US5729659A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for controlling a digital computer using oral input
Assignee: POTTER VOICE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
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Filing: 1995-06-06
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Granted: 1998-03-17
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Expires: 2015-06-06
Abstract
Abstract Oral input is used to control a digital computer. Associative searching techniques of tabular data structures are used in conjunction with rules and conventions derived from natural language to facilitate the use of oral input. The method is capable of being implemented in connection with conventional sequential computers, associative single-instruction multiple data computers and parallel processors.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerry L. Potter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:25
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10L; G10L15/00; G10L15/08; G10L15/18; G10L15/183; G10L15/19; G10L15/193
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for controlling a digital computer using oral input, comprising: (a) providing receiving means and a digital computer; (b) receiving oral input comprising a plurality of words; (c) generating input information corresponding to said oral input; (d) associatively searching a tabular data structure comprising labels using at least a first part of said input information to locate at least a first label in such tabular data structure relating to said input information; and (e) determining content information relating to said oral input.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for controlling a digital computer using oral input, comprising: (a) providing receiving means and a digital computer; (b) receiving oral input comprising a plurality of words; (c) generating input information corresponding to said oral input; (d) associatively searching a tabular data structure comprising labels using at least a first part of said input information to locate at least a first label in such tabular data structure relating to said input information; and (e) determining content information relating to said oral input.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said determining step comprises dividing said input information into word groups, using information relating to conventions of a spoken natural language to resolve ambiguities.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said determining step comprises dividing said input information into word groups and using information relating to usage of words in a spoken natural language to resolve ambiguities.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: (i) using said content information to identify an operation to be performed on said data; and (ii) performing the identified operation on said data in a digital computer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method, as claimed in claim 4, wherein said tabular data structure is mapped onto an associative memory device and said identified operation is performed using an associative processor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: (i) outputting a request for further input information relating to said input information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of words comprises a verb or verb phrase and at least a first noun or noun phrase.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of words comprises a pronoun, and further comprising the step of storing a flag vector relating to said pronoun in the tabular data structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of words comprises a homonym, and further comprising the step of converting said homonym to a standard form relating to said homonym and storing said standard form in the tabular data structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of words comprises a synonym, and further comprising the step of converting said synonym to a standard form relating to said synonym and storing said standard form in the tabular data structure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said input information comprises an incorrectly recognized word and further comprising the step of converting said incorrectly recognized word to a standard form relating to said incorrectly recognized word and storing said standard form in the tabular data structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tabular data structure comprises a plurality of two-dimensional tabular data structures.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tabular data structure is mapped onto a sequential memory device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tabular data structure is mapped onto an associative memory device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said digital computer comprises an associative single-instruction multiple-data computer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method, as claimed claim 1, wherein said associative searching is performed using parallel processing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said labels comprises a plurality of words.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said searching step comprises using content stored in a table in said tabular data structure to select at least a first row in said table.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said searching step comprises comparing said input information to said labels to identify the longest word group in the input information which matches a label in the tabular data structure.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for controlling a digital computer using oral input, comprising: (a) providing receiving means and a digital computer; (b) receiving oral input comprising a plurality of words, wherein said oral input includes a verb; (c) generating input information corresponding to each of said plurality of words; (d) associatively searching a tabular data structure comprising user application information using said input information to create search results; (e) locating a data object comprising user application information stored in said tabular data structure using said search results; (f) determining content information relating to said verb or verb phrase using command information stored in said tabular data structure; (g) identifying an operation to be performed on said data object using said content information; and (h) performing said operation on said data object.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for controlling a digital computer using oral input, comprising: (a) providing receiving means and a digital computer; (b) receiving oral input comprising a plurality of words, wherein said oral input includes a verb; (c) generating input information corresponding to each of said plurality of words; (d) associatively searching a tabular data structure comprising user application information using said input information to create search results; (e) locating a data object comprising user application information stored in said tabular data structure using said search results; (f) determining content information relating to said verb or verb phrase using command information stored in said tabular data structure; (g) identifying an operation to be performed on said data object using said content information; and (h) performing said operation on said data object.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method, as claimed in claim 20, further comprising: (i) providing output means operatively connected to said digital computer; and (ii) outputting information related to the results of said performing step.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
126 words
An apparatus for using oral input to control a digital computer, comprising: (a) receiving means for receiving oral input; (b) word recognition means, operatively associated with said receiving means, for generating input information; (c) a digital computer, operatively associated with said word recognition means; (d) storage means, located within said digital computer, for storing data in a tabular data structure; (e) search means, located within said digital computer, for associatively searching said tabular data structure, comprising means for identifying labels within said tabular data structure which relate to at least a first part of such input information; (f) content determination means, located within said digital computer, for determining content information relating to input information; and (g) processing means, located within said digital computer, for processing data.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
126 words
An apparatus for using oral input to control a digital computer, comprising: (a) receiving means for receiving oral input; (b) word recognition means, operatively associated with said receiving means, for generating input information; (c) a digital computer, operatively associated with said word recognition means; (d) storage means, located within said digital computer, for storing data in a tabular data structure; (e) search means, located within said digital computer, for associatively searching said tabular data structure, comprising means for identifying labels within said tabular data structure which relate to at least a first part of such input information; (f) content determination means, located within said digital computer, for determining content information relating to input information; and (g) processing means, located within said digital computer, for processing data.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 22, further comprising output means operatively associated with the digital computer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 22, further comprising: (i) audio generator means for generating audio output information; (ii) speech synthesizer means for generating output signals; and (iii) audio output means for outputting audible speech.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 22, wherein said digital computer comprises an associative single-instruction multiple-data computer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 22, wherein said storage means comprises an associative memory device.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 22, wherein said processing means comprises a parallel processor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-03-16 | 2001-09-15 | 2002-03-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-03-16 | 2005-09-15 | 2006-03-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-03-16 | 2009-09-15 | 2010-03-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |