MULTI-PARTICIPANT, MIXED-INITIATIVE VOICE INTERACTION SYSTEM

• US 20090248420A1
• Filed: 03/25/2009
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Value8 Co., Ltd. (Wisefin Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Mechatronic Systems Inc. (Trak Global Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Basir, Otman a., Miners, William Ben
• Granted Patent: US 8,856,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means voice activated dialling H04M1/271; voice recognition algorithms G10L15/00

Abstract

A voice interaction system includes one or more independent, concurrent state charts, which are used to model the behavior of each of a plurality of participants. The model simplifies the notation and provide a clear description of the interactions between multiple participants. These state charts capture the flow of voice prompts, the impact of externally initiated events and voice commands, and capture the progress of audio through each prompt. This system enables a method to prioritize conflicting and concurrent events leveraging historical patterns and the progress of in-progress prompts.

Claims

1. A voice interaction system comprising:

a processor programmed to initiate audible prompts, the processor receiving speech commands from a user, wherein the processor is programmed via a state chart model to receive events from a plurality of sources, prioritize the events and change states based upon the events, based upon the priority of the events and based upon the state chart model.

2. The voice interaction system of claim 1 further including:

a speaker generating the audible prompts initiated by the processor; and

a microphone receiving the speech command from the user.

3. The voice interaction system of claim 1 wherein the prioritization is based upon a stored set of user preferences.

4. The voice interaction system of claim 3 wherein the prioritization indicates priority of email messages.

5. The voice interaction system of claim 3 wherein the prioritization is based upon historical usage patterns of the user.

6. The voice interaction system of claim 1 wherein the processor introduces a delay prior to at least some of the audible prompts and wherein the processor determines whether the audible prompt should be generated during the delay.

7. The voice interaction system of claim 6 wherein the processor compares a priority of a first audible prompt during the delay to a priority of a second audible prompt to determine whether the first audible prompt or the second audible prompt should be generated.

8. The voice interaction system of claim 1 wherein the processor initiates a plurality of audible setup prompts to guide a user in setting up the system.

9. The voice interaction system of claim 8 wherein the plurality of setup prompts include prompts for assisting in pairing the system to a wireless device.

10. A method of operating a voice interaction system including the steps of:

a) receiving speech commands from a user;

b) receiving events from a plurality of sources, including the speech commands from the user;

c) prioritizing the plurality of events from the plurality of sources;

d) changing states based upon a state chart model, the received events and the priority of the events; and

e) generating audible prompts based upon said step d).

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the prioritization is based upon a stored set of user preferences.

12. The method of claim 10 further including the steps of introducing a delay prior to a first audible prompt of the plurality of audible prompts and during the delay determining whether the first audible prompt should be generated.

13. The method of claim 12 further including the step of during the delay comparing a priority of the first audible prompt to a priority of a second audible prompt to determine whether the first audible prompt or the second audible prompt should be presented.

14. The method of claim 13 further including the step of initiating a plurality of audible setup prompts to guide a user in pairing the system to a wireless device.

15. A method of operating a voice interaction system including the steps of:

a) receiving speech commands from a user;

b) receiving events from a plurality of sources, including the speech commands from the user;

c) prioritizing the plurality of events from the plurality of sources;

d) generating audible prompts based upon the received events and the priority of the events;

e) introducing a delay prior to presenting a first audible prompt of the audible prompts; and

f) during the delay, deciding whether to present the first audible prompt.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said step f) further includes the step of, during the delay, deciding whether to present the first audible prompt or a second audible prompt based upon a prioritization of the first audible prompt and the second audible prompt.

17. A method of setting up a voice interaction system including the steps of:

a) receiving events from a plurality of sources; and

b) generating audible speech prompts to instruct a user regarding pairing the system with a wireless device based upon the events.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the audible speech prompts include a passkey.