Device, Method, and User Interface for Voice-Activated Navigation and Browsing of a Document

• US 20140006030A1
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Published: 01/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Fleizach, Christopher Brian, Gruber, Thomas Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,495,129 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/260
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/94 Hypermedia Hyperlinking G06F40/134
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback

Abstract

The electronic device with one or more processors and memory receives a first document including a plurality of links. The electronic device outputs a voice reading of at least a portion of the first document, and outputs audible information identifying a link of the plurality of links. In response to outputting the audible information identifying the link, the electronic device receives from the user a voice command regarding the link, and, in response to receiving from the user the voice command, outputs a voice reading of at least a portion of a second document associated with the link.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

receiving a first document comprising a plurality of links;

outputting a voice reading of at least a portion of the first document;

outputting audible information identifying a link of the plurality of links;

in response to outputting the audible information identifying the link, receiving from a user a voice command regarding the link; and

,

in response to receiving from the user the voice command, outputting a voice reading of at least a portion of a second document.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the link is associated with text in the portion of the first document.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:

in response to receiving from the user the voice command regarding the link, storing information about the link; and

outputting a voice reading of one or more portions of the second document.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:

after outputting the voice reading of at least a portion of the second document;

receiving from the user a voice command requesting navigation back to the first document; and

in response to receiving from the user the voice command requesting navigation back to the first document, outputting a voice reading of one or more portions of the first document subsequent to text, in the first document, associated with the link.

5. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:

after outputting the voice reading of at least a portion of the second document, outputting a voice inquiry about navigating back to the first document;

in response to outputting the voice inquiry about navigating back to the first document, receiving from the user a voice command requesting navigation back to the first document; and

in response to receiving from the user the voice command requesting navigation back to the first document, outputting a voice reading of one or more portions of the first document including a text, in the first document, associated with the link.

6. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:

after outputting the voice reading of at least a portion of the second document, in response to receiving from the user the voice command requesting navigation back to the first document, automatically outputting a voice reading of one or more portions of the first document subsequent to text, in the first document, associated with the link.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the voice command is a voice command of a first type, and the one or more programs include instructions for:

receiving from the user a voice command of a second type distinct, from the first type, regarding the link; and

in response to receiving from the user the voice command of the second type regarding the link;

retrieving information from the second document; and

outputting voice information corresponding to the voice command of the second type based on the information from the second document.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the voice command of the second type includes a request for information about an author of the second document.

9. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the voice command of the second type includes a request for a summary of the second document.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:

identifying two or more links as candidate links corresponding to a voice command from the user;

outputting audible information about the candidate links; and

receiving from the user a selection of a single link of the candidate links.

11. A method for navigating through documents, comprising:

at an electronic device with one or more processors and memory;

receiving a first document comprising a plurality of links;

outputting a voice reading of at least a portion of the first document;

outputting audible information identifying a link of the plurality of links;

in response to outputting the audible information identifying the link, receiving from a user a voice command regarding the link; and

,

in response to receiving from the user the voice command, outputting a voice reading of at least a portion of a second document.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the link is associated with text in the portion of the first document.

13. The method of claim 11, including:

in response to receiving from the user the voice command regarding the link, storing information about the link; and

outputting a voice reading of one or more portions of the second document.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the voice command is a voice command of a first type, the method comprising:

receiving from the user a voice command of a second type distinct, from the first type, regarding the link; and

in response to receiving from the user the voice command of the second type regarding the link;

retrieving information from the second document; and

outputting voice information corresponding to the voice command of the second type based on the information from the second document.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

identifying two or more links as candidate links corresponding to a voice command from the user;

outputting audible information about the candidate links; and

receiving from the user a selection of a single link of the candidate links.

16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which, when executed by a portable electronic device or a computer system with one or more processors, cause the electronic device or computer system to perform:

receiving a first document comprising a plurality of links;

outputting a voice reading of at least a portion of the first document;

outputting audible information identifying a link of the plurality of links;

in response to outputting the audible information identifying the link, receiving from a user a voice command regarding the link; and

,

in response to receiving from the user the voice command, outputting a voice reading of at least a portion of a second document.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the link is associated with text in the portion of the first document.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:

in response to receiving from the user the voice command regarding the link, storing information about the link; and

outputting a voice reading of one or more portions of the second document.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the voice command is a voice command of a first type, and the one or more programs include instructions for:

receiving from the user a voice command of a second type distinct, from the first type, regarding the link; and

in response to receiving from the user the voice command of the second type regarding the link;

retrieving information from the second document; and

outputting voice information corresponding to the voice command of the second type based on the information from the second document.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:

identifying two or more links as candidate links corresponding to a voice command from the user;

outputting audible information about the candidate links; and

receiving from the user a selection of a single link of the candidate links.