US6035336A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Audio ticker system and method for presenting push information including pre-recorded audio
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1997-10-17
•
Granted: 2000-03-07
•
Expires: 2017-10-17
Abstract
Abstract For use with client/server or network communication and processing systems, such as the Internet, a "push" information system is provided, for automatically providing information to a user. The information is provided in audio form. The system includes a library of prerecorded sounds, including a dictionary of words and phrases. When information appears, for instance in text format, a mapper produces a sequence of audio clips from the library, to convey information substantially identical to that in the information. This sequence of audio clips is played at the user's terminal. Thus the user is exposed to the information, while the user continues to use an application on the terminal. The information does not require screen real estate, and the user need not look away from his/her work in order to receive the information.
Inventors
- 👤 Qi Lu
- 👤 Lev Stesin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:03
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04H; H04H20/00; H04H20/65; H04H20/76; H04H20/82; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/16; H04L12/18; H04H60/00; H04H60/35; H04H60/46; H04L12/1859
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
A system for providing a user with desired information, the system comprising: a unit including a video display mechanism and an audio play mechanism; means for displaying first information using the video display mechanism; a library of prerecorded voice clips; means for receiving information indicating which of the prerecorded voice clips to use to form second information; and means for playing the second information using the audio play mechanism.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
69 words
A system for providing a user with desired information, the system comprising: a unit including a video display mechanism and an audio play mechanism; means for displaying first information using the video display mechanism; a library of prerecorded voice clips; means for receiving information indicating which of the prerecorded voice clips to use to form second information; and means for playing the second information using the audio play mechanism.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the system includes a client and a server; and the library of prerecorded voice clips, the means for receiving, and the means for playing are resident on the client.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
104 words
A system as recited in claim 2, wherein: the client includes means for determining that the library does not contain a voice clip which corresponds with the second information; the server includes a second library of prerecorded voice clips and means, operable responsive to a request from a client, for identifying which prerecorded voice clip of the second library corresponds with the second information and for responding to the request by downloading the identified prerecorded voice clip; and the client includes means, responsive to failure to find a prerecorded voice clip which corresponds with the second information, for sending a request to the server.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for playing one of (i) a prelude, (ii) a postlude, and (iii) a background audio, along with the second information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system as recited in claim 4, further comprising: a library of prelude/postlude/background sounds; and means for allowing a user to preselect a desired sound, from the library of prelude/postlude/background sounds, as one of (i) the prelude, (ii) the postlude, and (iii) the background.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
A system as recited in claim 5, wherein: the means for allowing a user to preselect a desired sound is operable on a per information item basis; a succession of messages related to a given information item are anticipated to be received over time; and the system further comprises means for allowing the user to choose selective playback of one of (i) the prelude, (ii) the postlude, and (iii) the background preselected for messages related to that information item.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the system further comprises: means for receiving second information messages, and means for determining, based on preprogrammed user interest criteria, whether a given one of the second information messages is of interest to the user; and the means for playing the second information includes determination, by the means for determining, that the given second information message is of interest to the user.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system as recited in claim 7, wherein the means for determining whether a given one of the second information messages is of interest to the user includes means for allowing the user to preprogram what information is of interest.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system s recited in claim 8, further comprising: means for maintaining and displaying a menu of channels of information; and means for allowing the user to select and deselect channels from the menu.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system as recited in claim 9, further comprising means for allowing the user to filter information from a selected channel according to a filtering criterion, so that the user receives only information from the channel which satisfies the filtering criterion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a second source for information to be played back as audio signals; and means for playing audio signals from the second source along with the second information.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as recited in claim 11, wherein: the system further includes an application program; and the second source for information to be played back as audio signals includes the application program.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the received information includes a plurality of tokens, each of the tokens being smaller than the prerecorded voice clip that the token indicates.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the received information includes a plurality of tokens, at least some of the tokens indicating a prerecorded voice clip of one word length.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as recited in claim 14, wherein the received information includes a plurality of tokens, at least some of the tokens indicating a prerecorded voice clip of multiple word length.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the received information includes a plurality of tokens, at least some of the tokens indicating a prerecorded voice clip of multiple word length.