Selectable state machine user interface system

• US 7,912,186 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Howell, David A, Fong, David T
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, HEMANT SHANTILAL
• Application Number:
  US11/086,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20060083357A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,191 Days
• Field of Search: 379 8801- 8804, 379 8817- 8818, 379 8807- 8808, 379/88.13, 704270-2701, 704/275, 704/277, 709201-203, 709227-229, 709/209, 709/221, 715716-718, 715727-729, 715/733, 715/738, 715744-746, 370352-356, 455/413, 455/414.1
• US Class Current: 379/88.04
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/39 using speech synthesis
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/254 where the visual mode comprises menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42204 Arrangements at the exchange for service or number selection by voice at the terminal H04M1/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects

Abstract

A system that concurrently provides multiple user interface (UI) mechanisms that facilitate control of an application state machine (e.g., unified message system). More particularly, the invention can create two relatively distinct user experiences, one via dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) navigation and another through speech recognition navigation of a unified message system. In accordance therewith, one single underlying state machine can be used. Navigation and flow control (e.g., state transitions) in the state machine can be leveraged by multiple UI mechanisms that actively co-exist. The invention introduces speech recognition features together with other input mechanisms to drive the UI of an application state machine (e.g., unified messaging system). The speech recognition UI can be designed to provide a natural navigation through the application independent of a DTMF UI.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates navigating within an application state machine, the system comprising:

a processor;

a user interface store that retains a plurality of user interfaces that are each associated with a different navigation input mechanism and that each have a distinct set of prompts and menus, wherein the plurality of user interfaces are concurrently available during a single navigation session to effect navigation within the application state machine, and wherein the distinct set of prompts and menus includes at least one shortcut accessible at any time during navigation through each of the plurality of user interfaces, the at least one shortcut being associated with at least a calendar application;

a user interface selection component, executed by the processor, that facilitates selecting one of the plurality of user interfaces at any time during the single navigation session upon receipt of a command through an associated navigation input mechanism to navigate within the application state machine, the selection being based on a type of the navigation input mechanism used to issue the command; and

a user interface component, executed by the processor, that conveys the distinct set of prompts and menus associated with a selected user interface, wherein the user interface component is configured to provide, upon first entry into the application state machine;

a default user interface based on a set personal option, and

a corresponding distinct set of prompts and menus associated with the default user interface, the corresponding distinct set of prompts being cooperative with both;

a dual tone multi-frequency input and a microphone input.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of user interfaces includes a dual tone multi-frequency user interface and a speech recognition user interface, wherein a first corresponding navigation input mechanism associated with the dual tone multi-frequency user interface includes the dual tone multi-frequency input mechanism, and wherein a second corresponding navigation mechanism associated with the speech recognition user interface includes a microphone.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface selection component comprises at least one of the following:

a rule-based logic component and an artificial intelligence component that infers an action to be employed in connection with a functionality of the selected user interface.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the application state machine is a unified messaging system, and wherein the command is an enter command to enter a state within the unified messaging system.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the unified messaging system includes:

a component that receives from a first device a message of a first format; and

a unified messaging component that analyzes the message and converts the message to a second format that corresponds to a target device that conveys the message in accordance with a user instruction, the user instruction being transmitted via the currently selected user interface.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the received message is text based.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the converted message is audibly based, wherein at least one of the following:

a rule-based logic component and an artificial intelligence component, is employed to analyze a content of the received message and identify an important portion of the message for delivery to a user.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the content of the received message is date and time synchronized with the converted message'"'"'s content.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the received message includes schedule information from a calendar application, and wherein the unified messaging component conveys the schedule information to an individual via telephone.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the unified messaging component receives an audible message from an individual via telephone, reformats the message to yield a reformatted message, and populates a calendar with the reformatted message.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein content of the reformatted message is synchronized with content of the audible message.

12. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions to carry out the system of claim 1.

13. A system that facilitates communicating with an application state machine, the system comprising:

a memory;

a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is operative to;

present, upon first entry into the application state machine, a default user interface mechanism of a plurality of user interface mechanisms, the default user interface mechanism being based on a set personal option;

enable, at any point within the application state machine, user interaction with any one of the plurality of user interface mechanisms that facilitate navigating through the application state machine, each of the plurality of user interface mechanisms being associated with a different navigation input mechanism of a plurality of navigation input mechanisms and having a distinct set of prompts and menus, wherein the distinct set of prompts and menus includes at least one shortcut accessible at any time during navigation through each of the plurality of user interfaces, the at least one shortcut being associated with at least a calendar application;

receive a first navigation command via a first navigation input mechanism of the plurality of navigation input mechanisms;

select a first user interface mechanism of the plurality of user interface mechanisms based on a first type of the first navigation input mechanism;

receive an instruction via the first user interface mechanism;

process the instruction to control the application state machine; and

switch from the first user interface mechanism to a second user interface mechanism of the plurality of navigation input mechanisms upon receiving a second navigation command via a second navigation input mechanism being a second type different from the first type, the second user interface mechanism being selected based on the second type of the second navigation input mechanism used to issue the second navigation command.

14. A method that facilitates navigating within an application state machine, the method comprising:

retaining, in a user interface store, a plurality of user interfaces that are each associated with a different navigation input mechanism and that each have a distinct set of prompts and menus, wherein the plurality of user interfaces are concurrently available during a single navigation session to effect navigation within the application state machine, and wherein the distinct set of prompts and menus includes at least one shortcut accessible at any time during navigation through each of the plurality of user interfaces, the at least one shortcut being associated with at least a calendar application;

selecting, by a user interface selection component executed by a processor, one of the plurality of user interfaces at any time during the single navigation session upon receipt of a command through an associated navigation input mechanism to navigate within the application state machine, the selection being based on a type of the navigation input mechanism used to issue the command; and

conveying, by a user interface conveying component executed by the processor, the distinct set of prompts and menus associated with a selected user interface, wherein the user interface conveying component is configured to provide, upon first entry into the application state machine;

a default user interface based on a set personal option, and

a corresponding distinct set of prompts and menus associated with the default user interface, the corresponding distinct set of prompts being cooperative with both;

a dual tone multi-frequency input and a microphone input.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein selecting, by the user interface selection component, comprises selecting, by the user interface selection component, wherein the user interface selection component comprises at least one of the following:

a rule-based logic component and an artificial intelligence component that infers an action to be employed in connection with a functionality of the selected user interface.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the application state machine is a unified messaging system, and wherein the command is an enter command to enter a state within the unified messaging system.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the unified messaging system includes:

a component that receives from a first device a message of a first format; and

a unified messaging component that analyzes the message and converts the message to a second format that corresponds to a target device that conveys the message in accordance with a user instruction, the user instruction being transmitted via the currently selected user interface.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the received message is text based.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the converted message is audibly based, wherein at least one of the following:

a rule-based logic component and an artificial intelligence component, is employed to analyze a content of the received message and identify an important portion of the message for delivery to a user.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the content of the received message is date and time synchronized with the converted message'"'"'s content.