Voice control computer interface enabling implementation of common subroutines

• US 5,812,977 A
• Filed: 08/13/1996
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Appled Voice Recognition Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Applied Voice Recognition, Inc. (E-Docs MD, Inc.)
• Inventors: Douglas, H. Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): Hudspeth, David R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAX, ROBERT L
• Application Number:
  US08/696,125
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 704/275, 704/270, 704/243
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a computer assisted system which enables a computer user with less than fully developed computer skills to enable and implement a number of subroutines. The present disclosure is more particularly directed to a user not accustomed to operating a computer, and further not accustomed to operating a computer which presents a multitude of symbols on the screen which are used to open various subroutines. The disclosed system, which is preferably operated by means of voice commands, therefore improves the performance of the user so that the subroutines can be fetched more readily, operated more effectively to obtain the desired results or output, and then easily closed or terminated. The disclosed system is further simplifies computer start up operations.

Claims

1. A voice controlled computer interface system comprising:

(a) a sequence of computer instructions requiring input by a user in order to perform one or more tasks;

(b) a microphone into which said user utters said sequence;

(c) a help subroutine included within said computer instructions which, upon activation by utterances from said user, aids said user in providing said input;

(d) a conditioning circuit for forming a conditioned input signal from said utterances;

(e) a stored vocabulary; and

(f) a recognition unit for correlating said conditioned input signal with an element of said stored vocabulary thereby creating compatible instructions recognizable by said computer.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a speaker which cooperates with said computer, wherein said speaker emits an audio indication of the result of said correlation of said conditioned input signal and an element of said stored vocabulary.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein:

(a) said sequence of computer instructions is utilized by said computer to perform a task, wherein said task is defined by said correlation of said conditioned input signal with said element of said stored vocabulary; and

(b) the result of said performed task is output to one or more output devices.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said sequence of computer instructions prompts said user to utter commands required to perform said tasks.

5. A voice controlled system for operating a computer, the system comprising:

(a) a start up sequence of computer instructions which assists, by means of answers to queries, a user in providing a start up instruction to initiate said computer;

(b) a task sequence of computer instructions with which said user provides, by means of a task command, a task instruction to said computer to perform a task;

(c) a help subroutine contain within said task sequence of computer instructions which determines which instruction in said task sequence of computer instructions is being performed and which aids said user in providing said task command;

(d) a microphone into which said user utters said task command or answers to said queries;

(e) a conditioning circuit for forming a conditioned input signal from said utterances;

(f) a stored vocabulary; and

(g) a recognition unit for correlating said conditioned input signal with an element of said stored vocabulary thereby defining said start up instruction and said task instruction, and for transmitting said instructions to said computer.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising a speaker with which said an audible signal is emitted indicative of the result of said correlation.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein said start up sequence of computer instructions is used to query said user by means of said speaker.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein said task sequence of computer instructions further comprises:

(a) a plurality of task subroutines;

(b) a task selection step in which said user utters into said microphone the desired task to be performed;

(c) a verification step at which said uttered task is verified with tasks stored within said vocabulary thereby creating a verified task command;

(d) an initiation step in which said verified command step is used to fetch and initiate a desired task subroutine to perform said desired task; and

(e) a plurality of steps used to prompt the user for specific commands required to execute said desired task subroutine.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said user is prompted by means of audible queries emitted from said speaker.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein said user is prompted by means of a visual monitor.