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for providing a user with desired information, the user employing a client computer system including a unit having a video display mechanism and an audio play mechanism, the method comprising the steps of: displaying first information using the video display mechanism; storing a library of prerecorded voice clips on the client system; receiving information indicating which of the prerecorded voice clips to use to form second information; and playing the second information using the audio play mechanism.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for providing a user with desired information, the user employing a client computer system including a unit having a video display mechanism and an audio play mechanism, the method comprising the steps of: displaying first information using the video display mechanism; storing a library of prerecorded voice clips on the client system; receiving information indicating which of the prerecorded voice clips to use to form second information; and playing the second information using the audio play mechanism.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as recited in claim 17, further comprising the steps of: coupling the client system to a server; and forming the second information based on the received information, wherein the steps of forming and playing are executed by the client system.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
110 words
A method as recited in claim 18, wherein: the method further includes the step, executed by the client, of determining if the library does not contain a voice clip which corresponds with the second information; the server includes a second library of prerecorded voice clips and means, operable responsive to a request from the client system, for identifying which prerecorded voice clip of the second library corresponds with the second information and for responding to the request by downloading the identified prerecorded voice clip; and the method further includes the step, executed by the client system responsive to failure of the forming step, of sending a request to the server.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 17, further comprising the step of playing one of (i) a prelude, (ii) a postlude, and (iii) a background audio, along with the second information.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as recited in claim 20, wherein: the client system further includes a library of prelude/postlude/background sounds; and the method further comprises the step of allowing a user to preselect a desired sound, from the library of prelude/postlude/background sounds, as one of (i) the prelude, (ii) the postlude, and (iii) the background.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
80 words
A method as recited in claim 21, wherein: the step of allowing a user to preselect a desired sound is operable on a per information item basis; a succession of messages related to a given information item are anticipated to be received over time; and the method further comprises the step of allowing the user to choose selective playback of one of (i) the prelude, (ii) the postlude, and (iii) the background preselected for messages related to that information item.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method as recited in claim 17 wherein: the method further comprises the steps of: receiving second information messages, and determining, based on preprogrammed user interest criteria, whether a given one of the second information messages is of interest to the user, and the step of playing the second information includes determination, by the step of determining, that the given second information message is of interest to the user.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as recited in claim 23, wherein the step of determining whether a given one of the second information messages is of interest to the user includes allowing the user to preprogram what information is of interest.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method s recited in claim 24, further comprising the steps of: maintaining and displaying a menu of channels of information; and allowing the user to select and deselect channels from the menu.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising the step of allowing the user to filter information from a selected channel according to a filtering criterion, so that the user receives only information from the channel which satisfies the filtering criterion.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as recited in claim 17, wherein: the client system includes a second source for information to be played back as audio signals; and the method further comprises the step of playing audio signals from the second source along with the second information.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as recited in claim 27, wherein: the client system further includes an application program; and the second source for information to be played back as audio signals includes the application program.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the received information includes a plurality of tokens, each of the tokens being smaller than the prerecorded voice clip that the token indicates.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the received information includes a plurality of tokens, at least some of the tokens indicating a prerecorded voice clip of one word length.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 30, wherein the received information includes a plurality of tokens, at least some of the tokens indicating a prerecorded voice clip of multiple word length.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the received information includes a plurality of tokens, at least some of the tokens indicating a prerecorded voice clip of multiple word length.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
99 words
A machine-readable medium encoded with a computer program, for use with a client computer system, for providing a user with desired information, the client computer system including a library of prerecorded voice clips and a unit having a video display mechanism and an audio play mechanism, the computer program comprising: means for directing the client system to display first information using the video display mechanism; means for receiving information indicating which of the prerecorded voice clips to use to form second information; and means for directing the client system to play the second information using the audio play mechanism.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
99 words
