VOICE CONTROL TO DIAGNOSE INADVERTENT ACTIVATION OF ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES

• US 20140282007A1
• Filed: 03/03/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: FLEIZACH, Christopher B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,733,821 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/728
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing inadvertent activation of user interface settings on an electronic device. The electronic device receives a user input indicating that the user is having difficulty operating the electronic device. The device then determines whether a setting was changed on the device within a predetermined time period prior to receiving the user input. When a first setting was changed within the predetermined time period prior to receiving the user input, the device restores the changed setting to a prior setting.

Claims

1. A method for diagnosing inadvertent activation of a user interface setting, the method comprising:

at an electronic device comprising a processor and memory storing instructions for execution by the processor;

receiving a user input indicating that the user is having difficulty operating the electronic device;

determining whether a setting was changed on the device within a predetermined time period prior to receiving the user input; and

upon a determination that a first setting was changed within the predetermined time period prior to receiving the user input, restoring the changed setting to a prior setting.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input is a user voice input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input is an abnormal pattern of user inputs.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is a number of minutes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is a number of user sessions.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the prior setting is a default setting.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the prior setting is a setting that immediately preceded the setting change.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to restoring the changed setting, prompting the user with an indication that the first setting has been changed.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

prior to restoring the changed setting, prompting the user to confirm that they are having difficulty operating the device; and

in response to receiving confirmation that the user is having difficulty operating the device, restoring the changed setting to a prior setting.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

prior to restoring the changed setting, prompting the user to confirm that the first setting is causing the user difficulty; and

in response to receiving confirmation that the first setting is causing the user difficulty, restoring the changed setting to a prior setting.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

in response to receiving a user input indicating that the first setting is not causing the user difficulty, determining if a second setting was changed on the device within a predetermined time period prior to receiving the first user input.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

prior to restoring the changed setting, prompting the user to confirm that they want to restore the changed setting to a prior setting; and

in response to receiving confirmation that the user wants to restore the changed setting, restoring the changed setting to a prior setting.

13. An electronic device, comprising:

a processor;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

receiving a user input indicating that the user is having difficulty operating the electronic device;

determining whether a setting was changed on the device prior to receiving the user input; and

upon a determination that a first setting was changed prior to receiving the user input, restoring the changed setting to a prior setting.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein determining includes determining whether the setting was changed with a predetermined time period prior to receiving the user input.

15. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the user input is a user voice input.

16. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the user input is an abnormal pattern of user inputs.

17. The electronic device of claim 13, further comprising instructions for:

prior to restoring the changed setting, prompting the user with an indication that the first setting has been changed.

18. The electronic device according to claim 13, further comprising instructions for:

prior to restoring the changed setting, prompting the user to confirm that they are having difficulty operating the device; and

in response to receiving confirmation that the user is having difficulty operating the device, restoring the changed setting to a prior setting.

19. The electronic device according to claim 13, further comprising instructions for:

prior to restoring the changed setting, prompting the user to confirm that the first setting is causing the user difficulty; and

in response to receiving confirmation that the first setting is causing the user difficulty, restoring the changed setting to a prior setting.

20. The electronic device of claim 19, further comprising instructions for:

in response to receiving a user input indicating that the first setting is not causing the user difficulty, determining if a second setting was changed on the device within a predetermined time period prior to receiving the first user input.

21. A computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an electronic device, cause the device to

receive a user input indicating that the user is having difficulty operating the electronic device:

determine whether a setting was changed on the device within a predetermined time period prior to receiving the user input; and

upon a determination that a first setting was changed within the predetermined time period prior to receiving the user input, restore the changed setting to a prior setting.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the user input is a user voice input.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the user input is an abnormal pattern of user inputs.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, further comprising instructions for:

prior to restoring the changed setting, prompting the user with an indication that the first setting has been changed.

25. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 21, further comprising instructions for:

prior to restoring the changed setting, prompting the user to confirm that they are having difficulty operating the device; and

in response to receiving confirmation that the user is having difficulty operating the device, restoring the changed setting to a prior setting.

26. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 21, further comprising instructions for:

prior to restoring the changed setting, prompting the user to confirm that the first setting is causing the user difficulty; and

in response to receiving confirmation that the first setting is causing the user difficulty, restoring the changed setting to a prior setting.

27. The computer readable storage medium of claim 26, further comprising instructions for:

in response to receiving a user input indicating that the first setting is not causing the user difficulty, determining if a second setting was changed on the device within a predetermined time period prior to receiving the first user input.