Method and apparatus for providing network support for voice-activated mobile web browsing for audio data streams

• US 20050278179A1
• Filed: 06/09/2004
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DRNC Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Benco, David S., True, Sandra Lynn, Sheen, Baoling S., Voight, Kenneth J., Overend, Kevin J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,818,178 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/270.100
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/30 Distributed recognition, e.g. in client-server systems, for mobile phones or network applications
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/228 of application context
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4938 comprising a voice browser which renders and interprets, e.g. VoiceXML
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals

Abstract

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing network support for voice-activated mobile web browsing for audio data streams. More particularly, the presently described embodiments are directed to enhancing an existing wireless network to provide hands-free web browsing to retrieve audio data. This allows wireless customers to make verbal web requests, (e.g., not requiring the use of hands), thus making it possible to request web audio programs while engaging in other activities, such as safely driving their vehicles.

Claims

1. A method for supporting voice-activated browsing for audio data streams in a wireless network, the method comprising:

receiving an audio request comprising input voice data for voice-activated web browsing from a subscriber;

validating the audio request;

converting the input voice data to input text data;

determining if the input text data corresponds to a pre-defined web site;

connecting the subscriber to the pre-defined web site if the input text data corresponds thereto;

receiving first audio data streams from the pre-defined web site if the input text data corresponds thereto;

providing the first audio data streams to the subscriber;

providing the input text data to an audio search engine if the input text data does not correspond to the pre-defined web site;

configuring a search request by the search engine based on the input text data;

conducting a search for audio data streams based on the search request; and

,

providing results of the search to the subscriber.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the determining comprises accessing a database.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein conducting the search comprises conducting the search based on file extensions.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein providing the results comprises providing the second audio data streams to the subscriber.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein providing the results comprises providing a listing of located web sites to the subscriber.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the listing is an audio listing.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising, in the absence of the audio request, retrieving the first audio data streams based upon predetermined criteria and providing the first audio data streams to the subscriber.

8. A system for supporting voice-activated browsing for audio data streams in a wireless network, the system comprising:

means for receiving an audio request comprising input voice data for voice-activated web browsing from a subscriber;

means for validating the audio request;

means for converting the input voice data into input text data;

means for determining if the input text data corresponds to a pre-defined web site;

means for connecting the subscriber to the pre-defined web site if the input text data corresponds thereto;

means for receiving first audio data streams from the pre-defined web site if the input text data corresponds thereto;

means for providing the first audio data streams to the subscriber;

means for providing the input text data to an audio search engine if the input text data does not correspond to the pre-defined web site;

means for configuring a search request based on the input text data;

means for conducting a search for second audio data streams based on the search request; and

,

means for providing results of the search to the subscriber.

9. The system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the means for determining comprises a database.

10. The system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the means for conducting the search comprises means for conducting the search based on file extensions.

11. The system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the means for providing the results comprises means for providing the second audio data streams to the subscriber.

12. The system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the means for providing the results comprises means for providing a listing of located web sites to the subscriber.

13. The system as set forth in claim 12 wherein the listing is an audio listing.

14. The system as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a means for retrieving the first audio data streams based upon predetermined criteria, in the absence of the audio request, and means for providing the first audio data streams to the subscriber.

15. A system for supporting voice-activated browsing for audio data streams in a wireless network, the system comprising:

a switching module operative to receive an audio request comprising input voice data for voice-activated web browsing from a subscriber;

a speech recognition unit operative to convert the input voice data to input text data;

an internet gateway operative to validate the audio request, determine if the input text data corresponds to a pre-defined web site, connect the subscriber to the pre-defined web site if the input text data corresponds thereto and provide the input text data to an audio search engine if the input text data does not correspond to the pre-defined web site;

a web interface operative to receive first audio data streams from the pre-defined web site if the input text data corresponds thereto; and

,

an audio web search engine operative to configure a search request based on the input text data and conduct a search for second audio data streams based on the search request.

16. The system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the internet gateway is further operative to provide the first audio data streams to the subscriber and provide the results of the search for second audio streams to the subscriber.

17. The system as set forth in claim 15 further comprising a database operative to store information relating to pre-defined web sites.

18. The system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the results comprise second audio data streams to be provided to the subscriber.

19. The system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the results comprise a listing of located web sites.

20. The system as set forth in claim 15 further comprising a subscriber web alert manager operative, in the absence of the audio request, to retrieve first audio data streams based upon predetermined criteria and provide the first audio data streams to the subscriber.