USING VOICE INPUT AT A MOBILE POINT OF SALE

• US 20140330659A1
• Filed: 05/03/2013
• Published: 11/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Yopp, John E., Pilon, Charles T., Dorf, David L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,710,800 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/21
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]

Abstract

A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium for using voice input at a mobile point-of-sale (POS) are disclosed. For example, one method involves receiving a voice input, where the receiving is performed by a mobile POS (MPOS) device. The method also involves determining, based on the voice input, whether to use voice-based processing. In response to a determination to use the voice-based processing, performing voice-based processing, including selecting a first workflow based on the voice input, and performing a first portion of the first workflow based on the voice input. The first portion of the first workflow is performed by the MPOS device. The method also includes determining whether to perform a second portion of the first workflow based on another voice input.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a voice input, wherein

the receiving is performed by a mobile Point-of-Sale (MPOS) device;

determining whether to use voice-based processing, wherein

the determining is based, at least in part, on the voice input; and

in response to a determination to use the voice-based processing, performing the voice-based processing, wherein

the performing the voice-based processing comprises

selecting a first workflow based on the voice input,

performing a first portion of the first workflow based on the voice input, wherein

the first portion of the first workflow is performed by the MPOS device, and

determining whether to perform a second portion of the first workflow based on another voice input.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing the voice-based processing further comprises:

selecting a second workflow based on one or more of the voice input, or

a performance of the first portion of the first workflow.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein

the second portion of the workflow is configured to be performed by a Point-of-Sale (POS) server,

the MPOS device and the POS server are coupled together using a network, and

the second portion of the first workflow is dependent on the first portion of the first workflow.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to receiving the voice input, receiving a user input, wherein

the first workflow is selected based on the user input, and

the receiving the user input occurs at the MPOS device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining whether to use the voice-based processing comprises:

determining whether one or more commands in the voice input are validated.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein

the selecting the first workflow is based on a currently-executing workflow.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing the first portion of the first workflow comprises:

determining one or more workflow elements of the first portion of the first workflow to be performed; and

determining whether an additional information is needed to perform the one or more workflow elements.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the performing the first portion of the first workflow further comprises:

generating a prompt for an additional voice input;

receiving the additional voice input; and

processing the additional voice input to obtain the additional information.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to a determination to not use the voice-based processing, performing manual control-based processing, wherein

the performing the manual control-based processing comprises

selecting the first workflow based on a manual input,

performing the first portion of the first workflow based on the manual input,

determining whether additional voice input is received at the MPOS device, and

in response to a determination that the additional voice input is received, determining whether to perform at least a portion of the first portion of the first workflow based on the additional voice input.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein

the performing the voice activation comprises

in response to the first portion of the first workflow being performed,

generating a response, wherein

the MPOS device is configured to provide the response.

11. A system, comprising:

a point-of-sale (POS) device, comprising

one or more processors,

an audio module, wherein

the audio module is configured to

receiving a voice input, and

a control module, wherein

the control module is configured to

determine whether to use voice-based processing, wherein

 

the control module is configured to perform the determining based, at least in part, on the voice input, and

in response to a determination to use the voice-based processing,

perform the voice-based processing, wherein

the control module is configured to perform the voice-based processing by virtue of being configured to select a first workflow based on the voice input,

 

perform a first portion of the first workflow based on the voice input, wherein

 

the first portion of the first workflow is

 

performed by the MPOS device, and

 

determine whether to perform a second portion of the first workflow based on another voice input.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the control module is further configured to:

select a second workflow based on one or more of

the voice input, or

a performance of the first portion of the first workflow.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein

the control module is further configured to, prior to receiving the voice input, receive a user input, wherein

the first workflow is selected based on the user input.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein

the control module is configured to select the first workflow based on a currently-executing workflow.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein

the control module is configured to perform the first portion of the first workflow by virtue of being configured to

determine one or more workflow elements of the first portion of the first workflow to be performed, and

determine whether an additional information is needed to perform the one or more workflow elements.

16. A computer program product comprising:

a plurality of instructions, comprising

a first set of instructions, executable on a computer system, configured to

receive a voice input, wherein

the receiving is performed by a mobile Point-of-Sale (MPOS) device,

a second set of instructions, executable on the computer system,

configured to determine whether to use voice-based processing,

wherein

the determining is based, at least in part, on the voice input, and

a third set of instructions, executable on the computer system, configured to, in response to a determination to use the voice-based

processing, perform the voice-based processing, wherein

the performing the voice-based processing comprises

 

selecting a first workflow based on the voice input,

 

performing a first portion of the first workflow

 

based on the voice input, wherein

 

the first portion of the first workflow is

 

performed by the MPOS device,

 

determining whether to perform a second portion of the first workflow based on another voice input; and

a computer-readable storage medium, wherein the instructions are encoded in the computer-readable storage medium.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the plurality of instructions further comprise

a fourth set of instructions, executable on the computer system, configured to

select a second workflow based on one or more of

the voice input, or

a performance of the first portion of the first workflow.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein

the plurality of instructions further comprise

a fourth set of instructions, executable on the computer system, configured to,

prior to receiving the voice input, receive a user input, wherein

the first workflow is selected based on the user input.

19. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein

the control module is configured to select the first workflow based on a currently executing workflow.

20. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein

the plurality of instructions further comprise

a fourth set of instructions, executable on the computer system, configured to

determine one or more workflow elements of the first portion of the first workflow to be performed, and

a fifth set of instructions, executable on the computer system, configured to

determine whether an additional information is needed to perform the one or more workflow elements.