Transmitting secondary portions of a webpage as a voice response signal in response to a lack of response by a user

• US 7,712,020 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2002
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: S Aqua Semiconductor LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Inet Spch Property Hldg LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Khan, Emdadur R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paula; Cesar B
• Application Number:
  US10/104,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20030182124A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,965 Days
• Field of Search: 715/501, 715/513, 715/501.1, 715205-207, 715/234, 379/88.01, 379/88.17
• US Class Current: 715/205
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue

Abstract

A method of facilitating access to the Internet involving vocal and aural navigation, selection and rendering of Internet content. Visual Internet content is selected and rendered to produce information in amounts appropriate for representation in concise aural form to facilitate vocal selection and navigation based upon such aural representation.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating access to the Internet involving vocal and aural navigation, selection and rendering of Internet content, comprising:

establishing a bi-directional voice communication link between an audio Internet access provider and a user;

receiving, via bi-directional voice communication link, a voice command signal corresponding to an Internet command;

retrieving an Internet page corresponding to the Internet command;

identifying information of the Internet page using native content of the Internet page;

comparing sizes of selected portions of text associated with the identified information on the Internet page;

ordering the identified information on the Internet page responsive to the comparing;

transmitting, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice response signal corresponding to an Internet data signal representing a recitation of the identified information according to the ordering;

selectively receiving, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice selection signal identifying a selected one of the recited identified information;

locating Internet content related to the selected one of the recited information;

transmitting, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice content signal corresponding to a selected portion of the related Internet content; and

absent receipt of the voice selection signal, responding to the voice response signal, automatically repeating the comparing and ordering for different portions of the identified information and automatically transmitting a second voice response signal representing a recitation of the different portions of the identified information according to the automatically repeated ordering.

2. A method of facilitating access to the Internet involving vocal and aural navigation, selection and rendering of Internet content, comprising:

establishing a bi-directional voice communication link between an audio Internet access provider and a user;

receiving, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice command signal corresponding to an Internet surfing command;

locating an Internet page corresponding to the Internet surfing command;

identifying one or more highlights associated with the Internet page by using native content of the Internet page, where the one or more highlights include a content portion, in addition to one or more links, of the Internet page;

comparing colors of selected portions of text associated with the one or more identified highlights on the Internet page;

ordering the one or more identified highlights on the Internet page responsive to the comparing;

transmitting, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice response signal corresponding to an Internet data signal representing a recitation of the one or more identified highlights according to the ordering;

selectively receiving, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice selection signal identifying a selected one of the recited one or more identified highlights;

locating Internet content related to the selected one of the recited one or more highlights;

transmitting, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice content signal corresponding to a selected portion of the related Internet content; and

absent receipt of the voice selection signal, responding to the voice response signal, automatically repeating the comparing and ordering for different portions of the identified information and automatically transmitting a second voice response signal representing a recitation of the identified information according to the automatically repeated ordering.

3. A method of facilitating access to the Internet involving vocal and aural navigation, selection and rendering of Internet content, comprising:

establishing a bidirectional voice communication link between an audio Internet access provider and a user;

receiving, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice command signal corresponding to an Internet surfing command;

locating an Internet page corresponding to the Internet surfing command;

identifying one or more highlights associated with the Internet page, where the one or more highlights include a content portion, in addition to one or more links, of the Internet page;

ordering the identified one or more highlights associated with the Internet page;

transmitting, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice response signal corresponding to an Internet data signal representing a recitation of the one or more highlights according to the ordering;

selectively receiving, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice selection signal identifying a selected one of the recited one or more highlights;

locating Internet content related to the selected one of the recited one or more highlights by;

locating the related Internet content within the Internet page when the selected one of the recited one or more highlights indicates that the related Internet content is within the Internet page,

locating another Internet page when the selected one of the recited one or more highlights indicates that the related Internet content is within the another Internet page, and

analyzing respective portions of selected native Internet content for one or more Internet content characteristics including one or more substantial similarities between one or more words within the selected native Internet content and one or more words within the selected one of the recited one or more highlights, a density of the selected native Internet content, and a density of Internet links within the selected native Internet content;

transmitting, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice content signal corresponding to a selected portion of the related Internet content; and

absent receipt of the voice selection signal, responding to the voice response signal, automatically repeating the ordering for different ones of the highlights associated with the Internet page and automatically transmitting a second voice response signal representing a representation of the different ones of the highlights according to the automatically repeated ordering.

