Wireless multimodal voice browser for wireline-based IPTV services

• US 20070061149A1
• Filed: 09/14/2005
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Inventors: Chang, Harry
• Granted Patent: US 8,635,073 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/08 Speech classification or search
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739

Abstract

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method selects a program from a library of programs. A user selection is determined based upon a voice command, and the program is presented at a display device in accordance with the voice command. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a system selects a program from a library of programs. The system includes a processor that determines a user selection based upon a voice command, and also includes a display device that presents the program in accordance with the voice command. In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a computer-readable medium contains a set of instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to determine a user selection based upon a voice command and to command a display device to present the program, in accordance with the voice command.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a program from a library of programs and providing the selected program over a network, comprising:

receiving a voice command from a user relating to a program over the network;

selecting the program based upon the user voice command; and

providing the selected program to a user device adapted to display the selected program at a display device, in accordance with the voice command over the network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the voice command from a user-operated portable device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

presenting at least one portion of at least one program of the library of programs on the portable device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the program further comprises:

(a) providing at least one visual list of categories; and

(b) receiving the voice command in response to the visual list of categories.

5. The method of programs of claim 4, wherein providing at least one visual list of categories includes:

adaptively determining at least one visual list of categories based upon at least one of a previously received voice command and a user profile corresponding to the user.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein providing at least one visual list of categories includes:

generating a database query operative to retrieve at least one visual list of categories from the library of programs.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

imposing a financial charge onto an account corresponding to at least one of the portable device and the display device.

8. The method of programs of claim 1 further comprising:

imposing a registration procedure on to the user device.

9. The method of programs of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a capability for the user to search a desired program; and

to mark the desired program as one for later viewing on the user device.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing the user to store a small screen edition of the selected program that may be viewed as one of (i) within a specified time period;

and (ii) a specified number of times.

11. The method of claim 1 enabling the user to forward the selected program to another user.

12. A system for selecting a program from a library of programs, the system comprising:

a processor operative to determine a user selection based upon a voice command; and

a display device operative to present the program, in accordance with the voice command.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a portable device operative to receive the voice command.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the portable device is further operative to present at least one portion of at least one program of the library of programs.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the processor is further operative to identify the program, including iteratively;

(a) providing at least one visual list of categories; and

(b) receiving a voice command in response to the visual list of categories.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the processor is further operative to adaptively determine at least one visual list of categories based upon at least one of a previously received voice command and a user profile corresponding to the user.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the processor is further operative to provide at least one visual list of categories by generating a database query operative to retrieve at least one visual list of categories from the library of programs.

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

an accounting module operative to impose a financial charge onto an account corresponding to at least one of the portable device and the display device.

19. A computer-readable medium containing a set of instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to:

determine a user selection based upon a voice command; and

command a display device to present the program, in accordance with the voice command.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein:

the set of instructions is further operative to cause the processor to receive the voice command from a portable device.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein:

the set of instructions is further operative to cause the processor to command the portable device to present at least one portion of at least one program of the library of programs.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein:

the set of instructions is further operative to cause the processor to identify the program, including iteratively;

(a) providing at least one visual list of categories; and

(b) receiving a voice command in response to the visual list of categories.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein:

the set of instructions is further operative to cause the processor to adaptively determine at least one visual list of categories based upon at least one of a previously received voice command and a user profile corresponding to the user.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein:

the set of instructions is further operative to cause the processor to provide at least one visual list of categories by generating a database query operative to retrieve at least one visual list of categories from the library of programs.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein:

the set of instructions is further operative to cause the processor to impose a financial charge onto an account corresponding to at least one of the portable device and the display device.