Method for generating conversation utterances to a remote listener in response to a quiet selection

• US 6,941,342 B1
• Filed: 09/08/2000
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nelson, Lester D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Viet D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hu, Jinsong
• Application Number:
  US09/657,370
• Time in Patent Office: 1,824 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 455/414, 455/456, 455/466, 379/52
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/027 Concept to speech synthesisers; Generation of natural phrases from machine-based concepts generation of parameters for speech synthesis out of text G10L13/08

Abstract

A user conducts a telephone conversation without speaking. It does this by moving the participant in the public situation to a quiet mode of communication (e.g., keyboard, buttons, touchscreen). All the other participants are allowed to continue using their usual audible technology (e.g., telephones) over the existing telecommunications infrastructure. The quiet user interface transforms the user'"'"'s silent input selections into equivalent audible signals that may be directly transmitted to the other parties in the conversation.

Claims

1. A method for communicating, comprising the steps of:

(a) accessing a conversation representation;

(b) selecting the conversation representation;

(c) obtaining an internal representation of a conversation element associated with the conversation representation; and

(d) generating an audible utterance based on the internal conversation element, wherein the audible utterance comprises a statement to be transmitted to a remote party as part of an ongoing conversation; and

(e) adding the conversation representation.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of accessing a plurality of conversation representations and selecting a first and a second conversation representation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the conversation representation is a mechanical device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the mechanical device is a button.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the conversation representation is in a Graphic User interface (AGUI@).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the conversation representation is selected from a group consisting of an icon, a symbol a figure, a graph, a checkbox, a GUI widget and a graphics button.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the conversation representation is selected from a group consisting of a text and a label.

8. The method of claim 1, fiber comprising the step of altering the conversation representation.

9. The method of claim 1, further comparing the step of altering the conversation element.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of deleting the conversation representation.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the audible emission is configured to disclose to the remote party that a local party is unable to continue the ongoing conversation.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adding the conversation element.

13. The method of claim 1, fixer comprising the step of altering an association between the conversation representation and the conversation element.

14. The method of claim 1, fixer comprising the step of recording a conversation element.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the recording step includes text-to-speech processing.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of downloading the conversation representation and the conversation element from a host computer.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of uploading the conversation representation and the conversation element to a host computer.

18. A method for communicating, comprising the steps of:

(a) accepting a selection of a conversation representation;

(b) obtaining an internal representation of a conversation element associated with the conversation representation, the conversation element comprising a complete statement; and

(c) generating an audible utterance based on the internal conversation element, wherein the audible utterance comprises a statement to be transmitted to a remote party as part of an ongoing conversation;

(d) wherein the audible utterance is configured to disclose to the remote party that a local party is unable to speak with the remote-party and will be communication through a computer.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the audible utterance is configured to disclose to the remote party that a local party is temporarily unable to continue the conversation.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the audible utterance is configured to disclose to the remote party that a local party is ending the conversation.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the audible utterance is configured to disclose to the remote party that a local user cannot conveniently speak, but wishes for the remote user to continue speaking.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the audible utterance is configured to respond to a query from the remote party.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the audible utterance is configured to disclose to the remote party that a local party is ending the conversation and will contact the remote party at a later time.