Patent Application
20160077793
Gesture shortcuts implemented in touchscreen computing devices facilitate user experience by providing on-demand controls associated with desired events, circumventing the traditional static input methods (i.e., a keyboard key or designated button for receiving control inputs. Although existing implementations of gesture shortcuts may assist a user with on-demand input controls, the inputs themselves are generally limited to information retrieved directly from the gesture itself (i.e., swipe up means scroll up, swipe down means scroll down). Certain applications have attempted to provide additional on-demand input controls by including voice-to-text recognition services. Users, however, are currently limited in invoking such services using traditional static controllers or, in some cases, operating with a resource-consuming always-on listening mode (i.e., via accessibility tools). Additionally, these voice-to-text recognition services are only available in applications that provide such services.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In various embodiments, systems, methods, and computer storage media are provided for initiating a system-based voice-to-text dictation service in response to a gesture shortcut trigger. Data input fields, independent of the application, are presented anywhere throughout the system and are configured to at least detect one or more input events. A gesture listener process is operational and configured to detect preconfigured gestures corresponding to one of the data input fields. The gesture listener process can operably invoke a voice-to-text session upon detecting a preconfigured gesture and generating an input event based on the preconfigured gesture. The preconfigured gesture can be configured to omit any sort of visible on-screen affordance (e.g., microphone button on a virtual keyboard) to maintain aesthetic purity and further provide system-wide access to the voice-to-text session.
The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements and in which:
The subject matter of the present invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. Rather, the inventors have contemplated that the claimed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different steps or combinations of steps similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Moreover, although the terms “step” and/or “block” may be used herein to connote different elements of methods employed, the terms should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly described.
Some software applications may provide on-screen affordances (e.g., a microphone button on a virtual keyboard) for providing a user with a control for invoking a voice dictation service (i.e., voice-to-text). Oftentimes, however, on-screen affordances are not always readily visible in a particular application or even available for invocation on a system-wide level (i.e., any application across the entire platform). For example, unless a data input field, such as a text input box, is selected for data input, the keyboard including the on-screen affordance would not be readily available for easy invocation of the dictation service. Furthermore, if a particular application is not configured to provide a dictation service, data input would ultimately need to be performed manually by the user. Most applications, unless specifically designed to provide a dictation service, may not have access to a system level dictation service for voice-based data input.
Various aspects of the technology described herein are generally directed to systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for initiating a system-based voice-to-text dictation service in response to a gesture shortcut trigger (also referred to herein as a “preconfigured gesture”). A gesture listener process, configured to recognize or detect a preconfigured gesture for invoking a voice-to-text session, is generally active while any available data input field is on-screen and/or available for input. In some embodiments, the gesture listener process is continuously running, independent of the application, and throughout the entire computing system. The preconfigured gesture may be configured to omit any sort of visible on-screen affordance (e.g., microphone button on a virtual keyboard) to maintain aesthetic purity and further provide system-wide access to the dictation service. The system-wide accessibility and usability of a dictation service broadens the availability of input methods and further optimizes user experience.
Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention is directed to one or more computer storage media storing computer-useable instructions that, when used by one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to perform operations for initiating a system-wide voice-to-text dictation service in response to a preconfigured gesture. The operations include presenting an instance of a data input field configured to at least detect one or more input events. A preconfigured gesture corresponding to the data input field is detected, the detection being performed system-wide. An input event based on the preconfigured gesture corresponding to the data input field is generated. The input event is configured to invoke a voice-to-text session for the data input field.
Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a computer-implemented method for initiating a system-wide voice-to-text dictation service in response to a preconfigured gesture. A data input field, or an instance thereof, is presented on a display and is configured to at least detect one or more input events. A processor detects, on a system-wide level, a preconfigured gesture corresponding to the data input field. An input event is generated based on the preconfigured gesture corresponding to the data input field. The input event is configured to invoke a voice-to-text session for the data input field. The preconfigured gesture includes a physical interaction between a user and a computing device. The interaction begins within a gesture initiating region and ends within a gesture terminating region. In some embodiments, the gesture initiating and terminating regions can be common or partially common. The voice-to-text session is invoked upon at least recognition of the interaction. In some embodiments, the gesture initiating region does not include an on-screen affordance related to the voice-to-text session. On-screen affordances are generally known in the art of dictation services as user interface controls for initiating voice-to-text sessions.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention includes a system for initiating a system-wide voice-to-text dictation service in response to a preconfigured gesture. The system includes one or more processors, and one or more computer storage media storing computer-useable instructions. When used by the one or more processors, the instructions cause the one or more processors to detect a preconfigured gesture corresponding to a data input field and operable to invoke a voice-to-text session for the data input field. The preconfigured gesture includes a gesture initiating region and a gesture terminating region. The gesture initiating region does not include an on-screen affordance related to the voice-to-text session, and the gesture terminating region is located between a first end and second end of the data input field. The voice-to-text session is invoked upon at least detecting the preconfigured gesture. The voice-to-text session is aborted upon the occurrence of a timeout event, a user's interaction with a transient on-screen affordance, a keystroke performed on an actual or virtual keyboard, a removal of focus away from the active data input field, a voice command, or the user completing or terminating performance of the preconfigured gesture.
Having briefly described an overview of embodiments of the present invention, an exemplary operating environment in which embodiments of the present invention may be implemented is described below in order to provide a general context for various aspects of the present invention. Referring to the figures in general and initially to
Embodiments of the invention may be described in the general context of computer code or machine-useable instructions, including computer-useable or computer-executable instructions such as program modules, being executed by a computer or other machine, such as a personal data assistant or other handheld device. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, and the like, and/or refer to code that performs particular tasks or implements particular abstract data types. Embodiments of the invention may be practiced in a variety of system configurations, including hand-held devices, consumer electronics, general-purpose computers, more specialty computing devices, and the like. Embodiments of the invention may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote-processing devices that are linked through a communications network.
With continued reference to
The computing device 100 typically includes a variety of computer-readable media. Computer-readable media may be any available media that is accessible by the computing device 100 and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. Computer-readable media comprises computer storage media and communication media; computer storage media excluding signals per se. Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by computing device 100.
Communication media, on the other hand, embodies computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.
The memory 112 includes computer-storage media in the form of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory. The memory may be removable, non-removable, or a combination thereof. Exemplary hardware devices include solid-state memory, hard drives, optical-disc drives, and the like. The computing device 100 includes one or more processors that read data from various entities such as the memory 112 or the I/O components 120. The presentation component(s) 116 present data indications to a user or other device. Exemplary presentation components include a display device, speaker, printing component, vibrating component, and the like.
The I/O ports 118 allow the computing device 100 to be logically coupled to other devices including the I/O components 120, some of which may be built in. Illustrative I/O components include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, printer, wireless device, a controller, such as a stylus, a keyboard and a mouse, a natural user interface (NUI), and the like.
A NUI processes air gestures (i.e., motion or movements associated with a user's hand or hands or other parts of the user's body), voice, or other physiological inputs generated by a user. A NUI implements any combination of speech recognition, touch and stylus recognition, facial recognition, biometric recognition, gesture recognition both on screen and adjacent to the screen, air gestures, head and eye tracking, and touch recognition associated with displays on the computing device 100. The computing device 100 may be equipped with one or more touch digitizers and/or depth cameras, such as, stereoscopic camera systems, infrared camera systems, RGB camera systems, and combinations of these for direct and/or hover gesture detection and recognition. Additionally, the computing device 100 may be equipped with accelerometers or gyroscopes that enable detection of motion. The output of the accelerometers or gyroscopes is provided to the display of the computing device 100 to render immersive augmented reality or virtual reality.
Aspects of the subject matter described herein may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by a computing device. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, and so forth, which perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Aspects of the subject matter described herein may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote computer storage media including memory storage devices.
