FLEXIBLE ANIMATION FRAMEWORK FOR CONTEXTUAL ANIMATION DISPLAY

• US 20140257806A1
• Filed: 03/05/2013
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Dykstra-Erickson, Elizabeth Ann, Hebert, Matthieu, Wilson, Eric A.
• Application Number:
  US13/786,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20140257806A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/235
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/00 Animation
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/10 Transforming into visible information

Abstract

A method of providing a custom response in conjunction with an application providing speech interaction is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining a context of a current interaction with the user, and identifying an associated custom animation, when the associated custom animation exists. The method further comprises displaying the custom animation by overlaying it over a native response of the application. In one embodiment, when no custom animation exists, the method determines whether there is a default animation, and displays the default animation as part of a state change of the application.

Claims

1. A method of providing a custom response in conjunction with an application providing speech interaction, the method comprising:

determining a context of a current interaction with the user;

identifying an associated custom animation, when the associated custom animation exists, and displaying the custom animation by overlaying it over a native response of the application; and

when no custom animation exists, determining whether there is a default animation, and displaying the default animation as part of a state change of the application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the custom animation comprises non-content communications with the user including one or more of visual, auditory, haptic output.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the context comprises a recognized state, activity completion, activity request, or processing result.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the context includes a user'"'"'s stress level, in connection with the current interaction.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the custom animations comprise one or more of base animations, emphasis animations, and vanity animations.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a downloadable custom animations.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the downloadable set of animations may be brand-focused animations.

8. A method of providing a custom animation framework comprising:

defining a plurality of states of an application providing a speech interface;

associating default animations for each of the plurality of states;

defining at least one custom animation, the custom animation associated with a combination of a particular state and context data, the custom animation an overlay covering the default animation associated with the particular state;

thereby enabling use of the custom animation without defining additional states for the application.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising;

providing an editor to enable construction of the custom animation, and definition of the states and contexts associated with the animation.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the custom animation comprises non-content communications with the user including one or more of visual, auditory, haptic output.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the context comprises a recognized state, activity completion, activity request, or processing result.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the context includes a user'"'"'s stress level, in connection with the current interaction.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the custom animations comprise one or more of base animations, emphasis animations, and vanity animations.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

providing a downloadable custom animations.

15. A custom animation framework comprising:

a state logic defining a plurality of states of an application providing a speech interface;

a baseline response system having default animations for each of the plurality of states;

a custom overlay system having at least one custom animation, the custom animation associated with a combination of a particular state and context data, the custom animation an overlay covering the default animation associated with the particular state;

thereby enabling use of the custom animation without defining additional states for the application.

16. The framework of claim 15, further comprising;

an animation creation system to enable construction of the custom animation, and definition of the states and contexts associated with the animation.

17. The framework of claim 15, wherein the custom animation comprises non-content communications with the user including one or more of visual, auditory, haptic output.

18. The framework of claim 15, wherein the context comprises one or more of:

a recognized state, activity completion, activity request, processing result, and a user'"'"'s stress level, in connection with the current interaction.

19. A framework of claim 15, further comprising, when the framework is in use:

a context determiner to determine a context of a current interaction with the user;

a trigger identifier to identify an associated custom animation with the context, when the associated custom animation exists;

a custom overly system to display the custom animation by overlaying it over a native response of the application.

20. The framework of claim 15, further comprising:

an animation sharing system to enable provision of downloadable custom animations.