4. A method of facilitating access to the Internet involving vocal and aural navigation, selection and rendering of Internet content, comprising:

establishing a bi-directional voice communication link between an audio Internet access provider and a user;

receiving, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice command signal corresponding to an Internet surfing command;

locating an Internet page corresponding to the Internet surfing command;

identifying one or more highlights associated with the Internet page, wherein the one or more highlights include a content portion, in addition to one or more links, of the Internet page;

ordering the identified one or more highlights associated with the Internet page;

transmitting, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice response signal corresponding to an Internet data signal representing a recitation of the one or more highlights according to the ordering;

selectively receiving, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice selection signal identifying a selected one of the recited one or more highlights;

locating Internet content related to the selected one of the recited one or more highlights by analyzing respective portions of selected native Internet content for one or more Internet content characteristics including one or more substantial similarities between one or more words within the selected native Internet content and one or more words within the selected one of the recited one or more highlights, a density of the selected native Internet content, and a density of Internet links within the selected native Internet content;

transmitting, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice content signal corresponding to a selected portion of the related Internet content; and

absent receipt of the voice selection signal, responding to the voice response signal, automatically repeating the ordering for different ones of the highlights associated with the Internet page and automatically transmitting a second voice response signal representing a representation of the different ones of the highlights according to the automatically repeated ordering.

5. The method of claim 4, where analyzing respective portions of selected native Internet content for one or more Internet content characteristics, when a plurality of substantial similarities exist between the one or more words within the selected native Internet content and the one or more words within the selected one of the recited one or more highlights, comprises:

determining a respective amount of Internet page content associated with each one of the plurality of substantial similarities; and

establishing an order for the plurality of substantial similarities according to the respective amounts of associated Internet page content.

6. The method of claim 4, where analyzing respective portions of selected native Internet content for one or more Internet content characteristics, when the density of the selected content transcends a predetermined value, comprises:

determining a respective amount of Internet page content associated with each one of the respective portions of the selected native Internet content; and

establishing an order for the respective portions of the selected native Internet content according to the respective amounts of associated Internet page content.

7. The method of claim 4, where analyzing respective portions of selected native Internet content for one or more Internet content characteristics, when the density of Internet links within the selected content transcends a predetermined value, comprises transmitting, via the bi-directional voice communication link, another voice response signal corresponding to another Internet data signal representing a recitation of a selected plurality of the Internet links.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving, via the bi-directional voice communication link, another voice selection signal identifying a selected one of the recited selected plurality of the Internet links; and

locating further Internet content related to the selected one of the recited selected plurality of the Internet links.

9. A method of accessing the Internet involving vocal and aural navigation, selection and rendering of Internet content, comprising:

establishing a bi-directional voice communication link between an audio Internet access provider and a user;

initiating access to an Internet page corresponding to an Internet surfing command by transmitting, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice command signal corresponding to the Internet surfing command;

receiving, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice response signal corresponding to an Internet data signal representing an ordered recitation of one or more highlights identified as being associated with the Internet page responsive to a comparison of the one or more highlights, where the one or more highlights include a content portion, in addition to one or more links, of the Internet page;

initiating access to Internet content related to a selected one of the recited one or more highlights by selectively transmitting, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice selection signal identifying the selected one of the recited one or more ordered highlights responsive to an analysis of respective portions of selected native Internet content for one or more Internet content characteristics including;

one or more substantial similarities between one or more words within the selected native Internet content and one or more words within the selected one of the recited one or more highlights,

a density of the selected native Internet content, and

a density of Internet links within the selected native Internet content;

selectively receiving, via the bidirectional voice communication link, a voice content signal corresponding to a selected portion of the related Internet content; and

absent transmission of the voice selection signal, automatically transmitting a second voice response signal representing an ordered recitation of different ones of the highlights identified as being associated with the Internet page responsive to a comparison of the different ones of the highlights.

