Method and apparatus for linear vocal control of cursor position
First Claim
1. A method in a computer system including a display screen having a cursor displayed at a selected position therein, for linear vocal control of fine cursor movement, said method comprising the steps of:
- detecting a vocal utterance;
determining at least one linearly variable acoustic characteristic of said vocal utterance; and
linearly varying the position of said cursor in response to variations in said at least one acoustic characteristic.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for linear vocal control of cursor position within a computer display system. A microphone is utilized in conjunction with a computer system to detect vocal utterances and each vocal utterance is then coupled to an analysis circuit to detect voiced and unvoiced vocal utterances. Variations in the pitch of each voiced vocal utterance and the virtual frequency of each unvoiced vocal utterance are then utilized to linearly vary the position of a cursor in the computer display system in two axes independently. In a depicted embodiment of the present invention the analysis circuit includes a short delay to ensure that a valid control signal has occurred. Thereafter, increases or decreases in pitch or virtual frequency from an initial value are utilized to initiate movement by the cursor in a positive or negative direction in the two axes. Cursor motion will persist until pitch or virtual frequency return to an initial value or until the utterance ceases. In one embodiment of the present invention the appearance of the cursor is graphically altered to the indicate the presence of a valid control signal.
272 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method in a computer system including a display screen having a cursor displayed at a selected position therein, for linear vocal control of fine cursor movement, said method comprising the steps of:
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detecting a vocal utterance; determining at least one linearly variable acoustic characteristic of said vocal utterance; and linearly varying the position of said cursor in response to variations in said at least one acoustic characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for linear vocal control of cursor position in a computer display system having a cursor displayed at a selected position therein, said apparatus comprising:
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acoustic input means for detecting a vocal utterance; utterance analysis means coupled to said acoustic input means for determining at least one linearly variable acoustic characteristic of said vocal utterance; and cursor position means coupled to said utterance analysis means for linearly varying the position of said cursor in response to variations in said at least one acoustic characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification