Mobile device retrieval and navigation

• US 7,840,579 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2006
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cerence Inc., Cerence Operating Company (Cerence Inc.), Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Tegic Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Longe, Michael R., Samuelson, Mark, Van Meurs, Pim
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleurantin; Jean B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bullock; Joshua
• Application Number:
  US11/609,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20070156747A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,442 Days
• Field of Search: 707/5, 707/758, 704/251
• US Class Current: 707/758
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access

Abstract

In one general aspect, information is presented to a user by receiving a first input from a user and structuring the first input as a first stem. A separator is received designating subsequently-received input as a second input. The second input is received and the second input is structured as a second stem. The first stem and the second stem are related to a library of candidates. One or more results are rendered in response to relating the first stem and the second stem to the library of candidates and the user is enabled to select from among the one or more results.

Claims

1. A method of presenting information to a user, the method comprising:

receiving a first input from a user;

structuring the first input as a first stem;

receiving a separator designating subsequently-received input as a second input;

receiving the second input;

structuring the second input as a second stem;

relating the first stem and the second stem to a library of candidates, further including searching a database of objects, each object being associated with one or more strings, by identifying matches between the first stem and a first string and the second stem and a second string, the first and second stems indicative of at least one of an object type or an application from the library of candidates;

rendering one or more results in response to relating the first stem and the second stem to the library of candidates the results including an indication of applications available for launch in conjunction with the results, including rendering an action as an object in the results related to a command accessible through a menu system;

transferring the user into the menu system so that the action may be commenced in response to receiving a confirmation instruction from the user; and

enabling the user to select from among the one or more results, identifying matches between the first stem and the first string and the second stem and the second string including identifying matches between the first stem and the first string that appear in a first attribute and between the second stem and the second string that appear in a second attribute that is different than the first attribute.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein each of receiving the first input, the separator, and the second input includes receiving key inputs on a reduced-entry keypad.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving the first and second inputs includes receiving one or more key inputs on a reduced entry keypad where one or more of the key inputs represents a plurality of possible characters.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the separator includes receiving the separator as a single key input on a reduced-entry keypad.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the first input or the second input includes receiving speech inputted by a user.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying matches between the first stem and the first string and the second stem and the second string includes identifying matches between the first stem and the first string that appear as the first portion of a phrase of more than word and between the second stem and the second string that appear in a second portion of the phrase.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein rendering the one or more results in response to relating the first stem and the second stem to the list of candidates includes rendering the results ordered by the likelihood each object in the results represents the actual object desired by the user.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein rendering the one or more results in response to relating the first stem and the second stem to the library of candidates includes rendering an entry responsive to the first and second stems and an action associated with the entry object.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the separator includes receiving the separator in response to determining that the user has selected a different entry mode.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein determining that the user has selected the different entry mode includes determining that the user has switched from using voice input system to entering to using a keypad for input.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the first input includes receiving a sequence of characters that represents a word that has been completely entered.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the first input includes receiving a sequence of characters that represents a word that has been partially entered.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sorting the results into two or more predetermined types of data or applications;

rendering the results in a tabbed user interface including multiple tabs that each correspond to the two or more predetermined types of data or applications;

enabling the user to select one of the multiple tabs; and

enabling the user to perceive which of the results are selectively rendered responsive to the selected tab on the tabbed user interface.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically commencing the action related to the command accessible through the menu system in response to receiving a selection from the user.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

designating an active stem presently being entered that may be updated through receipt of additional input; and

identifying the active stem within an object as the results as the results are rendered.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising distinguishing the active stem from a passive stem using a special graphical designator.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein distinguishing the active stem from the passive stem includes underlining the active stem in the object using a first color and underlining the passive stem in the object using a second color.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that the first stem or the second stem is found within a particular attribute for an object in the library of candidates;

using a display metric for the object that is based on determining whether the first stem or the second stem is found within the particular attribute for the object;

using the display metric to determine an order in which the results are rendered; and

rendering the results based on the order.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising adjusting the display metric to reflect that an object has been selected by the user.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising adjusting a display metric for other objects associated with the particular attribute based on a determination that the user is prefers to input data related to the particular attribute.

22. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a character likelihood metric for each of one or more characters appearing within the first stem;

determining an object likelihood metric for different objects related to the stem using the character likelihood metric;

using the object likelihood metric to determine an order in which results are rendered; and

rendering the results based on the order.

23. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving additional input;

structuring the additional input as one or more additional stems;

relating the first stem, the second stem, and the additional stems to the library of candidates; and

updating the rendered results in response to receiving the additional input.

55. The method of claim 1 wherein relating further comprises performing multi stem analysis on the first stem and the second stem, including selective invocation of an application in response to a plurality of entered stems by:

rendering a default group of objects and applications responsive to an initial stem;

receiving a subsequent stem of multi-stem input; and

rendering an active group of object and applications indicative of a subset of the default group of objects and applications corresponding to the subsequent stem and the initial stem.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein launching further comprises invoking an application corresponding to the initially entered stem, the application responsive to the subsequent stem.

