Methods, systems, and storage mediums for implementing voice-initiated computer functions

• US 20060041433A1
• Filed: 08/20/2004
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Slemmer, John B., Perrella, Ronald, Schaub, Ryan
• Granted Patent: US 7,403,898 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45512 Command shells
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments include a method, system, and storage medium for implementing voice-initiated computer functions. The method includes translating a voice command into a machine-readable format. The voice command requests implementation of a function. The method also includes executing the function requested in the voice command, and acknowledging whether the function was successfully completed.

Claims

1. A method for implementing voice-initiated computer functions, comprising:

translating a voice command into a machine-readable format, the voice command requesting implementation of a function;

executing the function requested in the voice command; and

acknowledging whether the function was successfully completed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

based upon the function requested and executed, retrieving at least one other function corresponding to the function requested and executed; and

prompting a user to select from the at least one other function for execution.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the function relates to a computer-based task, the task being associated with an application.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the application includes at least one of:

a word processing application;

an email application;

a web application;

an Internet telephony application; and

a messaging application.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the messaging application includes at least one of:

an instant message application; and

a text messaging application.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the acknowledging includes converting a digital acknowledge message into a speech message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the voice command is received at a computer device from a cordless digital headset via a base unit.

8. A system for implementing voice-initiated computer functions, comprising:

a computer device executing an operating system, a voice recognition application, and at least one user application;

a speech/text interface application executing on the computer device, the speech/text interface application performing;

translating a voice command received at the computer device into a machine-readable format, the voice command requesting implementation of a function; and

executing the function requested in the voice command; and

a text-to-speech engine executing on the computer device, wherein the speech/text interface application performs;

providing an acknowledgement message to the text-to-speech engine, the acknowledgement message indicating whether the function was successfully completed.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the speech/text interface further performs:

based upon the function requested and executed, retrieving at least one other function corresponding to the function requested and executed; and

prompting a user to select from the at least one other function for execution.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the function relates to a computer-based task, the task being associated with the at least one user application.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one user application includes at least one of:

a word processing application;

an email application;

a web application;

an Internet telephony application; and

a messaging application.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the messaging application includes at least one of:

an instant message application; and

a text messaging application.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the acknowledgement message is converted to speech.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a cordless digital headset in communication with the computer device via a base station, wherein upon converting the acknowledgement message to speech, the speech/text interface application transmits the acknowledgement message to the cordless digital headset.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a wireless computer device in communication with the computer device via a local area network, wherein the cordless digital headset sends voice commands to the wireless computer device via the computer device and the base unit.

16. A storage medium including machine-readable program code for implementing voice-initiated computer functions, the program code including instructions for causing a computer to implement a method, comprising:

translating a voice command into a machine-readable format, the voice command requesting implementation of a function;

executing the function requested in the voice command; and

acknowledging whether the function was successfully completed.

17. The storage medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions for causing the computer to implement:

based upon the function requested and executed, retrieving at least one other function corresponding to the function requested and executed; and

prompting a user to select from the at least one other function for execution.

18. The storage medium of claim 16, wherein the function relates to a computer-based task, the task being associated with an application.

19. The storage medium of claim 18, wherein the application includes at least one of:

a word processing application;

an email application;

a web application;

an Internet telephony application; and

a messaging application.

20. The storage medium of claim 19, wherein the messaging application includes at least one of:

an instant message application; and

a text messaging application.