US6138100A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interface for a voice-activated connection system
Assignee: Nuance Communications Inc
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Filing: 1998-04-14
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Granted: 2000-10-24
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Expires: 2018-04-14
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for defining an interface for a system using voice commands to connect a first user to a second user over a network. The interface receives a request to define the interface for a particular user. The interface receives a first information item, and searches at least one database for a second information item indexed by the first information item. Another search is performed for a third information item indexed by the second information item. This process is continued until the interface has gathered sufficient information items to construct a natural language grammar for use by the interface. The interface uses the natural language grammar to parse commands given by the user for future communications connections.
Inventors
- 👤 Dawn L. Dutton
- 👤 Shrikanth Sambasivan Narayanan
- 👤 Ilija Zeljkovic
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:30
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10L; G10L15/00; G10L15/08; G10L15/18; G10L15/1822; G10L15/22; G10L15/06; G10L15/063; G10L2015/0631; G10L2015/223; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99932; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99934; Y10S707/99935
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for creating a data structure for use in a Voice-Activated Connection system, said method comprising the steps of: a) receiving a request to create said data structure, said request including a first information item; b) querying at least one pre-defined database using said first information item as a search key to retrieve additional information; and c) creating said data structure using said first information and said additional information as data elements, wherein said data structure associates said retrieved additional information with said first information item.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for creating a data structure for use in a Voice-Activated Connection system, said method comprising the steps of: a) receiving a request to create said data structure, said request including a first information item; b) querying at least one pre-defined database using said first information item as a search key to retrieve additional information; and c) creating said data structure using said first information and said additional information as data elements, wherein said data structure associates said retrieved additional information with said first information item.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said data elements form a grammar used by said voice-activated connection system to parse commands received from a user.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for defining an interface for a system to receive voice commands to connect a first user to a second user over a network, comprising the steps of: a) receiving a request to define said interface; b) receiving a first information item; c) searching at least one database for a second information item indexed by said first information item; and d) constructing a grammar for said interface using said first and second information items.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for defining an interface for a system to receive voice commands to connect a first user to a second user over a network, comprising the steps of: a) receiving a request to define said interface; b) receiving a first information item; c) searching at least one database for a second information item indexed by said first information item; and d) constructing a grammar for said interface using said first and second information items.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of searching at least one database for a third information item based on said second information item.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of: receiving a voice command for connecting said first user to said second user; parsing said request using said interface; and connecting said first user to said second user based on said parsed request.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said database stores at least one of a group comprising electronic white pages, electronic yellow pages, HTML documents, calling service profiles and electronic user profiles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 3, wherein steps c) and d) are repeated until said search is complete.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said grammar is used by a natural language interface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said database is accessed using a transmission control protocol/internet protocol.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said database is accessed using a hypertext transfer protocol.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
76 words
An apparatus for defining an interface for a system to receive voice commands to connect a first user to a second user over a network, comprising: means for receiving a request to define said interface; means for receiving a first information item; means for searching at least one database for a second information item indexed by said first information item; and means for constructing a grammar for said interface using said first and second information items.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
76 words
An apparatus for defining an interface for a system to receive voice commands to connect a first user to a second user over a network, comprising: means for receiving a request to define said interface; means for receiving a first information item; means for searching at least one database for a second information item indexed by said first information item; and means for constructing a grammar for said interface using said first and second information items.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising means for searching at least one database for a third information item based on said second information item.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising the steps of: receiving a voice command for connecting said first user to said second user; parsing said request using said interface; and connecting said first user to said second user based on said parsed request.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said database stores at least one of a group comprising electronic white pages, electronic yellow pages, employee files, HTML documents, calling service profiles and electronic user profiles.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said means for searching searches until a search ending condition is reached.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said grammar is for a natural language interface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said database is accessed using a transmission control protocol/internet protocol.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said database is accessed using a hypertext transfer protocol.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
74 words
A voice-activated connection system, comprising: a voice-activated connection module receiving a first information item, said voice-activated connection module generating a search request; a database in communication with said voice-activated connection module, said database receiving said search request and sending a search result to said voice-activated connection module; and a natural language interface module coupled to said voice-activated connection module receiving said search result and constructing a natural language grammar based on said search results.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
74 words
A voice-activated connection system, comprising: a voice-activated connection module receiving a first information item, said voice-activated connection module generating a search request; a database in communication with said voice-activated connection module, said database receiving said search request and sending a search result to said voice-activated connection module; and a natural language interface module coupled to said voice-activated connection module receiving said search result and constructing a natural language grammar based on said search results.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
49 words
A computer for performing voice-activated connections, comprising: a memory containing: a voice-activated connection program having functions for searching for information items; a natural language interface program having functions for building a natural language grammar; and a processor for running the voice-activated connection program and the natural language interface program.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
A computer for performing voice-activated connections, comprising: a memory containing: a voice-activated connection program having functions for searching for information items; a natural language interface program having functions for building a natural language grammar; and a processor for running the voice-activated connection program and the natural language interface program.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
95 words
A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computer system to perform voice-activated connections, the computer system having a voice-activated connection program and a natural language interface program, by performing the steps of: receiving a request to define said interface by the voice-activated connection program; receiving a first information item by the voice-activated connection program; searching at least one database for a second information item indexed by said first information item by the voice-activated connection program; and constructing a grammar for said interface using said first and second information items by the natural language interface program.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
95 words
A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computer system to perform voice-activated connections, the computer system having a voice-activated connection program and a natural language interface program, by performing the steps of: receiving a request to define said interface by the voice-activated connection program; receiving a first information item by the voice-activated connection program; searching at least one database for a second information item indexed by said first information item by the voice-activated connection program; and constructing a grammar for said interface using said first and second information items by the natural language interface program.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-10-24 | 2004-04-24 | 2004-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-24 | 2008-04-24 | 2008-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-24 | 2012-04-24 | 2012-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |