Voice activated system and methods to enable a computer user working in a first graphical application window to display and control on-screen help, internet, and other information content in a second graphical application window

• US 7,461,352 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2004
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ronald Mark Katsuranis
• Original Assignee: Ronald Mark Katsuranis
• Inventors: Katsuranis, Ronald Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Stephen S
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LE V
• Application Number:
  US10/775,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20050021336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,758 Days
• Field of Search: 715/781, 715/800
• US Class Current: 715/800
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

This invention provides systems and methods for displaying and controlling the content of a second graphical application window while in a first graphical application window in a windowed computing environment having a voice recognition engine. The present invention enables a computer user working in a graphical application window to use speech commands to open, view, retrieve, and control help, Internet, and other information in a second graphical application window. Thus, the invention allows a user to keep a first graphical application window open and in focus while simultaneously viewing a second graphical application window; thereby allowing a user to proceed with his/her work while actively opening, positioning, viewing and controlling the content of a second graphical application window containing help, Internet, or other information.

Claims

1. A method of copying and pasting text from a second window to a first window in a windowed computing environment having voice recognition, comprising:

setting input focus on the first window;

while input focus is on the first window, receiving a copy speech command from a user, and in response to the copy speech command;

setting input focus on the second window; and

waiting for the user to select text from the second window;

when the user selects the text from the second window, performing the following steps independent of user input;

copying the selected text;

switching focus back to the first window; and

pasting the selected text into the first window.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second window is an Internet browser window of an Internet browser application.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second window is a help window of a help application.

4. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program for copying and pasting text from a second window to a first window in a windowed computing environment having voice recognition, the computer program comprising code segments for:

setting input focus on the first window;

while input focus is on the first window, receiving a copy speech command from a user, and in response to the copy speech command;

setting input focus on the second window; and

waiting for the user to select text from the second window;

when the user selects the text from the second window, performing the following steps independent of user input;

copying the selected text;

switching focus back to the first window; and

pasting the selected text into the first window.

5. The computer program embodied on a computer readable medium of claim 4 wherein the second window is an Internet browser window of an Internet browser application.

6. The computer program embodied on a computer readable medium of claim 4 wherein the second window is a help window of a help application.