Device, method, and user interface for voice-activated navigation and browsing of a document

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9495129-B2
Application number	US-201313797937-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2013
Priority date	Jun 29, 2012
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

The electronic device with one or more processors and memory receives a first document including a plurality of links. The electronic device outputs a voice reading of at least a portion of the first document, and outputs audible information identifying a link of the plurality of links. In response to outputting the audible information identifying the link, the electronic device receives from the user a voice command regarding the link, and, in response to receiving from the user the voice command, outputs a voice reading of at least a portion of a second document associated with the link.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
one or more processors; and
memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
receiving a first document comprising a plurality of links;
outputting a voice reading of at least a portion of the first document, including text associated with a link of the plurality of links;
in response to reaching the text associated with the link, outputting spoken information related to text of a second document in addition to the voice reading of the text associated with the link;
receiving from a user a voice command regarding the link;
in response to receiving from the user the voice command, outputting a voice reading of at least a portion of the second document;
after outputting the voice reading of at least a portion of the second document, outputting a voice inquiry about navigating back to the first document;
in response to outputting the voice inquiry about navigating back to the first document, receiving from the user a voice command requesting navigation back to the first document; and
in response to receiving from the user the voice command requesting navigation back to the first document, outputting a voice reading of one or more portions of the first document including a text, in the first document, associated with the link.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:
in response to receiving from the user the voice command regarding the link, storing information about the link; and
outputting a voice reading of one or more portions of the second document.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the voice command is a voice command of a first type, and the one or more programs include instructions for:
receiving from the user a voice command of a second type distinct, from the first type, regarding the link; and
in response to receiving from the user the voice command of the second type regarding the link:
retrieving information from the second document; and
outputting voice information corresponding to the voice command of the second type based on the information from the second document.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the voice command of the second type includes a request for information about an author of the second document.

5. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the voice command of the second type includes a request for a summary of the second document.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:
identifying two or more links as candidate links corresponding to a voice command from the user;
outputting audible information about the candidate links; and
receiving from the user a selection of a single link of the candidate links.

7. A method for navigating through documents, comprising:
at an electronic device with one or more processors and memory:
receiving a first document comprising a plurality of links;
outputting a voice reading of at least a portion of the first document, including text associated with a link of the plurality of links;
in response to reaching the text associated with the link, outputting spoken information related to text of a second document in addition to the voice reading of the text associated with the link;
receiving from a user a voice command regarding the link;
in response to receiving from the user the voice command, outputting a voice reading of at least a portion of the second document,
after outputting the voice reading of at least a portion of the second document, outputting a voice inquiry about navigating back to the first document;
in response to outputting the voice inquiry about navigating back to the first document, receiving from the user a voice command requesting navigation back to the first document; and
in response to receiving from the user the voice command requesting navigation back to the first document, outputting a voice reading of one or more portions of the first document including a text, in the first document, associated with the link.

8. The method of claim 7 , including:
in response to receiving from the user the voice command regarding the link, storing information about the link; and
outputting a voice reading of one or more portions of the second document.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the voice command is a voice command of a first type, the method comprising:
receiving from the user a voice command of a second type distinct, from the first type, regarding the link; and
in response to receiving from the user the voice command of the second type regarding the link:
retrieving information from the second document; and
outputting voice information corresponding to the voice command of the second type based on the information from the second document.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
identifying two or more links as candidate links corresponding to a voice command from the user;
outputting audible information about the candidate links; and
receiving from the user a selection of a single link of the candidate links.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which, when executed by a portable electronic device or a computer system with one or more processors, cause the electronic device or computer system to perform:
receiving a first document comprising a plurality of links;
outputting a voice reading of at least a portion of the first document, including text associated with a link of the plurality of links;
in response to reaching the text associated with the link, outputting spoken information related to text of a second document in addition to the voice reading of the text associated with the link;
receiving from a user a voice command regarding the link;
in response to receiving from the user the voice command, outputting a voice reading of at least a portion of the second document,
after outputting the voice reading of at least a portion of the second document, outputting a voice inquiry about navigating back to the first document;
in response to outputting the voice inquiry about navigating back to the first document, receiving from the user a voice command requesting navigation back to the first document; and
in response to receiving from the user the voice command requesting navigation back to the first document, outputting a voice reading of one or more portions of the first document including a text, in the first document, associated with the link.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:
in response to receiving from the user the voice command regarding the link, storing information about the link; and
outputting a voice reading of one or more portions of the second document.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the voice command is a voice command of a first type, and the one or more programs include instructions for:
receiving from the user a voice command of a second type distinct, from the first type, regarding the link; and
in response to receiving from the user the voice command of the second type regarding the link:
retrieving information from the second document; and
outputting voice information corresponding to the voice command of the second type based on the information from the second document.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the one or more programs include in

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Fleizach Christopher Brian
• Gruber Thomas Robert

Classifications

• G06F16/94

  Hypermedia (Hyperlinking G06F40/134) · CPC title

• G06F16/954

  Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing · CPC title

• G06F3/167 Primary

  Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback · CPC title

• G06F17/30873

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06F17/30014

  Physics · mapped topic