Global speech user interface

• US 8,983,838 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2013
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Promptu Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Promptu Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Jordan, Adam, Maddux, Scott Lynn, Plowman, Tim, Stanbach, Victoria, Williams, Jody
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Qi
• Application Number:
  US14/029,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20140019130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 704/246, 704/231, 704/235, 704/251, 704/270, 704/270.1
• US Class Current: 704/246
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0271 Personalized advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/221 Announcement of recognition results
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/06 Transformation of speech into a non-audible representation, e.g. speech visualisation or speech processing for tactile aids G10L15/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/475 End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 : Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 : communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 : using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4852 : for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 : End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game

Abstract

A global speech user interface (GSUI) comprises an input system to receive a user'"'"'s spoken command, a feedback system along with a set of feedback overlays to give the user information on the progress of his spoken requests, a set of visual cues on the television screen to help the user understand what he can say, a help system, and a model for navigation among applications. The interface is extensible to make it easy to add new applications.

Claims

1. A method of providing a speech user interface for television, comprising operations of:

analyzing utterances of different speakers to facilitate voiceprint identification of the different speakers;

performing speech recognition to transcribe spoken input into transcribed spoken commands satisfying predetermined criteria;

using the transcribed spoken commands to navigate among predetermined applications concerning operation of a television; and

responsive to voiceprint recognition of a specific speaker, varying display of the television according to identity of the specific speaker;

the operation of varying display of the television comprising each of;

causing the television to display advertisements personalized to the specific speaker;

causing the television to display programming recommendations personalized to the specific speaker;

causing the television to display video-on-demand purchase recommendations personalized to the specific speaker;

expediting an on-screen purchase transaction based upon voiceprint;

causing the television to display an interface and television content personalized to the specific speaker; and

automatically configuring the television or speech user interface according to preferences of the specific speaker.

2. The method of claim 1, the operation of varying display of the television further comprising

implementing a designated scheme for parental control of television content by automatically blocking or allowing television content according to identity of the specific speaker.

3. A method of providing a speech user interface for content presentation devices, comprising operations of:

performing speech recognition to transcribe spoken input into transcribed spoken commands satisfying predetermined criteria;

using the transcribed spoken commands to navigate among predetermined applications concerning operation of a content presentation device;

responsive to recognition of a specific speaker by voice identification, varying display of the content presentation device according to identity of the specific speaker;

the operation of varying display of the content presentation device comprising each of;

causing the content presentation device to display advertisements personalized to the specific speaker;

causing the content presentation device to display programming recommendations personalized to the specific speaker;

causing the content presentation device to display video-on-demand purchase recommendations personalized to the specific speaker;

expediting an on-screen purchase transaction based upon recognition of the specific speaker;

causing the content presentation device to display an interface and television content personalized to the specific speaker; and

automatically configuring the content presentation device or speech user interface according to preferences of the specific speaker.

4. The method of claim 3, the operation of varying display of the content presentation device further comprising:

implementing a designated scheme for parental control of television content by automatically blocking or allowing content presentation device content according to identity of the specific speaker.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

responsive to using the transcribed spoken commands to navigate among predetermined applications concerning operation of a content presentation device, initiating instant messaging communication.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

analyzing utterances of different speakers to facilitate voiceprint identification of the different speakers; and

responsive to voiceprint recognition of a specific speaker, initiating instant messaging communication.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

responsive to using the transcribed spoken commands to navigate among predetermined applications concerning operation of a content presentation device, accessing one or more games and allowing said specific speaker to engage in game play.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

analyzing utterances of different speakers to facilitate voiceprint identification of the different speakers; and

responsive to voiceprint recognition of a specific speaker, accessing one or more games and allowing said specific speaker to engage in said game play.

9. A method of providing a speech user interface for content presentation devices, comprising operations of:

performing speech recognition to transcribe spoken input into transcribed spoken commands satisfying predetermined criteria;

using the transcribed spoken commands to navigate among predetermined applications concerning operation of a content presentation device;

responsive thereto, varying display of the content presentation device according to identity of the specific speaker;

analyzing utterances of different speakers to facilitate voiceprint identification of the different speakers; and

responsive to voiceprint recognition of a specific speaker, varying display of the content presentation device according to identity of the specific speaker;

the operation of varying display of the content presentation device comprising each of;

causing the content presentation device to display advertisements personalized to the specific speaker;

causing the content presentation device to display programming recommendations personalized to the specific speaker;

causing the content presentation device to display video-on-demand purchase recommendations personalized to the specific speaker;

expediting a purchase transaction based upon voiceprint;

causing the content presentation device to display an interface and content personalized to the specific speaker; and

automatically configuring the content presentation device or speech user interface according to preferences of the specific speaker.

10. The method of claim 9, the operation of varying display of the content presentation device further comprising:

implementing a designated scheme for parental control of content by automatically blocking or allowing content according to identity of the specific speaker.

11. A method of providing a speech user interface for content presentation devices, comprising operations of:

analyzing utterances of different speakers to facilitate voiceprint identification of the different speakers;

performing speech recognition to transcribe spoken input into transcribed spoken commands satisfying predetermined criteria;

using the transcribed spoken commands to navigate among predetermined applications concerning operation of a content presentation device; and

responsive to voiceprint recognition of a specific speaker, varying display of the content presentation device according to identity of the specific speaker;

the operation of varying display of the content presentation device comprising causing the television to display advertisements personalized to the specific speaker.