Furthermore, although the term “dictation” or “voice-to-text” is interchangeably used herein, it will be recognized that these terms may similarly refer to services which may also encompass a server, a client, a set of one or more processes distributed on one or more computers, one or more stand-alone storage devices, a set of one or more other computing or storage devices, any application, process, or device capable of sending and/or receiving an audio stream comprising human dictation and converting the dictation into text.
As previously mentioned, embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for initiating a system-based voice-to-text dictation service in response to recognizing a preconfigured gesture. A data input field, or an instance thereof, is presented and can be configured to receive user input data. In embodiments, the data input field is configured to at least detect one or more input events. A preconfigured gesture corresponding to the data input field is detected. In some embodiments, a gesture listener process is available throughout the system, regardless of the application, and is configured to detect the preconfigured gesture. An input event is generated based on the preconfigured gesture corresponding to the data input field. The input event is configured to invoke a voice-to-text session for the data input field. The preconfigured gesture includes a physical interaction between a user and a computing device. The interaction can begin within a gesture initiating region and end within a gesture terminating region. The voice-to-text session is invoked upon at least a recognition of the interaction. In some embodiments, the gesture initiating region does not include an on-screen affordance related to the voice-to-text session. On-screen affordances are generally known in the art as control user interfaces for the voice-to-text session.
Referring now to
It should be understood that any number of computing devices necessary to facilitate the system-wide dictation service 201 can be employed in the operating system 200 within the scope of embodiments of the present invention. Each computing device can comprise a single device/interface or multiple devices/interfaces cooperating in a distributed environment. For instance, the dictation service 201 can comprise multiple devices and/or modules arranged in a distributed environment that collectively provide the functionality of the dictation service 201 described herein. Additionally, other components or modules not shown also may be included within the computing system.
In some embodiments, one or more of the illustrated components/modules may be implemented as stand-alone applications. In other embodiments, one or more of the illustrated components/modules may be implemented via a computing device, the dictation service 201, or as an Internet-based service. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the components/modules illustrated in
It should be understood that this and other arrangements described herein are set forth only as examples. Other arrangements and elements (e.g., machines, interfaces, functions, orders, and groupings of functions, etc.) can be used in addition to or instead of those shown, and some elements may be omitted altogether. Further, many of the elements described herein are functional entities that may be implemented as discrete or distributed components or in conjunction with other components, and in any suitable combination and location. Various functions described herein as being performed by one or more entities may be carried out by hardware, firmware, and/or software. For instance, various functions may be carried out by a processor executing instructions stored in memory.
The computing device can include any type of computing device, such as the computing device 100 described with reference to
The dictation service 201 of
The network component 206 is a network configured to facilitate communications between the computing device running the operating system 200 and the database component 208. The network component 206 can be the Internet, a local area network (LAN), or a wireless network. The service component 205, including the network component 206 and database component 208, may reside together or in multiple computing devices to provide a “cloud” service, as may be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. At least a portion of the database component 208 may also reside on the computing device operating system 200 to allow voice-to-text conversion in circumstances where a network is inaccessible. Further, though illustrated as being apart from the operating system 200, the database component 208 may, in fact, be a part of the computing device running the operating system 200 including the dictation service 201.
The shell component 202 of the operating system 200, and utilized by the dictation service 201, is configured to identify events communicated to and from the user (i.e., a graphical user interface). The shell component 202 generally includes a user interface (UI) framework configured to render one or more data input fields 210. The data input fields 210 (e.g., a text box, a URL address box, a terminal prompt, a text message input area, a word processor input prompt, a search box, a calculator input prompt, etc.), or an instance thereof, can be presented to the user anywhere throughout the operating system including within applications and/or the shell user interface. In essence, the data input fields 210, rendered and configured by the UI frameworks, are operable to communicate with an input service 216, as will be described herein. The data input fields 210 also subscribe and/or listen to various input events (e.g., mouse events, keyboard events, gesture events, etc.) for performing subsequent actions therewith. With regards to detecting gesture events, the data input field(s) 210 can be notified of a gesture event, via the UI framework, by a gesture listener process 212 detecting a preconfigured gesture. As will be described herein, the gesture listener process 212 can detect a preconfigured dictation session “invocation” gesture corresponding to a data input field, ultimately invoking a dictation session for the corresponding data input field.
