Computer system and method for enhancing experience using networked devices

• US 20040117190A1
• Filed: 12/17/2002
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Cluts, Jonathan C., Heath, Pamela J., Ashok, Immaneni, Baumert, David William, Goldthwaite, Flora, Woodman, Aaron
• Granted Patent: US 7,499,860 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/088 Word spotting

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method is provided for enhancing a user experience within an environment. The experience is enhanced using a number of devices that are connected on a network. The method involves monitoring the environment for cues, such as words from a user reading a book. Upon receiving a cue, one or more of the networked devices are prompted to produce a desired effect that is associated with the cue. The experience of those in the environment is enhanced or augmented by the effects produced. The system of the invention uses a computer that executes a script manager component and a device dispatcher component. The script manager component receives the cues and matches the cue with a desired effect that the network device(s) are to produce. The script manager informs the device dispatcher, which instructs the network devices(s) to produce the desired effect.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for enhancing a user experience within an environment using effects provided by a plurality of network devices, comprising:

monitoring the environment for cues; and

upon receiving a cue, commanding one or more of the networked devices to produce one or more effects corresponding the received cue.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the cues are audio cues.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the audio cues are words that are part of a story.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising,

initially monitoring the environment for an indication that an enhanced user experience is desired.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising,

upon receiving an indication that an enhanced user experience is desired, monitoring for a an indication of an enhanced experience title.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the enhanced experience title is a book title.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the enhanced experience title is a scene category.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising,

after receiving an indication of the enhanced experience title, determining whether a script pairing specified cues to specified device-produced effects is present, and if so, using the script to provide the enhanced experience.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising,

incrementing the script after each occurrence of receiving a cue.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising,

continuing the monitoring for cues until the last cue is received or until an ending command is received.

11. A system for enhancing a user experience within an environment having a number of networked devices, comprising:

a computer having a memory;

a script manager component executable on the computer to receive cues and determine, based on the received cue, a desired associated enhancing effect to be produced by one or more of the networked devices; and

a device dispatcher component that receives instructions from the script manager for issuing commands to one or more of the networked devices to produce one or more effects associated with the cue.

12. The experience-enhancing system of claim 11, further comprising

one or more script libraries in communication with the script manager, the one or more script libraries containing pre-determined scripts matching a sequence of cues to a corresponding sequence of effects to be produced by the networked devices.

13. The experience-enhancing system of claim 12, further comprising an effect library in communication with the device dispatcher, the effect library containing the effect capabilities of each of the devices on the network.

14. The experience-enhancing system of claim 13, further comprising a sniffer component associated with the device dispatcher, the sniffer component polling the network for devices and determining the effect producing capabilities of found devices.

15. A computer readable medium containing instructions for enhancing a user experience within an environment using effects provided by a plurality of network devices, the instructions comprising:

monitoring the environment for cues; and

upon receiving a cue, issuing a command to one or more of the networked devices to produce one or more effects corresponding the received cue.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the cues are audio cues that are stored as a collection with corresponding effects.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising, instructions for initially monitoring the environment for an indication that an enhanced user experience is desired.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, further comprising, instructions for monitoring for an indication of an enhanced experience title after receiving an indication that an enhanced user experience is desired.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising, after receiving an indication of the enhanced experience title, instructions for determining whether a script, pairing specified cues to specified device-produced effects, is present, and if so, instructions for loading the script to provide the enhanced experience.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, further comprising instructions for incrementing the script after each occurrence of receiving a cue.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 20, further comprising instructions for continuing the monitoring for cues until the last cue is received or until an ending command is received.