57. The method of claim 55 further comprising:

receiving additional subsequent stems as active stems;

rendering successive subsets of applications and objects, the successive subsets corresponding to the active stem and each previously entered stem; and

distinguishing the applications and objects corresponding to the active stem with different visual presentations than the rendered objects and applications matching previously entered stems.

58. The method of claim 1 further comprising launching an application associated with the rendered results responsive to a received user selection.

59. The method of claim 58 further comprising receiving the separator as a user input delimiting the first input and designating the second input.

13. The method of claim l wherein relating the first stem and the second stem to the library of candidates includes:

associating a string with an object that includes a synonym for a string already associated with an object; and

identifying the object as one of the results based on determining that the first stem or second stem matches the string including the synonym.

24. A method of presenting information to a user, the method comprising:

receiving input from a user;

structuring the input as a plurality stems;

relating the stems to a library of candidates;

determining that the stems are found within a particular attribute for an object in the library of candidates, each stem of the plurality of stems indicative of at least one of an object type or an application from the library of candidates;

using a display metric for the object that is based on determining whether the stems are found within the particular attribute for the object;

using the display metric to determine an order in which the results are rendered; and

rendering the results based on the order, receiving the input for structuring as stems including receiving key inputs on a wireless phone, the results including an indication of applications available for launch in conjunction with the results, including rendering an action as an object in the results related to a command accessible through a menu system;

transferring the user into the menu system so that the action may be commenced in response to receiving a confirmation instruction from the user; and

enabling the user to select from among the one or more results, identifying matches between the first stem and the first string and the second stem and the second string including identifying matches between the first stem and the first string that appear in a first attribute and between the second stem and the second string that appear in a second attribute that is different than the first attribute.

25. A method of presenting information to a user, the method comprising:

receiving an input from a user;

structuring the input as a plurality of stems;

relating the stems to a library of candidates;

determining a character likelihood metric for each of one or more characters appearing within the stems;

determining an object likelihood metric for different objects related to the stems using the character likelihood metric, each stem of the plurality of stems indicative of at least one of an object type or an application from the library of candidates;

using the object likelihood metric to determine an order in which results are rendered; and

rendering the results based on the order, receiving the input for structuring as stems including receiving key inputs on a wireless phone, the results including an indication of applications available for launch in conjunction with the results, including rendering an action as an object in the results related to a command accessible through a menu system;

transferring the user into the menu system so that the action may be commenced in response to receiving a confirmation instruction from the user; and

enabling the user to select from among the one or more results, identifying matches between the first stem and the first string and the second stem and the second string including identifying matches between the first stem and the first string that appear in a first attribute and between the second stem and the second string that appear in a second attribute that is different than the first attribute.

26. A system that presents information to a user, the system including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive a first input from a user;

structure the first input as a first stem;

receive a separator designating subsequently-received input as a second input;

receive the second input;

structure the second input as a second stem;

relate the first stem and the second stem to a library of candidates, the first and second stems indicative of at least one of an object type or an application from the library of candidates;

render one or more results in response to relating the first stem and the second stem to the library of candidates, the results including an indication of applications available for launch in conjunction with the results, the system structured and arranged to render an action as an object in the results related to a command accessible through a menu system; and

enable the user to select from among the one or more results, each of receiving the first input, the separator, and the second input including receiving key inputs on a wireless phone, the system structured and arranged to transfer the user into the menu system so that the action may be commenced in response to receiving a confirmation instruction from the user.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein receiving the first and second inputs includes receiving one or more key inputs on a reduced entry keypad where one or more of the key inputs represents a plurality of possible characters.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein receiving the separator includes receiving the separator as a single key input on a reduced-entry keypad.

29. The system of claim 26 wherein receiving the first input or the second input includes receiving speech inputted by a user.

30. The system of claim 26 wherein relating the first stem and the second stem to the library of candidates includes searching a database of objects, where each object is associated with one or more strings, by identifying matches between the first stem and a first string and the second stem and a second string.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein identifying matches between the first stem and the first string and the second stem and the second string includes identifying matches between the first stem and the first string that appear as the first portion of a phrase of more than word and between the second stem and the second string that appear in a second portion of the phrase.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein identifying matches between the first stem and the first string and the second stem and the second string includes identifying matches between the first stem and the first string that appear in a first attribute and between the second stem and the second string that appear in a second attribute that is different than the first attribute.

33. The system of claim 26 wherein rendering the one or more results in response to relating the first stem and the second stem to the list of candidates includes rendering the results ordered by the likelihood each object in the results represents the actual object desired by the user.

34. The system of claim 26 wherein rendering the one or more results in response to relating the first stem and the second stem to the library of candidates includes rendering an entry responsive to the first and second stems and an action associated with the entry object.

35. The system of claim 26 wherein receiving the separator includes receiving the separator in response to determining that the user has selected a different entry mode.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein determining that the user has selected the different entry mode includes determining that the user has switched from using voice input system to entering to using a keypad for input.

