Displaying voice commands with multiple variables

• US 6,085,159 A
• Filed: 03/26/1998
• Issued: 07/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ortega, Kerry A., Boyer, Linda M., Kist, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hudspeth, David R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chawan, Vijay B
• Application Number:
  US09/048,713
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 704/270, 704/271, 704/272, 704/275, 704/278, 704/231, 704/235, 704/276
• US Class Current: 704/235
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/228 of application context

Abstract

A method for displaying voice commands with multiple variables in a speech application, comprises the steps of: compiling a list of each voice command which can include at least one variable; storing with each the voice command each variable associated with each voice the command in the list; displaying in response to a user request a command and each of its associated variables; and, displaying each of the associated variables within delimiters to indicate to the user that a choice must be made from a set of choices for each the associated variable together with the command. A set of choices for each stored variable can be stored. The set of the choices for each variable associated with the voice command and at least one word to use to select one of the choices in each the set when uttering the voice command can be supplied in response to a user request.

Claims

1. A method for displaying voice commands with multiple variables in a speech application, comprising the steps of:

compiling a list of each voice command recognizable in a concurrently executing program, at least one of said voice commands including at least one associated variable;

storing with each said voice command in said list said associated variables;

displaying in response to a user request a voice command and each of its associated variables; and

,

displaying each of said associated variables within delimiters to indicate to the user that a choice must be made from a set of choices for each said associated variable together with said voice command.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

storing a set of choices for each stored variable; and

,

supplying in response to a user request the set of said choices for each said variable associated with said voice command and at least one word to use to select one of the choices in each said set when uttering said voice command.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising the step of implementing said supplying step by displaying a response in text form.

4. The method of claim 2, comprising the step of implementing said supplying step by generating an audible response to said user.

5. The method of claim 2, comprising the step of providing said user with an opportunity to select implementation of said supplying step by displayed text or generation of an audible response.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of automatically terminating at least one of said displaying steps in response to any action undertaken by said user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said actions include cursor movement, keyboard activation and uttering voice command.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of automatically terminating both of said displaying steps in response to any action undertaken by said user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said actions include cursor movement, keyboard activation and uttering voice command.