TASK ASSISTANT PROVIDING CONTEXTUAL SUGGESTIONS

• US 20140253455A1
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Mauro, David Andrew, Bouvier, Henri, Gandrabur, Simona, Daniel, Susan Dawnstarr, Dykstra-Erickson, Elizabeth Ann, Piercy, Aimee
• Application Number:
  US13/787,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20140253455A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2457 with adaptation to user needs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback

Abstract

A method of providing a task assistant to provide an interface to an application is described. The method comprises, in one embodiment, providing a task assistant to provide an interface to an application, to receive input from a user through multimodal input including a plurality of speech input, typing input, and touch input. The method further comprises receiving a request from a user for a suggestion, determining a current transaction state, based on interactions with the user during a current session, and selecting suggestions relevant to a transaction type associated with the current transaction state.

Claims

1. A method of providing a task assistant to provide an interface to an application, the method comprising:

receiving input from a user through multimodal input including a plurality of speech input, typing input, and touch input;

receiving a request from a user for a suggestion;

determining a current transaction state, based on interactions with the user during a current session;

selecting suggestions relevant to a transaction type associated with the current transaction state; and

presenting the suggestions to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein when the current transaction state is null, indicating no transaction has commenced, the suggestions present a plurality of transaction types.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a list of transaction types is presented, and the user is prompted to select a transaction type to see associated suggestions.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the suggestions are ordered according to a predetermined algorithm, such that a subsequent invocation of the suggestions presents a different set of suggestions.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the predetermined algorithm comprises one or more of:

rotation by transaction type, rotation by complexity, rotation based on most frequent usage.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the suggestions are further modified based on user context, such that the suggestions are specific to actions that may be taken by the user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein when the user has commenced a transaction, the suggestions relate to actions that may be taken from the current transaction state.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a history of successfully completed transactions in reverse chronological order; and

enabling a user to re-execute a stored transaction in the history.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after completing a transaction, enabling a user to store the transaction in a list of favorite transactions; and

enabling the user to re-execute a stored transaction in the list of favorite transactions.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the completed transaction includes an icon, which places the completed transaction in the list of favorite transactions when selected.

11. A task assistant to provide an interface to an application, the task assistant comprising:

a multi-modal input user interface to receive input from a user through multimodal input, the multi-modal input user interface including a plurality of speech input, typing input, and touch input;

a contextual hints system to receive a request from a user for a suggestion;

a context logic to determine a current transaction state, based on interactions with the user during a current session;

the contextual hint system to select suggestions relevant to a transaction type associated with the current transaction state; and

an output user interface to present the suggestions to the user.

12. The task assistant of claim 11, wherein when the current transaction state is null, indicating no transaction has commenced, the suggestions present a plurality of transaction types.

13. The task assistant of claim 12, wherein a list of transaction types is presented, and the user is prompted to select a transaction type to see associated suggestions.

14. The task assistant of claim 11, wherein the suggestions are presented according to a predetermined algorithm, such that a subsequent invocation of the suggestions presents a different set of suggestions.

15. The task assistant of claim 14, wherein the predetermined algorithm comprises one or more of:

rotation by transaction type, rotation by complexity, rotation based on most frequent usage.

16. The task assistant of claim 14, wherein the suggestions are further modified based on user context, such that the suggestions are specific to actions that may be taken by the user.

17. The task assistant of claim 11, wherein when the user has commenced a transaction, the suggestions relate to actions that may be taken from the current transaction state.

18. The task assistant of claim 11, further comprising:

a history store to store successfully completed transactions in reverse chronological order, to enable a user to re-execute a stored transaction in the history store.

19. The task assistant of claim 11, further comprising:

a favorite store enable a user to store the transaction in a list of favorite transactions, after completing a transaction, and to enable the user to re-execute a stored transaction in the list of favorite transactions.

20. A computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium including computer-readable program code, the computer-readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method for providing a task assistant to provide an interface to an application, the method comprising:

receiving input from a user through multimodal input including a plurality of speech input, typing input, and touch input;

receiving a request from a user for a suggestion;

determining a current transaction state, based on interactions with the user during a current session;

selecting suggestions relevant to a transaction type associated with the current transaction state; and

presenting the suggestions to the user.