Methods and apparatus for initiating actions using a voice-controlled interface

• US 8,630,858 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Grant, Richard, McGregor, Pedro E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chawan, Vijay B
• Application Number:
  US13/616,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20130013319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 704/275, 704/270, 704/270.1, 704/231, 704/257, 704/251, 704/249, 704/246, 709/227, 709/250, 709/203, 717/173, 717/171, 714/15, 370/342, 370/441, 370/335, 375/222, 375/244, 375/245, 375/261, 700/264, 700/245, 700/223, 700/204, 700/203, 707/999.004, 707/999.005
• US Class Current: 704/270
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/193 Formal grammars, e.g. finite state automata, context free grammars or word networks
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/228 of application context

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for initiating an action using a voice-controlled human interface. The interface provides a hands free, voice driven environment to control processes and applications. According to one embodiment, a method comprises electronically receiving first user input, parsing the first user input to determine whether the first user input contains a command activation statement that cues a voice-controlled human interface to enter a command mode in which a second user input comprising a voice signal is processed to identify at least one executable command and, in response to to determining that the first user input comprises the command activation statement, identifying the at least one executable command in the second user input.

Claims

1. A method for initiating an action using a voice-controlled human interface, the method comprising:

electronically receiving user input comprising a first portion and a second portion, the second portion comprising a voice signal;

determining whether the first portion contains a command activation statement that cues the voice-controlled human interface to enter a command mode in which the second portion is processed to identify at least one executable command; and

in response to determining that the first portion comprises the command activation statement, identifying the at least one executable command in the second portion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises a voice signal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the command activation statement comprises a word or a phrase spoken by a user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the command activation statement comprises a keystroke provided by a user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises:

identifying a potential command activation statement;

determining whether the potential command activation statement is a command activation statement based at least in part on one or more words near the potential command activation statement in the first portion.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising electronically receiving the second portion after receiving the first portion.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a set of processes appropriate for execution of the at least one identified executable command; and

routing the identified executable command to at least one process in the set of processes appropriate for execution.

8. At least one computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions, that when executed by at least one processor, perform a method for initiating and action using a voice-controlled human interface, the method comprising:

electronically receiving user input comprising a first portion and a second portion, the second portion comprising a voice signal;

determining whether the first portion contains a command activation statement that cues the voice-controlled human interface to enter a command mode in which the second portion is processed to identify at least one executable command; and

in response to determining that the first portion comprises the command activation statement, identifying the at least one executable command in the second portion.

9. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the first portion comprises a voice signal.

10. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the command activation statement comprises a word or a phrase spoken by a user.

11. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the command activation statement comprises a keystroke provided by a user.

12. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the determining comprises:

identifying a potential command activation statement;

determining whether the potential command activation statement is a command activation statement based at least in part on one or more words near the potential command activation statement in the first portion.

13. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises electronically receiving the second portion after receiving the first portion.

14. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

determining a set of processes appropriate for execution of the at least one identified executable command; and

routing the identified executable command to at least one process in the set of processes appropriate for execution.

15. An apparatus for integrating processes within a voice-controlled human interface, the apparatus comprising:

a communication interface;

at least one memory to store processor-executable instructions; and

at least one processor coupled to the communication interface and the at least one memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions by the at least one processor, the at least one processor;

controls the communication interface so as to electronically receive user input comprising a first portion and a second portion, the second portion comprising a voice signal;

determines whether the first portion contains a command activation statement that cues the

voice-controlled human interface to enter a command mode in which the second portion is processed to identify at least one executable command; and

in response to determining that the first portion comprises the command activation statement, identifies the at least one executable command in the second portion.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first portion comprises a voice signal.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the command activation statement comprises a word or a phrase spoken by a user.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the command activation statement comprises a keystroke input provided by a user.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein in the at least one processor determines whether the first portion contains the command activation statement by:

identifying a potential command activation statement;

determining whether the potential command activation statement is a command activation statement based at least in part on one or more words near the potential command activation statement in the first portion .

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor further:

determines a set of processes appropriate for execution of the at least one identified executable command; and

routes the identified executable command to at least one process in the set of processes appropriate for execution.