Voice activated system and method 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 7,908,565 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2008
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ronald M. Katsuranis
• Original Assignee: Ronald M. Katsuranis
• Inventors: Katsuranis, Ronald M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chow, Dennis-Doon
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LE V
• Application Number:
  US12/100,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20080256483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,070 Days
• Field of Search: 715/800, 715/728, 715/781
• US Class Current: 715/781
• 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

A system is disclosed for displaying a second window of a second application while a first window of a first application has input focus in a windowed computing environment having a voice recognition engine. The system comprises a retriever for launching the second application, a user command receiver for receiving commands from the voice recognition engine, and an application manager. The application manager responds to a command from the user command receiver by invoking the retriever to launch the second application and display the second window while the first window maintains substantially uninterrupted input focus.

Claims

1. A system for navigating the display of content in a windowed computing environment, the system comprising a computing device comprising:

a voice recognition engine;

a first application comprising a first window;

a second application comprising a second window, the second window comprising a scroller for scrolling through the content of the second window;

a user command receiver for receiving a command for invoking the scroller to scroll through the content of the second window while input focus is on the first window from the voice recognition engine and in response to the command for invoking the scroller;

setting input focus on the second window; and

after setting input focus on the second window, an application manager for scrolling through the content of the second window and switching focus back to the first window independent of user input.

2. A system for navigating the display of content in a windowed computing environment, the system comprising a computing device comprising:

a voice recognition engine;

a first application comprising a first window;

a second application comprising a second window, the second window comprising a linker for following a hyperlink in the second window;

a user command receiver for receiving a command for invoking the linker for following hyperlinks in the second window while input focus is on the first window from the voice recognition engine and in response to the command for invoking the linker;

setting input focus on the second window; and

after setting input focus on the second window, an application manager for following the hyperlink in the second window and switching focus back to the first window independent of user input.

3. A computer readable medium comprising code segments for navigating the display of content in a windowed computing environment, the code segments for:

receiving a voice command for scrolling through the content of a second window while input focus is on a first window and in response to the voice command;

setting input focus on the second window; and

after setting input focus on the second window, scrolling through the content of the second window and switching focus back to the first window independent of user input.

4. A computer readable medium comprising code segments for navigating the display of content in a windowed computing environment, the code segments for:

receiving a voice command for following a hyperlink in a second window while input focus is on a first window and in response to the voice command;

setting input focus on the second window; and

after setting input focus on the second window, following the hyperlink in the second window and switching focus back to the first window independent of user input.