10. The method of claim 9, where initiating access to Internet content related to a selected one of the recited one or more highlights by selectively transmitting, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice selection signal identifying the selected one of the recited one or more highlights responsive to an analysis of respective portions of selected native Internet content for one or more Internet content characteristics, when a plurality of substantial similarities exist between the one or more words within the selected native Internet content and the one or more words within the selected one of the recited one or more highlights, comprises initiating access to Internet content related to a selected one of the recited one or more highlights by transmitting, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice selection signal identifying the selected one of the recited one or more highlights responsive to:

a determination of a respective amount of Internet page content associated with each one of the plurality of substantial similarities; and

establishment of an order for the plurality of substantial similarities according to the respective amounts of associated Internet page content.

11. The method of claim 9, where initiating access to Internet content related to a selected one of the recited one or more highlights by:

selectively transmitting, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice selection signal identifying the selected one of the recited one or more highlights responsive to an analysis of respective portions of selected native Internet content for one or more Internet content characteristics, when the density of the selected native Internet content transcends a predetermined value, comprises initiating access to Internet content related to a selected one of the recited one or more highlights by transmitting, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice selection signal identifying the selected one of the recited one or more highlights responsive to;

a determination of a respective amount of Internet page content associated with each one of the respective portions of the selected native Internet content; and

establishment of an order for the respective portions of the selected native Internet content according to the respective amounts of associated Internet page content.

12. The method of claim 9, where initiating access to Internet content related to a selected one of the recited one or more highlights by selectively transmitting, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice selection signal identifying the selected one of the recited one or more highlights responsive to an analysis of respective portions of selected native Internet content for one or more Internet content characteristics, when the density of Internet links within the selected native Internet content transcends a predetermined value, comprises receiving, via the bi-directional voice communication link, another voice response signal corresponding to another Internet data signal representing a recitation of a selected plurality of the Internet links.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising initiating access to further Internet content related to a selected one of the recited selected plurality of the Internet links by selectively transmitting, via the bi-directional voice communication link, another voice selection signal identifying a selected one of the recited selected plurality of the Internet links.

14. A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, result in:

establishing a bi-directional voice communication link between an audio Internet access provider and a user;

receiving, via bi-directional voice communication link, a voice command signal corresponding to an Internet command;

retrieving an Internet page corresponding to the Internet command;

identifying information of the Internet page using native content of the Internet page;

comparing sizes of selected portions of text associated with the identified information on the Internet page;

ordering the identified information on the Internet page responsive to the comparing;

transmitting, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice response signal corresponding to an Internet data signal representing a recitation of the identified information according to the ordering;

selectively receiving, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice selection signal identifying a selected one of the recited identified information;

locating Internet content related to the selected one of the recited information;

transmitting, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice content signal corresponding to a selected portion of the related Internet content; and

absent receipt of the voice selection signal, responding to the voice response signal, automatically repeating the comparing and ordering for different portions of the identified information and automatically transmitting a second voice response signal representing a recitation of the different portions of the identified information according to the automatically repeated ordering.

15. An hardware apparatus, comprising:

means for establishing a bi-directional voice communication link between an audio Internet access provider and a user;

means for receiving, via bi-directional voice communication link, a voice command signal corresponding to an Internet command;

means for retrieving an Internet page corresponding to the Internet command;

means for identifying information of the Internet page including means configured to respond to native content of the Internet page;

means for comparing sizes of selected portions of text associated with the identified information on the Internet page;

means for ordering the identified information on the Internet page responsive to the means for comparing;

means for transmitting, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice response signal corresponding to an Internet data signal representing a recitation of the identified information according to the order of the indentified information on the Internet page;

means for selectively receiving, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice selection signal identifying a selected one of the recited identified information;

means for locating Internet content related to the selected one of the recited information;

means for transmitting, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice content signal corresponding to a selected portion of the related Internet content; and

absent receipt of the voice selection signal, means for automatically repeating the comparing and ordering for different portions of the identified information, and means for automatically transmitting a second voice response signal representing a recitation of the different portions of the identified information according to the means for automatically repeating the ordering.