37. The system of claim 26 wherein receiving the first input includes receiving a sequence of characters that represents a word that has been completely entered.

38. The system of claim 26 wherein receiving the first input includes receiving a sequence of characters that represents a word that has been partially entered.

39. The system of claim 26 wherein relating the first stem and the second stem to the library of candidates includes:

associating a string with an object that includes a synonym for a string already associated with an object; and

identifying the object as one of the results based on determining that the first stem or second stem matches the string including the synonym.

40. The system of claim 26 wherein the system is structured and arranged to:

sort the results into two or more predetermined types of data or applications;

render the results in a tabbed user interface including multiple tabs that each correspond to the two or more predetermined types of data or applications;

enable the user to select one of the multiple tabs; and

enable the user to perceive which of the results are selectively rendered responsive to the selected tab on the tabbed user interface.

41. The system of claim 26 wherein the system is structured and arranged to automatically commence the action related to the command accessible through the menu system in response to receiving a selection from the user.

42. The system of claim 26 wherein the system is structured and arranged to:

designate an active stem presently being entered that may be updated through receipt of additional input; and

identify the active stem within an object as the results as the results are rendered.

43. The system of claim 42 wherein the system is structured and arranged to distinguish the active stem from a passive stem using a special graphical designator.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein distinguishing the active stem from the passive stem includes underlining the active stem in the object using a first color and underlining the passive stem in the object using a second color.

45. The system of claim 26 wherein the system is structured and arranged to:

determine that the first stem or the second stem is found within a particular attribute for an object in the library of candidates;

use a display metric for the object that is based on determining whether the first stem or the second stem is found within the particular attribute for the object;

use the display metric to determine an order in which the results are rendered; and

render the results based on the order.

46. The system of claim 45 wherein the system is structured and arranged to adjust the display metric to reflect that an object has been selected by the user.

47. The system of claim 45 wherein the system is structured and arranged to adjust the display metric for other objects associated with the particular attribute based on a determination that the user is prefers to input data related to the particular attribute.

48. The system of claim 26 wherein the system is structured and arranged to:

determine a character likelihood metric for each of one or more characters appearing within the first stem;

determine an object likelihood metric for different objects related to the stem using the character likelihood metric;

use the object likelihood metric to determine an order in which results are rendered; and

render the results based on the order.

49. The system of claim 26 the system is structured and arranged to:

receive additional input;

structure the additional input as one or more additional stems;

relate the first stem, the second stem, and the additional stems to the library of candidates; and

update the rendered results in response to receiving the additional input.

52. The system of claim 26 wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive the selection, the selection indicative of an application to which the first stem or the second stem corresponds; and

launch the corresponding application related to the selection.

53. The system of claim 52 wherein the selected application is configured for:

displaying a tiled view of a plurality of video streams for simultaneous review by a user;

receiving a selection of one of the tiled video streams; and

switching the display to render only the video stream corresponding to the received selection.

54. The system of claim 53 wherein the tiled view receives each of the plurality of video streams at a bandwidth subdivided among the plurality to tiled views, and

displays the selected vides stream at an increased bandwidth.

50. A system that presents information to a user, the system including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive input from a user;

structure the input as a plurality of stems;

relate the stems to a library of candidates;

determine that the stems are found within a particular attribute for an object in the library of candidates, each stem of the plurality of stems indicative of at least one of an object type or an application from the library of candidates;

use a display metric for the object that is based on determining whether the stems are found within the particular attribute for the object;

use the display metric to determine an order in which the results are rendered;

render the results based on the order, receiving the input for structuring as stems including receiving key inputs on a wireless phone, the results including an indication of applications available for launch in conjunction with the results, the system structured and arranged to render an action as an object in the results related to a command accessible through a menu system; and

enable the user to select from among the one or more results, each of receiving the first input, the separator, and the second input including receiving key inputs on a wireless phone, the system structured and arranged to transfer the user into the menu system so that the action may be commenced in response to receiving a confirmation instruction from the user.

51. A system that presents information to a user, the system including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive a first input from a user;

structure the first input as a plurality of stems;

relate the stems to a library of candidates;

determine a character likelihood metric for each of one or more characters appearing within the stems, each stem of the plurality of stems indicative of at least one of an object type or an application from the library of candidates;

determine an object likelihood metric for different objects related to the stems using the character likelihood metric;

use the object likelihood metric to determine an order in which results are rendered; and

render the results based on the order, receiving the first input for structuring as stems including receiving key inputs on a wireless phone the results including an indication of applications available for launch in conjunction with the results, the system structured and arranged to render an action as an object in the results related to a command accessible through a menu system; and

enable the user to select from among the one or more results, each of receiving the first input, the separator, and the second input including receiving key inputs on a wireless phone, the system structured and arranged to transfer the user into the menu system so that the action may be commenced in response to receiving a confirmation instruction from the user.