A machine-readable medium encoded with a computer program, for use with a client computer system, for providing a user with desired information, the client computer system including a library of prerecorded voice clips and a unit having a video display mechanism and an audio play mechanism, the computer program comprising: means for directing the client system to display first information using the video display mechanism; means for receiving information indicating which of the prerecorded voice clips to use to form second information; and means for directing the client system to play the second information using the audio play mechanism.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
34 words
A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 33, wherein the client system is coupled to a server, and the computer program further includes means for forming the second information based on the received infornation.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
113 words
A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 34, wherein: the computer program further includes means for directing the client system to determine if the library does not contain a voice clip which corresponds with the second information; the server includes a second library of prerecorded voice clips and means, operable responsive to a request from the client system, for identifying which prerecorded voice clip of the second library corresponds with the second information and for responding to the request by downloading the identified prerecorded voice clip; and the computer program further includes means for directing the client system, responsive to failure of the means for forming, to send a request to the server.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
40 words
A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 33, wherein the computer program further includes means for directing the client system to play one of (i) a prelude, (ii) a postlude, and (iii) a background audio, along with the second information.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
59 words
A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 36, wherein: the client system further includes a library of prelude/postlude/background sounds; and the computer program further comprises means for directing the client system to allow a user to preselect a desired sound, from the library of prelude/postlude/background sounds, as one of (i) the prelude, (ii) the postlude, and (iii) the background.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
88 words
A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 37, wherein: the means for directing to allow a user to preselect a desired sound is operable on a per information item basis; a succession of messages related to a given information item are anticipated to be received over time; and the computer program further comprises means for directing the client system to allow the user to choose selective playback of one of (i) the prelude, (ii) the postlude, and (iii) the background preselected for messages related to that information item.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
89 words
A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 33 wherein the computer program further comprises: means for directing the client system to receive second information messages, and means for directing the client system to determine, based on preprogrammed user interest criteria, whether a given one of the second information messages is of interest to the user, and the means for directing the client system to play the second information includes determination, by the means for directing to determine, that the given second information message is of interest to the user.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
48 words
A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 39, wherein the means for directing to determine whether a given one of the second information messages is of interest to the user includes means for directing the client system to allow the user to preprogram what information is of interest.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
49 words
A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 40, wherein the computer program further comprises: means for directing the client system to maintain and display a menu of channels of information; and means for directing the client system to allow the user to select and deselect channels from the menu.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
51 words
A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 41, wherein the computer program further comprises means for directing the client system to allow the user to filter information from a selected channel according to a filtering criterion, so that the user receives only information from the channel which satisfies the filtering criterion.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
50 words
A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 33, wherein: the client system includes a second source for information to be played back as audio signals; and the computer program further comprises means for directing the client system to play audio signals from the second source along with the second information.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
34 words
A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 43, wherein: the client system further includes an application program; and the second source for information to be played back as audio signals includes the application program.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
32 words
A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 33, wherein the received information includes a plurality of tokens, each of the tokens being smaller than the prerecorded voice clip that the token indicates.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
32 words
A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 33, wherein the received information includes a plurality of tokens, at least some of the tokens indicating a prerecorded voice clip of one word length.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
32 words
A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 46, wherein the received information includes a plurality of tokens, at least some of the tokens indicating a prerecorded voice clip of multiple word length.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
32 words
A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 33, wherein the received information includes a plurality of tokens, at least some of the tokens indicating a prerecorded voice clip of multiple word length.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5270922A
Cited
US4920432A
Cited
US5640590A
Cited
US5374952A
Cited
US5414455A
Cited
US5630066A
Cited
US5557663A
Cited
US5826242A
Cited
US5802526A
Cited
US5884056A
Cited
US5848378A
Cited
US5787470A
Cited
US5850218A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-03-07 | 2003-09-06 | 2004-03-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-07 | 2007-09-06 | 2008-03-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-07 | 2011-09-06 | 2012-03-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |