User interface for multi-media communication for the disabled

• US 20070198945A1
• Filed: 06/26/2002
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siebel Systems Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Sun, Zhaoyang, Chen, Mingte, Annadata, Anil, Rao, Shashidhar
• Granted Patent: US 7,673,241 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/779
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/006 using audible presentation of the information
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/978 Audio interaction as part of an operator interface

Abstract

A method, user interface module, computer program product, computer system and system that enable a graphical user interface to be used by persons with visual disabilities. The graphical user interface includes a toolbar, which provides features that enable a visually disabled user to navigate and activate the functions provided by buttons or other controls on the communication toolbar. As a user navigates around the user interface, auditory messages are read describing functionality of different features of the graphical user interface. The text can be audibly read by, for example, a screen reader module. By using a hotkey or menu navigation, a user can issue commands that would normally be issued by clicking on the toolbar. Furthermore, the user can type text into text input boxes, select items from combo boxes, enable broadcast messages to be read, and choose to listen to status messages.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining that a readable control of a user interface is activated;

identifying a command associated with activation of the readable control, wherein

the identifying the command comprises using a mapping between the readable control and a functional control,

the functional control is configured to provide a function, and

the readable control is a non-functional control by virtue of being incapable of providing the function; and

causing the functional control to issue the command in response to the activation of the readable control.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that a second readable control has obtained focus; and

providing text for an audible message associated with the second readable control.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

providing text for a second audible message in response to receiving a hot key activation, wherein

the hot key is associated with the second readable control.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing text for an audible message associated with the readable control.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing text for an audible message in response to a change of state of the readable control.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein

the readable control is activated using a hot key.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

causing a state of the readable control to change in response to obtaining an event.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

10. A method comprising:

causing a state of a readable control of a user interface to change in response to obtaining an incoming communication event; and

identifying a functional control that corresponds to the readable control, wherein

the functional control is configured to provide a function, and

the readable control is a non-functional control by virtue of being incapable of providing the function.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

providing text for an audible message in response to the change in the state.

12. A user interface module comprising:

determining instructions to determine that a readable control of a user interface presented by the user interface module is activated;

identifying instructions to identify a command associated with activation of the readable control, wherein

the identifying instructions comprise using instructions to use a mapping between the readable control and a functional control,

the functional control is configured to provide a function, and

the readable control is a non-functional control by virtue of being incapable of providing the function; and

issuing instructions to issue the command in response to the activation of the readable control.

15. The user interface module of claim 12 further comprising:

second determining instructions to determine that a second readable control of the user interface has obtained focus; and

providing instructions to provide text for an audible message associated with the second readable control.

16. The user interface module of claim 12 further comprising:

providing instructions to provide text for an audible message associated with the readable control.

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

17. A user interface module comprising:

causing instructions to cause a state of a readable control of a user interface presented by the user interface module to change in response to obtaining an incoming communication event; and

identifying instructions to identify a functional control that corresponds to the readable control, wherein

the functional control is configured to provide a function, and

the readable control is a non-functional control by virtue of being incapable of providing the function.

18. The user interface module of claim 17 further comprising:

providing instructions to provide text for an audible message in response to the change in the state.

19. A system comprising:

determining means for determining that a readable control of a user interface is activated; and

identifying means for identifying a command associated with activation of the readable control, wherein

the identifying means comprise using means for using a mapping between the readable control and a functional controls

the functional control is configured to provide a function, and

the readable control is a non-functional control by virtue of being incapable of providing the function; and

issuing means for issuing the command in response to the activation of the readable control.

22. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

second determining means for determining that a second readable control has obtained focus; and

providing means for providing text for an audible message associated with the second readable control.

23. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

providing means for providing text for an audible message associated with the readable control.

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

24. A system comprising:

causing means for causing a state of a readable control of a user interface to change in response to obtaining an incoming communication event; and

identifying means for identifying a functional control that corresponds to the readable control, wherein

the functional control is configured to provide a function, and

the readable control is a non-functional control by virtue of being incapable of providing the function.

25. The system of claim 24 further comprising:

providing means for providing text for an audible message in response to the change in the state.

26. A computer program product comprising:

determining instructions to determine that a readable control of a user interface is activated;

identifying instructions to identify a command associated with activation of the readable control, wherein

the identifying instructions comprise using instructions to use a mapping between the readable control and a functional control,

the functional control is configured to provide a function, and

the readable control is a non-functional control by virtue of being incapable of providing the function;

issuing instructions to cause the functional control to issue the command in response to the activation of the readable control; and

a computer-readable medium to store the determining instructions, the using instructions, the identifying instructions, and the issuing instructions.

29. The computer program product of claim 26 further comprising:

second determining instructions to determine that a second readable control has obtained focus; and

providing instructions to provide text for an audible message associated with the second readable control;

wherein

the computer-readable medium further stores the second determining instructions and the providing instructions.

30. The computer program product of claim 26 further comprising:

providing instructions to provide text for an audible message associated with the readable control;

wherein

the computer-readable medium further stores the providing instructions.

27. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

31. A computer program product comprising:

causing instructions to cause a state of a readable control of a user interface to change in response to obtaining an incoming communication event; and

identifying instructions to identify a functional control that corresponds to the readable control, wherein

the functional control is configured to provide a function, and

the readable control is a non-functional control by virtue of being incapable of providing the function; and

a computer-readable medium to store the causing instructions and the identifying instructions.

32. The computer program product of claim 31 further comprising:

providing instructions to provide text for an audible message in response to the change in the state;

wherein

the computer-readable medium further stores the providing instructions.

33. A computer system comprising:

a processor for executing computer instructions; and

a memory comprising the computer instructions, wherein the computer instructions comprise;

determining instructions to determine that a readable control of a user interface is activated; and

identifying instructions to identify a command associated with activation of the readable control, wherein

the identifying instructions comprise using instructions to use a mapping between the readable control and a functional control,

the functional control is configured to provide a function, and

the readable control is a non-functional control by virtue of being incapable of providing the function; and

issuing instructions to cause the functional control to issue the command in response to the activation of the readable control.

36. The computer system of claim 33 wherein the computer instructions further comprise:

second determining instructions to determine that a second readable control has obtained focus; and

providing instructions to provide text for an audible message associated with the second readable control.

37. The computer system of claim 33 wherein the computer instructions further comprise:

providing instructions to provide text for an audible message associated with the readable control.

34. (canceled)

35. (canceled)

38. A computer system comprising:

a processor for executing computer instructions;

a memory comprising the computer instructions, wherein the computer instructions comprise;

causing instructions to cause a state of a readable control of a user interface to change in response to obtaining an incoming communication event; and

identifying instructions to identify a functional control that corresponds to the readable control, wherein

the functional control is configured to provide a function, and

the readable control is a non-functional control by virtue of being incapable of providing the function.

39. The computer system of claim 38 wherein the computer instructions further comprise:

providing instructions to provide text for an audible message in response to the change in the state.