Computerized information and display apparatus

• US 8,682,673 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2012
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: West View Research LLC
• Original Assignee: West View Research LLC
• Inventors: Gazdzinski, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abebe, Daniel D
• Application Number:
  US13/728,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20130185640A1
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 704/270, 704/275, 342/357.22, 369/30.01
• US Class Current: 704/270
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/24 Control systems with regulation, i.e. with retroactive action, for influencing travelling speed, acceleration, or deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/3415 Control system configuration and the data transmission or communication within the control system
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/463 Wherein the call is registered through physical contact with the elevator system
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 3/00 Applications of devices for indicating or signalling operating conditions of elevators
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 3/002 Indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 3/006 for guiding passengers to their assigned elevator car
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 3/008 Displaying information not related to the elevator, e.g. weather, publicity, internet or TV
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0381 Multimodal input, i.e. interface arrangements enabling the user to issue commands by simultaneous use of input devices of different nature, e.g. voice plus gesture on digitizer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0383 Remote input, i.e. interface arrangements in which the signals generated by a pointing device are transmitted to a PC at a remote location, e.g. to a PC in a LAN
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 : Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 : Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 : using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 : by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 : Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 : Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 : Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/30 : Semantic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 : Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 : Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 : Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0252 : based on events or environment, e.g. weather or festivals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0254 : based on statistics
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 : User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 : based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 : based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0264 : based upon schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 : Vehicular advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0266 : based on the position of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 90/20 : Destination assistance within a business structure or complex
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/20 : Processor architectures; Processor configuration, e.g. pipelining
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 : Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/02 : Methods for producing synthetic speech; Speech synthesisers
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/027 : Concept to speech synthesisers; Generation of natural phrases from machine-based concepts generation of parameters for speech synthesis out of text G10L13/08
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/00 : Speech recognition G10L17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/02 : Feature extraction for speech recognition; Selection of recognition unit
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/08 : Speech classification or search
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 : Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 : Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/22 : Interactive procedures; Man-machine interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/025 : Phonemes, fenemes or fenones being the recognition units
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 : Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/10 : Transforming into visible information
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/48 : specially adapted for particular use
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40 : Bus networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 : comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 : based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 : Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 : using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 : Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 : Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A computerized information and display apparatus useful for providing information to a user via a display. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a processor and network interface and computer readable medium having at least one computer program disposed thereon, the at least one program being configured to receive a speech input from the user, and obtain information relating to the input. In one variant, at least a portion of the information is obtained via the network interface from a remote server, and the apparatus includes two components in wireless communication with one another.

Claims

1. Computerized information apparatus, comprising:

a network interface;

processing apparatus in data communication with the network interface;

a display device;

a speech digitization apparatus in data communication with the processing apparatus; and

a storage apparatus comprising at least one computer program, said at least one program being configured to, when executed on a processing apparatus;

receive a digitized speech input from the speech digitization apparatus, the input relating to desired information which a user wishes to locate;

cause evaluation of the digitized speech input to identify one or more words or word strings within the digitized input; and

cause, based at least in part on the one or more identified one or more words or word strings, access of a remote network entity to obtain the desired information, the obtainment of the desired information further comprising;

causing generation of a listing of a plurality of possible matches to said input, thereby creating an ambiguity; and

receipt of further input regarding at least one of the listed plurality of possible matches to resolve the ambiguity; and

wherein the computerized information apparatus is further configured to receive at least a portion of the obtained information via the network interface for display on the display device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one program is further configured to display the listing of the plurality of possible matches on the display device so that the user can select one of the plurality, and the further input comprises a digitized representation of the user'"'"'s speech relating to the selected one of the plurality.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, where the at least one computer program is further configured to:

generate audible speech signals relating to the plurality of possible matches to said input; and

receive at least a further input via the speech digitization apparatus regarding at least one of the plurality of possible matches.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computerized apparatus further comprises a touch-screen input device, whereby a user touching a screen of the input device can select one or more functions.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the speech digitization apparatus and the touch-screen input device are substantially co-located within a first structure, and the network interface and processing apparatus are substantially co-located in a second structure physically separate from but in data communication with the first structure.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the causation of the evaluation comprises transmission of at least a portion of the digitized speech to a remote network entity via the network interface, the remote network entity configured to conduct said evaluation.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a key- or button-based input device separate from the display device and in data communication with the processing apparatus, by which the user can provide an input.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the desired information comprises information regarding an individual, entity, or business.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the obtained information is configured at least in part according to a profile specific to the user before or during provision thereof to the user.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the desired information that the user wishes to receive is selected from a plurality of predetermined topical or functional options generated by the at least one computer program and presented to the user via the display device.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a video enabled camera in data communication with the processing apparatus and capable of generating video data for display on the display device, the computerized apparatus further configured to enable the video data to be sent to a remote location for viewing thereat.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one computer program is further configured to, when executed:

receive a user input regarding one of a plurality of predetermined topical or functional options generated by the at least one computer program and presented to the user via the display device that the user wishes to receive via the computerized apparatus; and

cause access of a remote network entity to obtain the information based at least in part on the user input, the information being related to the one topical or functional option.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one program is further configured to cause display of advertising that is contextually related to at least one of the one or more identified words or strings.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the advertising that is contextually related to at least one of the one or more identified words or strings is selected by a remote serving device, and the advertising is returned to the computerized information apparatus via the network interface.

