Apparatus and Methods for Managing Resources for a System Using Voice Recognition

• US 20130339858A1
• Filed: 06/13/2012
• Published: 12/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: nVoq, Inc.
• Original Assignee: nVoq, Inc.
• Inventors: Corfield, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 9,606,767 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/728
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/30 Distributed recognition, e.g. in client-server systems, for mobile phones or network applications

Abstract

The technology of the present application provides a method and apparatus to manage speech resources. The method includes detecting a change in a speech application that requires the use of different resources. On detection of the change, the method loads the different resources without the user needing to exit the currently executing speech application. The apparatus provides a switch (which could be a physical or virtual switch) that causes a speech recognition system to identify audio as either commands or text.

Claims

1. A method performed on at least one processor for managing speech resources for a plurality of applications, the method comprising the steps of:

providing data from a client workstation regarding a first speech application and a first set of speech resources being used by the first speech application;

receiving data from the client workstation indicative of a switch from the first speech application to a second application;

determining whether the second application being used at the client workstation requires a second set of resources;

loading the second set of resources to facilitate operation of the second application, wherein the client does not log out of the first application prior to initiating the second application.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing data regarding the first speech application comprises the steps of:

initiating a first speech application at a client workstation;

transmitting identification of a client initiating the first speech application at the client workstation; and

delivering a first set of speech resources based on at least one of the first speech applications or the identification of the client.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first speech application is a natural language speech recognition application and the first set of resources includes at least a first user profile.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the second application is a natural language speech recognition application and the second set of resources includes at least a second user profile different than the first user profile.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving data from the client workstation regarding the switch comprises the steps of:

determining a voice command input prompt has been initiated at the client workstation;

receiving the voice command to switch application; and

causing the client workstation to execute the voice command.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving data from the client workstation regarding the switch comprises an indication that the second application is the active application.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the active application is indicated by an active window.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein at least the first set of resources or the second set,of resources comprises:

a command word to initiate a web browser application; and

a recognition of a navigational universal resource locator;

wherein the web browser navigates to the universal resource locator.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein at least the first set of resources or the second set of resources comprises:

a command word; and

a text representation to be input to a textual file wherein the command word operates as a shortcut for causing the text representation to be input.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein at least the first set of resources or the second set of resources comprises:

a command word; and

the command word causes the client workstation to execute a macro.

11. The method of claim 4 wherein at least the first set of resources or the second set of resources comprises:

a command word; and

the command word causes the client workstation to execute a script.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

saving the first set of resources prior to loading the second set of resources.

13. An apparatus for managing a plurality of speech application resources available to a client workstation, the apparatus comprising:

a resource manager operationally linked to client workstations;

the resource manager configured to receive data from the client workstation regarding a first speech application and a first set of speech resources used by the first speech application;

the resource manager configured to receive data from the client workstation when a second speech application is initiated at the client workstation, wherein the second speech application uses a second set of speech resources different than the first set of resources.

the resource manager configured to fetch the second set of speech resources from a memory and transmit the second set of speech resources to be loaded at the client workstation to facilitate the execution of the second speech application, wherein the first speech application does not need to be terminated prior to initiation of the second speech application.

14. A workstation configured to use speech recognition comprising:

a processor,

a memory, and

a display, wherein the display is configured to provide a graphical user interface with at least one icon representative of a voice command, wherein the workstation further comprises a microphone to receive audio data from a client and configured to receive audio converted to data from a speech to text engine wherein activation of the voice command icon causes the data to be used to cause the workstation to execute a command and wherein deactivation of the voice command icon causes the workstation to input text.