The dictation service 201 is in communication with the data input field(s) 210, such that upon detection of a preconfigured gesture corresponding to a data input field 210 by the gesture listener process 212, an input event (e.g., a gesture event) is generated by the gesture listener process 212 and sent to the data input field(s) 210 for handling. Though illustrated as being in direct communication with the gesture listener process 212, the data input fields 210 may, in fact, be in communication with any component or module of the operating system 200 or dictation service 201 configured to handle the input event generated by the gesture listener process 212.
The gesture listener process 212, a component of the platform component 204 and utilized by the dictation service 201, is operable to invoke a voice-to-text session upon detecting a preconfigured gesture corresponding to a data input field. As will be described in
The gesture listener process 212 is also configured to eliminate the need to include on-screen affordances (e.g., a microphone key on a virtual keyboard) to initiate the voice-to-text session. As can be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, many computing devices utilizing touchscreen technologies require the use of virtual keyboards that appear when the user is prompted for input data. Virtual keyboards are generally cumbersome and utilize a great deal of screen real estate. Even so, the virtual keyboards are designed to provide input data only to the data input field after touching or selecting the data input field, followed by instantiating the virtual keyboard, and then typing via keyboard or initiating the voice-to-text session by means of the on-screen affordance. By eliminating the need to instantiate a virtual keyboard, and invoking a voice-to-text session by means of performing a gesture, the steps to providing dictation services are significantly reduced. Further, as will be described, gestures may be configured to allow the user to choose which data input field will receive the dictation input data, simply by configuring the gesture terminating region to be located substantially within the physical boundaries of the desired data input field.
The gesture listener process 212, upon recognizing a preconfigured gesture corresponding to a data input field 210 and sometimes, with speech, can send a signal or input event to the corresponding data input field 210. The corresponding data input field 210 is configured to send the signal or input event to an input service 216. The input service 216, a subcomponent of the platform component 204, is configured to recognize all data input fields 210 in the system and handle input events delivered there through. In turn, the input service 216 communicates the signal or input event to the dictation manager 214, the dictation manager 214 being configured to manage the processes and flow of the dictation service 201. The dictation manager 214 facilitates communication between shell component 202 and platform component 204, and is responsible for managing the input and output of the dictation service 201. As such, upon receiving an indication from one or more data input fields 210 that a preconfigured gesture corresponding therewith has been detected, by way of an input event being communicated there through, the dictation manager 214 is operable to provide a voice-to-text session for entering converted voice-to-text input data to the corresponding data input field. The basic functionalities of a dictation service providing a voice-to-text session are generally known in the art; however, description of the basic components will be described further herein.
The dictation manager 214, upon initiating the voice-to-text session, includes at least shell component 202 modules and/or functions and platform component 204 modules and/or functions. As described, the data input field(s) 210 are shell components that are in communication with the input service 216, which in turn, are in communication with the dictation manager 214. The data input field(s) are configured, among other things, to receive and present converted dictation data (e.g., voice-to-text data) therein, the data provided by the speech platform 222 which will be described further herein. The speech platform 222 provides converted dictation data to the dictation manager 214, the dictation manager 214 then storing the converted dictation data to an edit buffer (not shown) managed by the input service 216. As such, the converted dictation data is sent to and presented by the corresponding data input field 210 by way of the input service 216, as illustrated.