15. Computerized information apparatus, comprising:

a network interface;

processing apparatus in data communication with the network interface;

a display device;

a speech digitization apparatus in data communication with the processing apparatus; and

a storage apparatus comprising at least one computer program, said at least one program being configured to, when executed on a processing apparatus;

receive a digitized speech input from the speech digitization apparatus, the input relating to desired information which a user wishes to locate;

cause evaluation of the digitized speech input to identify one or more words or word strings within the digitized input, and access of a remote networked entity to obtain the desired information, the obtainment of the desired information further comprising;

causing identification of a plurality of possible matches to said input; and

receipt of further user input regarding at least one of the plurality of possible matches to identify at least one of the matches that is of interest to the user; and

wherein the computerized information apparatus is further configured to receive at least a portion of the obtained information via the network interface for display on the display device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one program is further configured to display a graphical representation of the plurality of possible matches on the display device so that the user can select one of the plurality.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the further user input comprises a digitized representation of the user'"'"'s speech relating to a selected one of the plurality.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the computerized apparatus further comprises a touch-screen input device, whereby a user touching a screen of the input device can select one or more predetermined functions or topical areas.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the speech digitization apparatus and the touch-screen input device are substantially co-located within a first structure, and the network interface and processing apparatus are substantially co-located in a second structure physically separate from but in data communication with the first structure.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the causation of the evaluation comprises transmission of at least a portion of the digitized speech to a remote network entity via the network interface, the remote network entity configured to conduct said evaluation.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a key-based input device separate from the display device and in data communication with the processing apparatus, by which the user can provide an input.

22. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the desired information comprises information regarding a location of, or directions to, an individual, entity, or business.

23. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the obtained information is configured at least in part according to a profile specific to the user before or during provision thereof to the user.

24. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the desired information that the user wishes to receive is selected from a plurality of predetermined topical or functional options recognized by the at least one computer program.

25. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a video enabled camera in data communication with the processing apparatus and capable of generating video data for display on the display device, the computerized apparatus further being configured to cause the video data to be sent to a remote location for viewing thereat.

26. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one program is further configured to cause display of advertising that is contextually related to at least one of the one or more identified words or strings, the advertising selected by a remote serving device and returned to the computerized information apparatus via the network interface.

27. Computerized information apparatus, comprising:

a network interface;

processing apparatus in data communication with the network interface;

a display device;

a speech digitization apparatus in data communication with the processing apparatus; and

a storage apparatus comprising at least one computer program, said at least one program being configured to, when executed on a processing apparatus;

receive a digitized speech input from the speech digitization apparatus, the input relating to desired information which a user wishes to locate;

cause evaluation of the digitized speech input to identify one or more words or word strings within the digitized input; and

cause, based at least in part on the identified one or more words or word strings, access of a remote network entity to obtain the desired information;

wherein the computerized information apparatus is further configured to receive at least a portion of the obtained information via the network interface for display on the display device; and

wherein the computerized information apparatus is configured to download at least a portion of the obtained and received information to a mobile personal electronic device (PED) of the user placed in data communication with the computerized information apparatus.

28. Computerized information apparatus, comprising:

a network interface;

processing apparatus in data communication with the network interface;

a display device;

a speech digitization apparatus in data communication with the processing apparatus; and

a storage apparatus comprising at least one computer program, said at least one program being configured to, when executed on a processing apparatus;

receive a digitized speech input from the speech digitization apparatus, the input relating to desired information which a user wishes to locate;

cause identification of one or more words or word strings within the digitized input; and

cause, based at least in part on the identified one or more words or word strings, access of a remote network server to obtain the desired information;

wherein the computerized information apparatus is further configured to receive at least a portion of the obtained information via the network interface, and to download at least a portion of the received at least portion of the obtained information to a mobile personal electronic device (PED) of the user placed in data communication with the computerized information apparatus for viewing on the mobile PED.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the download of the at least portion of the obtained and received information to the mobile PED comprises download via a temporary or ad hoc communications link between the computerized apparatus and the mobile PED.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the download of at least a portion of the obtained and received information to the mobile PED is instigated by application software operative to run on the mobile PED.