigated to or from when in the navigation mode, where receipt of the verbal command initiates an identification of each of the plurality of elements.