16. A hardware apparatus, comprising:

a transaction processing unit including a processor and configured to;

establish a bi-directional voice communication link between an audio Internet access provider and a user;

receive, via bi-directional voice communication link, a voice command signal corresponding to an Internet command; and

retrieve an Internet page corresponding to the Internet command; and

an understanding unit configured to;

identify information of the Internet page using native content of the Internet page;

compare sizes of selected portions of text associated with the identified information on the Internet page;

order the identified information on the Internet page responsive to the comparison;

cause transmission of, via the bi-directional voice communication link established by the transaction processing unit, a voice response signal corresponding to an Internet data signal representing a recitation of the identified information according to the order of the identified information;

cause selective reception of, via the bi-directional voice communication link established by the transaction processing unit, a voice selection signal identifying a selected one of the recited identified information;

locate Internet content related to the selected one of the recited information;

cause transmission of, via the bi-directional voice communication link established by the transaction processing unit, a voice content signal corresponding to a selected portion of the related Internet content; and

absent receipt of the voice selection signal, automatically repeating the comparing and ordering for different portions of the identified information and automatically causing transmission of a second voice response signal representing a recitation of the different portions of the identified information according to the automatically repeated ordering.

17. A method, comprising:

establishing a bi-directional voice communication link between an audio global network access provider and a user;

receiving, via bi-directional voice communication link, a voice command signal corresponding to an global network command;

retrieving an global network page corresponding to the global network command;

identifying information of the global network page using native content of the global network page;

comparing sizes of a plurality of selected portions of text associated with the identified information on the global network page;

ordering the plurality of selected portions of identified information on the global network page responsive to the comparing;

transmitting, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice response signal corresponding to an global network data signal representing a recitation of less than all of the ordered plurality of selected portions of the identified information;

selectively receiving, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice selection signal identifying a selected one of the recited less than all of the ordered plurality of selected portions of the identified information;

locating global network content related to the selected one of the less than all of the ordered plurality of selected portions of the recited information;

transmitting, via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice content signal corresponding to a selected portion of the related global network content; and

absent receipt of the voice selection signal, automatically transmitting a second voice response signal representing a recitation of different ones of the ordered plurality of selected portions of the identified information.

18. An apparatus implemented on a computer comprising:

a transaction processing unit including a computer processor and configured to;

establish a bi-directional voice communication link between an audio Internet access provider and a user;

receive, via bi-directional voice communication link, a voice command signal corresponding to an Internet command; and

retrieve an Internet page corresponding to the Internet command; and

an understanding unit configured to;

identify information of the Internet page using native content of the Internet page;

compare sizes of a plurality of selected portions of text associated with the identified information on the Internet page;

order the plurality of selected portions of identified information on the Internet page responsive to the comparison;

cause transmission of, via the bi-directional voice communication link established by the transaction processing unit, a voice response signal corresponding to an Internet data signal representing a recitation of less than all of the ordered plurality of selected portions of the identified information;

cause selective reception of, via the bi-directional voice communication link established by the transaction processing unit, a voice selection signal identifying a selected one of the recited less than all of the ordered plurality of selected portions of the identified information;

locate Internet content related to the selected one of the less than all of the ordered plurality of selected portions of the recited information;

cause transmission of, via the bi-directional voice communication link established by the transaction processing unit, a voice content signal corresponding to a selected portion of the related Internet content; and

absent receipt of the voice selection signal, automatically transmitting a second voice response signal representing a recitation of different ones of the ordered plurality of selected portions of the identified information.