11. A voice controlled computer system comprising:

(a) a computer;

(b) a sequence of computer instructions with which a user provides an operational instruction to said computer by means of an input, wherein said computer instructions include a help instruction which aids said user in providing said operational instructions;

(c) a microphone into which said user utters said input;

(d) a conditioning circuit for forming a conditioned input signal from said utterances into said microphone;

(e) a stored vocabulary; and

(f) a recognition unit for correlating said conditioned input signal with an element of said stored vocabulary thereby creating said operational instruction in a form recognizable by said computer.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising an interface circuit which cooperates with said computer and which cooperates with at least one output devices thereby permitting the result of a task performed by said computer to be output by said at least one output device.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said computer comprises;

(a) a central processor unit; and

(b) a monitor which cooperates with said central processor unit, wherein said monitor displays an indication of the result of said correlation of said conditioned input signal and an element of said stored vocabulary.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising a speaker which cooperates with said computer, wherein said speaker emits an audio indication of the result of said correlation of said conditioned input signal and an element of said stored vocabulary.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein:

(a) said computer performs a task which is defined by said correlation of a first conditioned input signal with an element of said stored vocabulary; and

(b) the result of said performed task is output to said at least one output device.

16. A method for controlling the operation of a computer by means of voice statements comprising:

(a) providing a sequence of computer instructions which require additional input from a user in order for said computer to perform one or more tasks;

(b) speaking by said user into a microphone said input required by said sequence of computer instructions;

(c) optionally requesting aid, from said sequence of computer instructions, in determining said input required by said sequence of computer instructions;

(d) providing a stored vocabulary; and

(e) correlating said input with an element of said stored vocabulary thereby creating a specific instruction recognizable by said computer.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising providing said user, by means of said sequence of computer instructions, the results of said correlation of said input and said element of stored vocabulary.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

(a) performing a task by means of said sequence of computer instructions, wherein said task is defined by said correlation of said input with said element of said vocabulary; and

(b) outputting the results of said performed task by means of one or more output devices.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said sequence of computer instructions prompts said user to utter commands required to perform said task.

20. A voice controlled method for operating a computer, the method comprising:

(a) providing a sequence of computer instructions which assists, by means of answers to queries, a user in providing a start up instruction required to initiate said computer;

(b) providing a sequence of computer instructions with which said user provides, by means of a command, a task instruction to said computer to perform a task;

(c) uttering said answers to said queries and said commands into a microphone which cooperates with said computer;

(d) optionally uttering a request for help in answering said queries and receiving help from said sequence of computer instructions;

(e) conditioning said utterances thereby forming a conditioned input signals;

(f) providing a stored vocabulary;

(g) correlating each said conditioned input signal with an element of said stored vocabulary thereby defining said start up instruction or said task instruction, and

(h) transmitting said start up instruction or said task instruction to said computer.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

(a) audibly querying said user by means of a speaker which cooperates with said computer; and

(b) notifying said user of the results of said correlation by means of said speaker.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein said provided sequence of computer instructions with which said user provides a task instruction comprises:

(a) a plurality of task subroutines;

(b) a task selection step in which said user utters into said microphone the desired task to be performed;

(c) a verification step at which said uttered task is verified with tasks stored within said vocabulary thereby creating a verified task command;

(d) an initiation step in which said verified command step is used to fetch and initiate a desired task subroutine to perform said desired task; and

(e) a plurality of steps used to prompt the user for specific commands required to execute said desired task subroutine.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said user is prompted by means of a speaker which cooperates with said computer.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein said user is prompted by means of a visual monitor which cooperates with said computer.

25. A voice controlled computer system comprising:

(a) a computer;

(b) a sequence of computer instructions with which a user provides an operational instruction to said computer by means of an input;

(c) a microphone into which said user utters said input;

(d) a conditioning circuit for forming a conditioned input signal from said utterances into said microphone;

(e) a stored vocabulary;

(f) a recognition unit for correlating said conditioned input signal with an element of said stored vocabulary thereby creating said operational instruction in a form recognizable by said computer; and

(g) an interface circuit which cooperates with said computer and which cooperates with at least one output devices thereby permitting the result of a cask performed by said computer to be output by said at least one output device, wherein

(i) said computer performs a task which is defined by said correlation of a first conditioned input signal with an element of said stored vocabulary,

(ii) the result of said performed task is output to said at least one output device,

(iii) said at least one output device to which said performed task is output is specified by a second conditioned input signal; and

(iv) wherein said computer prompts as a help instruction said user to utter commands required to perform said task.