Patent Application
20070281627
The present invention may be further understood with reference to the following description and the appended drawings, wherein like elements are referred to with the same reference numerals. The present invention describes a media-assisted application for use with a computing device. While the exemplary embodiments are described with reference to an audio-assisted application for use on a mobile computing device, those of skill in the art will understand that the present invention may provide audio (and/or audio-visual) capabilities for applications executed on any type of computing device, stationary and/or mobile. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention also include a software development platform for generating the media-assisted application.
The exemplary embodiments of the application 10 may be useful when the mobile device 5 is used in an environment in which viewing the display screen 9 is or may be difficult. For example, the environment may be a poorly lit environment (e.g., a garage, a warehouse, a shipping yard at night), a bright environment causing glare (e.g., a shipping yard during the day), an industrial environment in which a user is required to wear protective eyewear (e.g., a chemical lab), etc. Content presented on the display screen 9 may also be difficult to view when the content and/or the display screen 9 is less than a predetermined size. The application 10 may also be useful when the mobile device 5 is used by novice/un-trained users (e.g., a self-service modality).
As shown in
Referring back to the exemplary embodiment shown in
The application 10 may be stored as a table 400 (
Referring back to
In the exemplary embodiment, the audio file 30 may be played, in sequence, after the audio file 20 is played. This embodiment may be beneficial when the employee is required to enter the input data in a predetermined sequence. For example, upon receipt of the VIN, the mobile device 5 may wirelessly access the central computer 310 (and/or the database 315) to retrieve data from the customer's account and fill in other data fields automatically with the data. In another exemplary embodiment, the audio file 30 may be played when the data field 25 is highlighted, e.g., when a cursor is placed within the data field 25. This embodiment may be beneficial if there is a delay between hearing the audio file 20 and entering the input data into the mobile device 5. For example, the employee may greet the customer before entering the VIN.
The audio files used in conjunction with the application 10 may further include confirmation and retry audio files. For example, the confirmation audio file may be played after the user has begun to input data into a subsequent data field (e.g., a data field 35). After the VIN has been input into the data field 25 and the data field 35 is highlighted, the confirmation audio file may output, “Is the data in the previous field correct?” and/or “The data is successfully entered.” The retry audio file (e.g., audio file 45) may be played when the input data is unsuccessfully obtained/entered. For example, an audio file 40 is linked to the data field 35 and instructs the user to scan a bar code on the customer's license. If the scan is unsuccessful, the audio file 45 may be played. Thus, the data field may be linked to more than one audio file, e.g., an instruction audio file (type of data, where to locate data, etc.), a retry audio file, a confirmation audio file, etc., and the audio files may be output based on corresponding predetermined events.
When the data collected by the application 10 is ready to be submitted to the central computer 310, a submit button 50 may be highlighted, and an audio file 55 linked with the submit button 50 may be played. In another exemplary embodiment, when data has been entered into all of the data fields (or required data fields—e.g., a customer's email address data field may not require input data to be ready for submission), the audio file 55 is played, indicating that the data is ready for submission. A confirmation audio file may also be linked with the submit button 50 so that the employee knows that the data has been received by the central computer 310. A retry audio file may also be linked to the submit button 50. Thus, if the data is submitted without the input data in one of the (required) data fields, the audio file corresponding to the data field is played, reminding the user to enter the input data.
The application 10 may further utilize an exit audio file 60 which is played when the application 10 is terminated. For example, when the mobile device 5 is going to be used for another purpose, the exit audio file 60 may be played. Thus, the employee can audibly confirm that the mobile device 5 is ready to be used for a different application.
In step 215, the application 10 proceeds to (e.g., highlights) a data field on the application 10. The application 10 highlights the data field immediately after the audio file 20 is output or when a user of the mobile device 5 manually highlights the data field or enters data thereinto. In step 220, the application 10 determines whether an audio file is associated with the highlighted data field (e.g., by referencing the table 400). The application 10 then selects and outputs the corresponding audio file, as shown in step 222.
In step 225, the application 10 determines whether the form is to be submitted. If not, the application 10 proceeds through remaining data fields on the form (or those highlighted by the user) and outputs the audio files corresponding thereto, until the form is submitted. When the form is submitted to the central computer 310, the application 10 may output a corresponding audio file (e.g., confirmation audio file). In step 230, the application 10 is exited and plays the exit audio file 60 (step 232).
In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a software development platform for generating a media-assisted application. In this embodiment, the platform provides a form, a plurality of data fields and a plurality of audio files. An application developer inserts the data fields into the form (along with any text and/or images) to generate a visual representation of the application (e.g., the application 10 shown in
Those of skill in the art will understand that the audio-assisted application provides several advantages. For example, in poor lighting conditions such as low-light and glare, the audio-assisted application guides the user through content presented on the display screen of the mobile device. These benefits are also realized by users with impaired sight or who are required to wear safety eyewear. The audio-assisted application also benefits user which are new to the application and/or when the audio assisted application is used in self-service modalities.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the present invention, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
