Speech command input recognition system for interactive computer display with speech controlled display of recognized commands

• US 6,937,984 B1
• Filed: 12/17/1998
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Morgan, Scott Anthony, Swearingen, Craig Ardner, Tannenbaum, Alan Richard, Roberts, David John
• Primary Examiner(s): Ometz, David L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Opsasnick, Michael N
• Application Number:
  US09/213,846
• Time in Patent Office: 2,448 Days
• Field of Search: 704/270, 704/275
• US Class Current: 704/270
• 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 2015/221 Announcement of recognition results
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command

Abstract

The present invention provides a solution for users of voice recognition systems who still need visual feedback in order to confirm the accuracy of spoken commands but need to operate in a “hands-off” mode with respect to computer input. In an interactive computer controlled display system with speech command input recognition, the present invention provides a system for confirming the recognition of a command by first predetermining a plurality of speech commands for respectively designating each of a corresponding plurality of system actions and providing means for detecting such speech commands. There also are means responsive to a detected speech command for displaying said command for a predetermined time period, during which time the user may give a spoken command to stop the system action designated by said displayed command. In the event that said system action is not stopped during said predetermined time period, the system action designated by said displayed command will be executed. The user need not wait for the expiration of the time period if he notes that the displayed command is the right one; he has speech command means for executing the system action designated by said displayed command prior to the expiration of said time period. This may be as simple as just repeating the displayed command.

Claims

1. In an interactive computer controlled display system with speech command input recognition, apparatus for confirming the recognition of a command comprising:

means for predetermining a plurality of speech commands for respectively designating each of a corresponding plurality of system actions,

means for detecting said speech commands,

means responsive to a detected speech command for displaying said command for a predetermined time period,

speech command means for stopping the system action designated by said displayed command, and

means for executing the system action designated by said displayed command in the event that said system action is not stopped during said predetermined time period.

2. The system of claim 1 further including speech command means for executing the system action designated by said displayed command prior to the expiration of said time period.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said speech command means for executing said system action prior to said time period expiration is responsive to a repetition of the detected speech command.

9. The computer program of claim 2 wherein said speech command means for executing said system action prior to said time period expiration is responsive to a repetition of the detected speech command.

4. A method for confirming speech command input to an interactive computer controlled display system with speech command input recognition comprising:

predetermining a plurality of speech commands for respectively designating each of a corresponding plurality of system actions,

detecting said speech commands,

responsive to a detected speech command, displaying said command for a predetermined time period,

enabling a speech command for stopping the system action designated by said displayed command, and

executing the system action designated by said displayed command in the event that said system action is not stopped by said enabled speech command during said predetermined time period.

5. The method of claim 4 further including an enabled speech command for executing the system action designated by said displayed command prior to the expiration of said time period.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said speech command for executing said system action prior to said time period expiration is a repetition of the detected speech command.

7. A computer program having program code included on a computer readable medium for confirming speech command input recognition in an interactive computer controlled display system comprising:

means for predetermining a plurality of speech commands for respectively designating each of a corresponding plurality of system actions,

means for detecting said speech commands,

means responsive to a detected speech command for displaying said command for a predetermined time period,

speech command means for stopping the system action designated by said displayed command, and

means for executing the system action designated by said displayed command in the event that said system action is not stopped during said predetermined time period.

8. The computer program of claim 7 further including speech command means for executing the system action designated by said displayed command prior to the expiration of said time period.