Shell component 202 functionalities provided by the dictation manager 214 also include visual feedback 218 and audible feedback 220. Visual feedback 218 functionality can include gesture recognition status, dictation start/stop prompts, transient on-screen affordances for initiating a voice-to-text session, on-screen affordances for terminating a voice-to-text session, etc. In other words, the visual feedback 218 provided by the dictation manager 214 can generally provide dictation service 201 status indicators and control inputs to the user. Audible feedback 220 functionality can similarly include gesture recognition status, dictation prompts, dictation feedback, etc. Audible feedback 220, as provided by the dictation manager 214 can generally provide dictation service 201 status indicators to the user.
As briefly mentioned above, the dictation manager 214 is in communication with a speech platform 222, which generally comprises an operating environment and runtime libraries specifically directed to providing voice-to-text functionality in the dictation service 201. The speech platform 222 provides the dictation manager 214 with an interface to a speech engine 226 after receiving a signal or notification from the dictation manager 214 that the voice-to-text session is to be invoked. The speech platform 222 is also operable to determine dictation status. For example, if a user finishes a dictation with a silent pause, the speech platform may provide functionality to determine a timeout event 224 and communicates the timeout event 224 to the dictation manager for action. The speech platform 222 is also in communication with the speech engine 226, the speech engine 226 being comprised of software for providing voice-to-text conversion.
The speech engine 226, which interfaces with the speech platform 222 for communication with the dictation manager 214, is configured to provide the speech recognition technology necessary to facilitate the voice-to-text conversion. As illustrated, the speech engine 226 is in communication with the service component 205, including an external network 206 and database 208. As described above, the service component 205 may be configured as a cloud service configured to provide voice-to-text conversion data. Though illustrated with the speech engine 226 as being part of the computing device platform 204, the speech engine 226 may alternatively be configured as being a part of the cloud service, such that the speech platform 222 is in communication with the speech engine 226 via the network 226. In the alternative, the speech engine may not necessarily need to communicate with the network 206 and database 208 for enabling dictation services. The speech engine 226 may therefore be configured to provide voice-to-text conversion data on the local computing device alone.
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At least while the data input field is presented, a gesture listener process is running. The gesture listener process, which can be available system-wide, is configured to detect a preconfigured gesture corresponding to the data input field, as shown at step 1012. A preconfigured gesture can include any physical interaction between a user and a computing device (e.g., a touch, slide, hover, swipe, tap, etc.). Generally, such a physical interaction begins within a gesture initiating region and ends within a gesture terminating region, wherein upon recognition of the process of performing the preconfigured gesture, or the actual completion thereof, invokes a voice-to-text session. In some aspects, the substantial performance or actual performance of the preconfigured gesture may also require the detection of speech to invoke the voice-to-text session. The detection of the preconfigured gesture corresponding to the data input field, and in some embodiments in combination with the detection of speech, generates an input event, as shown at step 1014. The input event is configured to invoke a voice-to-text session for the data input field.
In some aspects, the gesture initiating region does not include any on-screen affordances or controls related to initiating a voice-to-text session. In some other aspects, an on-screen affordance may be transient, such that the on-screen affordance to initiate the voice-to-text session becomes visible and may be interacted with upon substantial or actual performance of the preconfigured gesture.
As can be understood, embodiments of the present invention can provide methods of aborting voice-to-text sessions. For example, voice-to-text sessions can be aborted after a predetermined period of silence (e.g., 5 seconds of silence following dictation). Further, voice-to-text sessions can be aborted through an interaction with a transient on-screen affordance, which only appears after the substantial or actual performance of a preconfigured gesture. Other embodiments can provide methods to abort voice-to-text session by detecting: a keystroke performed on an actual or virtual keyboard, a removal of focus away from the active data input field, or a voice command (e.g., the user says “stop listening”). Finally, in embodiments that require the continual performance of the preconfigured gesture during dictation (i.e., the push-to-talk embodiment as described herein), a termination of performance of the preconfigured gesture can abort the voice-to-text session.
The present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments, which are intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its scope.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and have been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.
