System and method for providing an adaptive dialog function choice model for various communication devices
First Claim
1. A system for providing a user with a plurality of function choices, the system comprising:
- a plurality of functions, operable at a host system, having logical grouping information associated therewith, wherein at least one function is associated with more than one logical group; and
a device specific variable state transition model providing grouping of the functions into function choices based upon a user device, separate from said host system, and said logical grouping information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The inventive system provides a user with a plurality of function choices based upon the communication device of the user. The system includes a device specific variable state transition model that formats the system functions into the function choices based upon a device of the user. Thus, if the user has a personal computer or other device with a large screen, the functions are formatted into a single level so that all of the functions are displayed simultaneously. If the user has a TDD or PDA or other device with a small screen, the functions are formatted into two or more levels, depending upon the screen size, so that only a manageable portion of the functions are displayed simultaneously. If the system lacks a screen, then the functions are formatted into a plurality of levels, each level having only a small number of function choices. The system uses a data base having key words that describe each function, and permutation lists that have expanded lists of phrases that are synonymous with the key words. The system also may use a thesaurus or lexicon application to expand the recognition of key words. The system uses a dialogue engine to compare the commands (e.g., voice input) from the user with the key words and permutation lists to identify the requested function.
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Citations
72 Claims
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1. A system for providing a user with a plurality of function choices, the system comprising:
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a plurality of functions, operable at a host system, having logical grouping information associated therewith, wherein at least one function is associated with more than one logical group; and
a device specific variable state transition model providing grouping of the functions into function choices based upon a user device, separate from said host system, and said logical grouping information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
the user device is selected from the group consisting of;
a personal computer;
a telephone;
a screen telephone;
a personal data assistant; and
a telecommunication device for the deaf (TDD).
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16. The system of claim 1, wherein the user device has a substantially sized display screen, and the function choices are grouped into a single level comprising all of the functions as function choices.
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17. The system of claim 1, wherein the user device has a diminutively sized display screen and the function choices are formatted into at least two levels, each level comprising a portion of the functions as function choices.
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18. The system of claim 1, wherein the user device lacks a display screen and the function choices are formatted into a plurality of levels, each level comprising a portion of the functions as function choices.
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19. The system of claim 18, wherein levels of said plurality of levels comprise a plurality of function choices.
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20. The system of claim 18, wherein the user device is a telephone, and wherein an access method associated with said function choices includes a voice response system.
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21. The system of claim 18, wherein the user device is a telephone, and wherein an access method associated with said function choices includes a touch tone response system.
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22. The system of claim 1, wherein the user device lacks a display screen and the function choices are formatted into a single level comprising all of the functions as function choices.
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23. The system of claim 22, wherein the user device is a telephone, and wherein an access method associated with said function choices includes a natural language voice recognition system.
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24. The system of claim 1, wherein the device specific variable state transition model comprises:
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a key word data base comprising key words used to describe each function;
a plurality of permutation lists comprising expanded lists of phrases that are synonymous with respect to the key words; and
a dialogue engine for receiving voice input action from the user, parsing the input action into segments, searching the segments for key words and expanded lists of phrases, identifying a requested function in the voice input action, and activating the requested function.
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25. The system of claim 24, wherein the dialogue engine comprises:
a learning operation for ascertaining a meaning and a function association for an unknown phrase received from the user, and amending the key word data base and permutation lists to include the unknown phrase.
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26. The system of claim 24, wherein the permutation lists are predefined.
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27. The system of claim 26, wherein the permutation lists are formed by applying a thesaurus application to the key word data base.
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28. The system of claim 26, wherein the permutation lists are formed by applying a lexicon application to the key word data base.
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29. The system of claim 26, wherein the permutation lists are formed by applying a lexicon application and a thesaurus application to the key word data base.
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30. The system of claim 1, wherein the device specific variable state transition model comprises:
a format controller for determining characteristics of the user device, wherein grouping of the functions into function choices by said device specific variable state transition model into function choices based upon a device of the user through reference to said determined characteristics.
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31. The system of claim 30, wherein the format controller determines the characteristics of the user device at least in part by querying the user.
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32. The system of claim 30, wherein the format controller determines the characteristics of the user device at least in party by interrogating the device.
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33. The system of claim 30, wherein the format controller determines the characteristics of the user device at least in party by analyzing signal characteristics of input action.
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34. A variable state transition system for arranging a plurality of functions for presentation to a user based upon a device of said user, the system comprising:
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a format controller for determining characteristics of a user device in communication with said system, wherein said format controller selects functions of said plurality of functions for presentation according to said determined characteristics of said user device, and wherein said format controller arranges said selected functions into function choices based upon limitations of said user device;
a key word data base comprising key words used to describe functions of said function choices;
a plurality of permutation lists comprising expanded lists of phrases that are synonymous with the key words; and
a dialogue engine for receiving voice input action from the user, parsing the input action into segments, searching the segments for key words and expanded lists of phrases, identifying a requested function in the voice input action, and activating a particular function choice in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
a learning operation for ascertaining a meaning and a function association for an unknown phrase received from the user to thereby define a learned phrase, and amending at least one of the key word data base and permutation lists to include the learned phrase.
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36. The system of claim 34, wherein:
the format controller determines the characteristics of the device by performing one of the group of methods consisting of querying the user, interrogating the device, and analyzing signal characteristics of the input action.
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37. The system of claim 34, wherein the permutation lists are predefined.
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38. A system for providing a plurality of functions to a user of the system, the system comprising:
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means for storing key words associated with each function of said plurality of functions;
means for storing expanded lists of phrases that are synonymous with ones of the key words;
means for determining a characteristic of a user device associated with the user;
means for providing a function navigation structure accessible to the user based upon the determined characteristic, wherein a first navigation structure associated with a first user device type is different than a second navigation structure associated with a second user device type;
means for receiving input action from the user;
means for parsing the input action into segments;
means for searching the segments for information corresponding to ones of said key words and ones of said phrases; and
means for determining a function of said plurality of functions requested in said input action available to said user through said function navigation structure using information provided by said means for searching. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
means for ascertaining a meaning and a function association for an unknown phrase received from the user, and amending the key word data base and permutation lists to include the unknown phrase.
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40. The system of claim 38, the means for determining a characteristic comprises:
means for determining the characteristic of the device by querying the user.
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41. The system of claim 38, the means for determining a characteristic comprises:
means for determining the characteristic of the device by interrogating the device.
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42. The system of claim 38, the means for determining a characteristic comprises:
means for determining the characteristic of the device by analyzing signal characteristics of a command issued by the device from the user.
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43. A system for providing a plurality of functions to a user of the system, the system comprising:
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means for determining a characteristic of a user device associated with the user; and
means for providing a function navigation structure accessible to the user based upon the determined characteristic, wherein a first navigation structure associated with a first user device type is different than a second navigation structure associated with a second user device type. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
means for arranging functions of the plurality of functions for presentation to said user based upon the determined characteristic, wherein the arrangement of functions corresponds to the function navigation structure accessible to the user.
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45. The system of claim 43, wherein said function navigation structure establishes limits on movement between said function choices with respect to a first type of user device which are different than limits on movement between said function choices with respect to a second type of user device.
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46. The system of claim 43, wherein functions of said plurality of functions have associated therewith logical grouping information.
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47. The system of claim 46, wherein said function navigation structure is also based upon the logical grouping information.
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48. The system of claim 46, wherein said logical grouping information associates at least one function with more than one logical group.
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49. The system of claim 46, wherein said logical grouping information establishes a hierarchy of the particular functions.
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50. The system of claim 46, wherein logical groups derived from said logical grouping information include functions that are substantially equivalent in precedence.
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51. The system of claim 46, wherein logical groups derived from said logical grouping information include functions which have a related functionality.
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52. A method for providing a plurality of functions to a user, the method comprising:
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determining a characteristic of a user device associated with the user; and
providing a function navigation structure accessible to the user based upon the determined characteristic, wherein a first navigation structure associated with a first user device type is different than a second navigation structure associated with a second user device type. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
arranging functions of the plurality of functions for presentation to said user based upon the determined characteristic, wherein the arrangement of functions corresponds to the function navigation structure accessible to the user.
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54. The method of claim 52, wherein said function navigation structure establishes limits on movement between said function choices with respect to a first type of user device which are different than limits on movement between said function choices with respect to a second type of user device.
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55. The method of claim 52, wherein functions of said plurality of functions have associated therewith logical grouping information.
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56. The method of claim 55, wherein said function navigation structure is also based upon the logical grouping information.
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57. The method of claim 55, wherein said logical grouping information associates at least one function with more than one logical group.
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58. The method of claim 55, wherein said logical grouping information establishes a hierarchy of the particular functions.
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59. The method of claim 55, wherein logical groups derived from said logical grouping information include functions that are substantially equivalent in precedence.
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60. The method of claim 55, wherein logical groups derived from said logical grouping information include functions which have a related functionality.
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61. A variable state transition system for presenting a plurality of functions to a user, the system comprising:
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a plurality of functions, ones of which are presented to the user for selection through a user device;
a format controller determining characteristics of the user device and selecting particular functions of said plurality of functions for presenting to said user based upon determined characteristics of the user device, wherein said presented functions are selected by said format controller;
a key word data base comprising key words stored in association with functions of said plurality of functions;
a plurality of permutations that are synonymous with the key words stored in association with said key words;
a dialogue engine for receiving input action from the user with respect to the presented functions, wherein the dialogue engine parses the input action into segments, searches the segments for key words and permutations, and identifies a function of the presented functions requested by the input action. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
a learning operation for ascertaining a meaning and a function association for an unknown input received from the user, and amending at least one of the key word data base and the permutations to include information regarding the unknown input.
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72. A variable state transition system for presenting a plurality of functions to a user, the system comprising:
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a plurality of functions, ones of which are presented to the user for selection through a user device;
a format controller determining characteristics of the user device and arranging the functions for presentation to the user based upon determined characteristics of the user device, wherein said presented functions are arranged by said format controller;
a key word data base comprising key words stored in association with functions of said plurality of functions;
a plurality of permutations that are synonymous with the key words stored in association with said key words;
a dialogue engine for receiving input action from the user with respect to the presented functions, wherein the dialogue engine parses the input action into segments, searches the segments for key words and permutations, and identifies a function of the presented functions requested by the input action.
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Specification