User appliance with voice help guide

• US 6,728,343 B1
• Filed: 03/16/1998
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Conair Corporation
• Original Assignee: Conair Corporation
• Inventors: Taylor, Robert L., Rutigliano, Gerard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Escalante, Ovidio
• Application Number:
  US09/039,647
• Time in Patent Office: 2,234 Days
• Field of Search: 704/256, 704/270, 340/521, 364/188, 381/51, 379/67.1, 379/68, 379/76, 379/88.22, 379/71, 379/77, 379/88.13, 379/88.16, 455/425, 455/550, 455/575, 455/90
• US Class Current: 379/71
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/247 Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use user interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/56 including a user help function

Abstract

A user appliance incorporating the invention includes a non-volatile memory for storing (i) a series of queries regarding operating problems that may be encountered in operating the user appliance; and (ii) a series of instructions on how to overcome the operating problems. Switching devices are provided which enable the user to input “yes” or “no” responses to the queries. The appliance further includes a controller that is responsive to an input from the user to cause a broadcast of the queries and instructions via a voice synthesizer. The controller further enables the user to skip certain of the queries by actuation of a switching device to input a “no” response to the controller.

Claims

1. A telephone comprising:

non-volatile memory disposed in said telephone for storing (i) a series of queries regarding operating problems of the telephone that may be encountered in operating the telephone, and (ii) a series of instructions as to how to overcome the operating problems;

switch means for enabling a user to input “

yes”

or “

no”

responses in response to said queries;

means for broadcasting said queries and instructions to said user; and

control means responsive to an input from said switch means, to operate in conjunction with said non-volatile memory and said broadcasting means, and to cause a broadcast of said queries and instructions to said user, said control means enabling said user to skip certain of said queries and instructions by actuation of said switch means to input “

no”

responses.

2. The user appliance as recited in claim 1, wherein said control means only enables said user to skip a series of said instructions when a “

no”

signal is input after an immediately preceding query is broadcast.

3. The user appliance as recited in claim 2, wherein said control means reverts to a quiescent state when said user has entered no data during a time-out period.

4. The user appliance as recited in claim 1, wherein said appliance comprises a cordless telephone and an answer machine.

5. The user appliance as recited in claim 4, wherein said control means is a microprocessor apparatus that is also connected to control said answering machine and cordless telephone.

6. The user appliance as recited in claim 1, wherein said appliance comprises a device that is adapted for kitchen use.