Enhanced go-back feature system and method for use in a voice portal

• US 7,260,530 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2002
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bevocal Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Werner, Laura A.
• Primary Examiner(s): {hacek over (S)}mits; Talivaldis Ivars
• Assistant Examiner(s): Serrou; Abdelali
• Application Number:
  US10/078,188
• Publication Number:
  US 20030171925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,013 Days
• Field of Search: 704/270.1, 704/270, 704/235, 704/251, 704/275, 704/246, 379/67.1, 715/501.1, 715/704, 715/705.1, 715/804
• US Class Current: 704/251
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence

Abstract

A system, method and computer program product are provided for transitioning among states during use of a voice browser. Initially, a script is received at a voice browser from a web server utilizing a network. Next, the script is executed utilizing the voice browser. A plurality of states is then automatically tracked during the execution of the script utilizing the voice browser. Upon receiving a request from a user during the execution of the script to transition to a previous state, the voice browser automatically transitions to the previous state of the script.

Claims

1. A method for transitioning among states during use of a voice browser, comprising:

(a) receiving a script at a voice browser utilizing a network;

(b) executing the script utilizing the voice browser;

(c) automatically tracking a plurality of states during the execution of the script utilizing the voice browser;

(d) receiving a request from a user during the execution of the script to transition to a previous state;

(e) automatically transitioning to the previous state of the script with the voice browser in response to the request;

(f) determining whether code exists indicating a state other than the previous state to which the script should be transitioned in response to the request; and

(g) transitioning to the state other than the previous state in response to the request if the code exists;

wherein the code includes a command for identifying specific instructions relating to the transitioning;

wherein the script includes customizable forms and fields;

wherein the transitioning to the previous state is capable of being disabled according to at least one of an entire application, a document, a form and a field;

wherein transitioning to the previous state retracts an input the user originally entered at the previous state;

wherein a number of previous states a user is capable of transitioning to is customizable.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising determining whether code exists indicating that the previous state should be skipped.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, and further comprising transitioning to a state previous to the previous state.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, and further comprising transitioning to a state previous to the previous state in response to the request if the code exists.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the code includes a function written in JAVASCRIPT.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising storing information regarding each state of the script.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein the information identifies a type of event associated with one of the states.

8. The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein the information identifies an application.

9. The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein the information is accessed via a pointer.

14. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the request includes a voice request that is associated with a preset grammar.

15. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein an alert is sent to the user when the previous state is disabled.

16. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the user is prompted for new input at the previous state after transitioning to the previous state.

10. A computer readable medium encoded with a computer program for transitioning among states during use of a voice browser, comprising:

(a) computer code for receiving a script at a voice browser utilizing a network;

(b) computer code for executing the script utilizing the voice browser;

(c) computer code for automatically tracking a plurality of states during the execution of the script utilizing the voice browser;

(d) computer code for receiving a request from a user during the execution of the script to transition to a previous state;

(e) computer code for automatically transitioning to the previous state of the script with the voice browser in response to the request;

(f) computer code for determining whether code exists indicating a state other than the previous state to which the script should be transitioned in response to the request; and

(g) computer code for transitioning to the state other than the previous state in response to the request if the code exists;

wherein the code includes a command for identifying specific instructions relating to the transitioning;

wherein the script includes customizable forms and fields;

wherein the transitioning to the previous state is capable of being disabled according to at least one of an entire application, a document, a form and a field;

wherein transitioning to the previous state retracts an input the user originally entered at the previous state;

wherein a number of previous states a user is capable of transitioning to is customizable.

11. A system for transitioning among states during use of a voice browser, comprising:

(a) means for receiving a script at a voice browser utilizing a network;

(b) means for executing the script utilizing the voice browser;

(c) means for automatically tracking a plurality of states during the execution of the script utilizing the voice browser;

(d) means for receiving a request from a user during the execution of the script to transition to a previous state;

(e) means for automatically transitioning to the previous state of the script with the voice browser in response to the request;

(f) means for determining whether code exists indicating a state other than the previous state to which the script should be transitioned in response to the request; and

(g) means for transitioning to the state other than the previous state in response to the request if the code exists;

wherein the code includes a command for identifying specific instructions relating to the transitioning;

wherein the script includes customizable forms and fields;

wherein the transitioning to the previous state is capable of being disabled according to at least one of an entire application, a document, a form and a field;

wherein transitioning to the previous state retracts an input the user originally entered at the previous state;

wherein a number of previous states a user is capable of transitioning to is customizable.

12. A system for transitioning among states during use of a voice browser, comprising:

(a) logic for receiving a script at a voice browser utilizing a network;

(b) logic for executing the script utilizing the voice browser;

(c) logic for automatically tracking a plurality of states during the execution of the script utilizing the voice browser;

(d) logic for receiving a request from a user during the execution of the script to transition to a previous state;

(e) logic for automatically transitioning to the previous state of the script with the voice browser in response to the request;

(f) logic for determining whether code exists indicating a state other than the previous state to which the script should be transitioned in response to the request; and

(g) logic for transitioning to the state other than the previous state in response to the request if the code exists;

wherein the code includes a command for identifying specific instructions relating to the transitioning;

wherein the script includes customizable forms and fields;

wherein the transitioning to the previous state is capable of being disabled according to at least one of an entire application, a document, a form and a field;

wherein transitioning to the previous state retracts an input the user originally entered at the previous state;

wherein a number of previous states a user is capable of transitioning to is customizable.

13. A method for transitioning among states during use of a voice browser, comprising:

(a) receiving a script at a voice browser utilizing a network;

(b) executing the script utilizing the voice browser;

(c) tracking a plurality of states during the execution of the script;

(d) storing information regarding each state of the script;

(e) receiving a request from a user during the execution of the script to transition to a previous state;

(f) if it is determined that code exists indicating that the previous state should be skipped, transitioning to a state previous to the previous state in response to the request utilizing the stored information;

(g) if it is determined that code exists indicating a state other than the previous state to which the script should be transitioned, transitioning to the state other than the previous state in response to the request utilizing the stored information;

(h) if said code does not exist, automatically transitioning to the previous state of the script with the voice browser in response to the request utilizing the stored information;

wherein the code includes a command for identifying specific instructions relating to the transitioning;

wherein the script includes customizable forms and fields;

wherein the transitioning the previous state is capable of being disabled according to at least one of an entire application, a document, a form and a field;

wherein the transitioning to the previous state retracts an input the user originally entered at the state;

wherein a number of previous states a user is capable of transitioning to is customizable.