US5920841A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Speech supported navigation of a pointer in a graphical user interface
Assignee: Nuance Communications Inc
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Filing: 1997-06-25
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Granted: 1999-07-06
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Expires: 2017-06-25
Abstract
Abstract A method and an apparatus for speech controlled navigation of a pointer in a graphical user interface. Previous methods use speech commands like arrow keys of a keyboard and lack user friendly interfaces. The method and apparatus therefore provides a space of discrete position states (quantization) for the pointer which can be navigated only via those discrete positions by means of speech command input. The granularity of the discrete position states can be adapted to the respective application window and the position states can be represented by a system of coordinates where the speech command input is based on absolute or relative coordinates. Advantageously a copy image of the graphical user interface of operation can be provided in front of or beside the actual user interface and a proxy pointer device is displayed on the copy image. In one embodiment, only the copy image comprises the discrete position states, and the speech input commands are only transferred to the copy image. Navigation of the proxy pointer device within the copy is transferred and converted into commands within the actual user interface. By this method, an operation event effected by a manipulation of the proxy pointer effects a corresponding event at the user interface.
Inventors
- 👤 Claus Schottmuller
- 👤 Viktor Schwab
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 20:25
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/16; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/04812
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for speech-supported navigation of a cursor within a graphical user interface, said method comprising the steps of: defining a coordinate system including a plurality of discrete position states within said graphical user interface; scaling a granularity of said coordinate system in response to a first speech command; and navigating said cursor among said plurality of discrete position states in response to a second speech command.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for speech-supported navigation of a cursor within a graphical user interface, said method comprising the steps of: defining a coordinate system including a plurality of discrete position states within said graphical user interface; scaling a granularity of said coordinate system in response to a first speech command; and navigating said cursor among said plurality of discrete position states in response to a second speech command.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method for speech-supported navigation of a cursor within a graphical user interface as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of manipulating said graphical user interface in response to said navigating step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method for speech-supported navigation of a cursor within a graphical user interface as set forth in claim 1, said scaling step comprising the step of modifying a minimum length of said coordinate system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method for speech-supported navigation of a cursor within a graphical user interface as set forth in claim 1, said method further comprising the step of displaying a coordinate grid including a plurality of intersection points corresponding to said plurality of discrete position states.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method for speech-supported navigation of a cursor within a graphical user interface as set forth in claim 4, said navigating step comprising the step of navigating said cursor among said plurality of discrete position states in response to a second speech command including one of said plurality of intersection points.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method for speech-supported navigation of a cursor within a graphical user interface as set forth in claim 1, said establishing step comprising the step of establishing an absolute coordinate for each of said plurality of discrete position states; said navigating step comprising the step of navigating said cursor among said plurality of discrete position states in response to a second speech command including one of said plurality of absolute coordinates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
105 words
A method for speech-supported navigation of a cursor within a graphical user interface as set forth in claim 1, said method further comprising the steps of: displaying a copy of said graphical user interface; displaying a proxy cursor within said copy of said graphical user interface; indicating a current position state of said cursor from among said plurality of discrete position states utilizing said proxy cursor; said navigating step comprising the steps of: navigating said proxy cursor in response to said second speech command; and navigating said cursor among said plurality of discrete position states in response to said step of navigating said proxy cursor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
A data processing system for speech-supported navigation of a cursor within a graphical user interface comprising: means for generating a copy of said graphical user interface; means for generating a proxy cursor within said copy of said graphical user interface; means for simultaneously displaying said copy of said graphical user interface and said proxy cursor; means for navigating said proxy cursor within said copy of said graphical user interface in response to a speech command; and means for navigating said cursor in response to a navigation of said proxy cursor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
90 words
A data processing system for speech-supported navigation of a cursor within a graphical user interface comprising: means for generating a copy of said graphical user interface; means for generating a proxy cursor within said copy of said graphical user interface; means for simultaneously displaying said copy of said graphical user interface and said proxy cursor; means for navigating said proxy cursor within said copy of said graphical user interface in response to a speech command; and means for navigating said cursor in response to a navigation of said proxy cursor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
101 words
A data processing system for speech-supported navigation of a cursor within a graphical user interface as set forth in claim 8, said means for navigating said proxy cursor within said copy of said graphical user interface in response to a speech command comprising: means for defining a coordinate system including a plurality of discrete position states within said copy of said graphical user interface; means for scaling a granularity of said coordinate system in response to a first speech command; and means for navigating said proxy cursor among said plurality of discrete position states in response to a second speech command.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A data processing system for speech-supported navigation of a cursor within a graphical user interface as set forth in claim 9, said means for scaling comprising means for modifying a minimum length of said coordinate system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
