Data processing system and method for switching between programs having a same title using a voice command

• US 5,897,618 A
• Filed: 03/10/1997
• Issued: 04/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Loats, Philip Albert, Wang, Xiaotong
• Primary Examiner(s): Hudspeth, David R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAX, ROBERT L
• Application Number:
  US08/812,888
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 704/270, 704/275
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/228 of application context

Abstract

A voice command interface is implemented in a data processing system whereby a user may select any application which is currently running on the data processing system without having to manually modify a list of programs which may be accessed by a voice command and without having to request the program by its full name. To allow a user to access a program which is currently running on the data processing system, control within the data processing system ensures that a name of the program or application which is opened by an external user is added to a window list automatically. Similarly, a program which is no longer enabled by a user and running on the data processing system will be automatically removed from the window list. Additionally, the data processing system and methodology implemented therein allow an external user to speak merely a portion of a title of an application to access the application using a voice command. When two or more programs have the same or similar titles, the data processing system first accesses a program which is first on the window list. If this is not the program desired by the user, the user then repeats the command and a next program or application is accessed and brought into focus. This procedure repeats and may even loop back to the first access program if the user continues to repeat commands accessing the program having similar or the same titles.

Claims

1. A data processing system, comprising;

a memory for storing a window list;

a first input means for receiving a first user input;

a speech recognition unit coupled to the first input means for receiving the first user input, the speech recognition unit determining when the first user input represents a plurality of items stored in the window list; and

a central processing unit coupled to the speech recognition unit, the central processing unit selectively accessing each of a plurality of applications corresponding to the plurality of items stored in the window list when the first user input represents the plurality of items stored in the window list.

2. The data processing system of claim 1 wherein the central processing unit accesses each of the plurality of applications consecutively.

3. The data processing system of claim 2 wherein the central processing unit accesses a first one of the plurality of applications after a last one of the plurality of applications is accessed.

4. The data processing system of claim 1 wherein the first input means is a microphone and the first user input is a voice command.

5. The data processing system of claim 1 wherein the central processing unit accesses a first one of the plurality of applications corresponding to the plurality of items stored in the window list when the first user input corresponds to the plurality of items stored in the window list.

6. The data processing system of claim 5 wherein the first user interface receives a second user input.

7. The data processing system of claim 6 wherein the central processing unit accesses a next one of the plurality of applications corresponding to the plurality of items stored in the window list when the second user input corresponds to the plurality of items stored in the window list.

8. The data processing system of claim 7 wherein the central processing unit accesses a first one of the plurality of applications corresponding to the plurality of items stored in the window list when the second user input corresponds to the plurality of items stored in the window list and the central processing unit previously accessed a last one of the plurality of applications corresponding to the plurality of items stored in the window list.

9. A method for accessing a data processing system, comprising the steps of:

storing a window list in a memory;

receiving a first user input at a first user interface;

determining when the first user input represents a plurality of items stored in the window list; and

enabling the central processing unit to selectively access each of a plurality of applications corresponding to the plurality of items stored in the window list when the first user input represents the plurality of items stored in the window list.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a voice command at the first user interface; and

enabling a speech recognition unit to determine when the voice command corresponds to the plurality of items stored in the window list.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

accessing a first one of the plurality of applications in response to the voice command.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

modifying a focus of the first one of the plurality of applications in response to the voice command.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a second user input to the first user interface;

determining when the second user input corresponds to the plurality of items stored in the window list; and

accessing a next one of the plurality of applications in response to the second user input.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

modifying a focus of the next one of the plurality of applications in response to the second user input.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

accessing the first one of the plurality of applications when a previous user input corresponded to a last one of the plurality of items stored in the window list.

16. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for accessing a data processing system, said method steps comprising:

storing a window list in a memory;

receiving a first user input at a first user interface;

determining when the first user input represents a plurality of items stored in the window list; and

enabling a central processing unit to selectively access each of a plurality of applications corresponding to the plurality of items stored in the window list when the first user input represents the plurality of items stored in the window list.

17. The program storage device of claim 16, further comprising the method steps of:

receiving a voice command at the first user interface; and

enabling a speech recognition unit to determine when the voice command corresponds to the plurality of items stored in the window list.

18. The program storage device of claim 17, further comprising the method step of:

accessing a first one of the plurality of applications in response to the voice command.

19. The program storage device of claim 18, further comprising the method step of:

modifying a focus of the first program in response to the voice command.

20. The program storage device of claim 18, further comprising the method steps of:

receiving a second user input to the first user interface;

determining when the second user input corresponds to the plurality of items stored in the window list; and

accessing a next one of the plurality of applications in response to the second user input.

21. The program storage device of claim 20, further comprising the method step of:

modifying a focus of the next one of the plurality of applications in response to the second user input.

22. The program storage device of claim 18, further comprising the method step of:

accessing the first one of the plurality of applications when a previous user input corresponded to a last one of the plurality of items stored in the window list.