Method and apparatus for accessing a digital file from a collection of digital files

• US 20070136065A1
• Filed: 12/11/2006
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd., Infotalk Corporation Ltd.
• Inventors: Wang, Wei, Leung, Hong, Lee, Ching, Chiu, Chi, Wee, Chi, Chong, Hing
• Granted Patent: US 8,015,013 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/257
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/433 using audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/263 Language identification
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/18 using natural language modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs

Abstract

There is provided a method for accessing at least one digital file from a collection comprising more than one digital file in an electronic device, including: generating one index comprising of information entries obtained from each of the more than one digital file in the collection, with each digital file in the collection information being linked to at least one information entry; receiving a speaker independent speech input in at least one language during a speech reception mode; determining a language of the speech input; and setting the speech reception mode to the language of the speech input; comparing the speech input received during the speech reception mode with the entries in the index. The file may advantageously be accessed when the speech input coincides with at least one of the information entries in the index. The digital files may be stored in the electronic device, any device functionally connected to the electronic device or a combination of the aforementioned. The at least one digital file may be received from a source selected from: a memory device, a wired computer network or a wireless computer network. An apparatus that is able to carry out the aforementioned method is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for accessing at least one digital file from a collection comprising more than one digital file in an electronic device, including:

generating one index comprising of information entries obtained from each of the more than one digital file in the collection, with each digital file in the collection information being linked to at least one information entry;

receiving a speaker independent speech input in at least one language during a speech reception mode;

determining a language of the speech input;

setting the speech reception mode to the language of the speech input; and

comparing the speech input received during the speech reception mode with the entries in the index,

wherein the file is accessed when the speech input coincides with at least one of the information entries in the index.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital file is selected from the group comprising:

documents, spreadsheets, playlists, folders, music files, image files and video files.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information entries comprise at least one word.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information entry obtains information from the digital file selected from the group comprising:

file name, file extension, song title from file metadata, artiste name from file metadata, truncated song title from file metadata, truncated artiste name from file metadata, translated song title, alternative song title and any of the aforementioned from a remote source.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information entry is in any language and is dependent on at least one character codeset.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the speech input is either in one language or in a phrase of at least one language.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital file is stored a source selected from the group comprising:

the electronic device, any device functionally connected to the electronic device and a combination of the aforementioned.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the language of the speech reception mode is set by means selected from the group comprising:

manual selection and automatic selection.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one digital file is received from a source selected from the group comprising:

a memory device, a wired computer network and a wireless computer network.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is selected from the group comprising:

desktop computer, notebook computer, PDA, portable media player and mobile phone.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the speech input is filtered.

12. An apparatus for accessing at least one digital file from a collection comprising more than one digital file stored within the apparatus, including:

an indexer for generating an index comprising of information entries obtained from each of the more than one digital file in the collection, with each digital file in the collection information being linked to at least one information entry;

a speech reception means for receiving a speaker independent speech input in at least one language during a speech reception mode;

a processor to determine a language of the speech input; and

the processor being able to compare the speech input received during the speech reception mode with the entries in the index,

wherein the file is accessed when the speech input coincides with at least one of the information entries in the index.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is selected from the group comprising:

desktop computer, notebook computer, PDA, portable media player and mobile phone.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the speech reception means is a microphone.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the means to determine a language of the speech input is selected from the group comprising:

automatic and manual.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the digital file is selected from the group comprising:

documents, spreadsheets, playlists, folders, music files, image files and video files.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the information entries comprise at least one word.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the information entry obtains information from the digital file selected from the group comprising:

file name, file extension, song title from file metadata, artiste name from file metadata, truncated song title from file metadata, truncated artiste name from file metadata, translated song title, alternative song title and any of the aforementioned from a remote source.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the information entry is in any language and is dependent on at least one character codeset.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the speech input is either in one language or in a phrase of at least one language.

21. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one digital file is received from a source selected from the group comprising:

a memory device, a wired computer network and a wireless computer network.

22. The apparatus of claim 12, further including a display.

23. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the speech input is filtered.