101 words
A data processing system for speech-supported navigation of a cursor within a graphical user interface as set forth in claim 9, further comprising: means for displaying a coordinate grid within said copy of said graphical user interface including a plurality of intersection points corresponding to said plurality of discrete position states; said means for navigating said proxy cursor among said plurality of discrete position states in response to a second speech command comprising means for navigating said proxy cursor among said plurality of discrete position states in response to a second speech command including one of said plurality of intersection points.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
A data processing system for speech-supported navigation of a cursor within a graphical user interface as set forth in claim 9, further comprising means for indicating a current position state of said cursor from among said plurality of discrete position states utilizing said proxy cursor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
72 words
A data processing system for speech-supported navigation of a cursor within a graphical user interface as set forth in claim 8, further comprising: means for generating an operation event within said graphical user interface in response to a navigation of said proxy cursor; and means for displaying an operation event within said copy of said graphical user interface in response to a generation of an operation event within said graphical user interface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
136 words
A computer program product to be utilized within a data processing system for speech-supported navigation of a cursor within a graphical user interface comprising: media usable by said data processing system for storing and executing instruction means; instruction means, embodied within said media, for generating a copy of said graphical user interface; instruction means, embodied within said media, for generating a proxy cursor within said copy of said graphical user interface; instruction means, embodied within said media, for simultaneously displaying said copy of said graphical user interface and said proxy cursor; instruction means, embodied within said media, for navigating said proxy cursor within said copy of said graphical user interface in response to a speech command; and instruction means, embodied within said media, for navigating said cursor in response to a navigation of said proxy cursor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
136 words
A computer program product to be utilized within a data processing system for speech-supported navigation of a cursor within a graphical user interface comprising: media usable by said data processing system for storing and executing instruction means; instruction means, embodied within said media, for generating a copy of said graphical user interface; instruction means, embodied within said media, for generating a proxy cursor within said copy of said graphical user interface; instruction means, embodied within said media, for simultaneously displaying said copy of said graphical user interface and said proxy cursor; instruction means, embodied within said media, for navigating said proxy cursor within said copy of said graphical user interface in response to a speech command; and instruction means, embodied within said media, for navigating said cursor in response to a navigation of said proxy cursor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
117 words
A computer program product for speech-supported navigation of a cursor within a graphical user interface as set forth in claim 14, said instruction means for navigating said proxy cursor within said copy of said graphical user interface in response to a speech command comprising: instruction means, embodied within said media, for defining a coordinate system including a plurality of discrete position states within said copy of said graphical user interface; instruction means, embodied within said media, for scaling a granularity of said coordinate system in response to a first speech command; and instruction means, embodied within said media, for navigating said proxy cursor among said plurality of discrete position states in response to a second speech command.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product for speech-supported navigation of a cursor within a graphical user interface as set forth in claim 15, said instruction means for scaling comprising instruction means, embodied within said media, for modifying a minimum length of said coordinate system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
112 words
A computer program product for speech-supported navigation of a cursor within a graphical user interface as set forth in claim 15, further comprising: instruction means, embodied within said media, for displaying a coordinate grid within said copy of said graphical user interface including a plurality of intersection points corresponding to said plurality of discrete position states; said instruction means for navigating said proxy cursor among said plurality of discrete position states in response to a second speech command comprising instruction means, embodied within said media, for navigating said proxy cursor among said plurality of discrete position states in response to a second speech command including one of said plurality of intersection points.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
A computer program product for speech-supported navigation of a cursor within a graphical user interface as set forth in claim 15, further comprising instruction means, embodied within said media, for indicating a current position state of said cursor from among said plurality of discrete position states utilizing said proxy cursor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
82 words
A computer program product for speech-supported navigation of a cursor within a graphical user interface as set forth in claim 14, further comprising: instruction means, embodied within said media, for generating an operation event within said graphical user interface in response to a navigation of said proxy cursor; and instruction means, embodied within said media, for displaying an operation event within said copy of said graphical user interface in response to a generation of an operation event within said graphical user interface.
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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) | 2002-07-05 | 2003-01-04 | 2003-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-07-05 | 2007-01-04 | 2007-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-07-05 | 2011-01-04 | 2011-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |