International Business Machines Corporation

Nuance Communications, Inc.

Lawrence Frank Weiss

Richard Scott Schwerdtfeger

Rabindranath Dutta

Frances C Brown

Anh Quy Lu

Peter Thomas Brunet

Mark Edward Nosewicz

James Winthrop Thatcher

Frederik C Kjeldsen

George Kraft, Iv

Robert Bruce Mahaffey

Guido Corona

Thomas Andrew Brunet

Elliott Woodard Harris

An auditory user interactive interface to an application program being installed in the computer controlled system. A routine in an object, in an application program being installed in the computer controlled system for providing an auditory user interface to the program in combination with auditory means for offering the user of the computer controlled system the auditory user interface during installation of said application program, and responsive to the selection of the auditory interface provides the auditory user interface during said installation of the application program.

System and method to use text-to-speech to prompt whether text-to-speech output should be added during installation of a program on a computer system normally controlled through a user interactive display

An auditory user interactive interface to an application program being installed in the computer controlled system. A routine in an object, in an application program being installed in the computer controlled system for providing an auditory user interface to the program in combination with auditory means for offering the user of the computer controlled system the auditory user interface during installation of said application program, and responsive to the selection of the auditory interface provides the auditory user interface during said installation of the application program. The functional object in the application program being installed includes the routine for providing the auditory interface preferably implemented in Text to Speech (TTS) functions together with an implementation for determining whether the computer controlled system receiving the application program includes a TTS engine compatible with the TTS functions in the application program and a routine for installing a TTS engine compatible with the routine when the computer controlled system does not include the TTS engine.

A method, system, and computer usable program product for detecting and sharing road traffic condition information are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A system receives a set of image inputs from a set of cameras that are stationary relative to a road and monitoring road traffic. The system combines the image inputs forming a view. The system determines whether an alarm condition exists in the view. If an alarm condition exists, the system maps the alarm condition on the view using a characteristic of the alarm condition, thus forming a part of a condition information. The system transmits the part of the condition information, such that the part of the condition information can be received by a motorist. The system may also receive a set of sensor inputs from a set of sensors and may combine the set of sensor inputs with the set of image inputs to form the view.

Detecting and sharing road traffic condition information

Several different embodiments of an electronic document delivery system are described including a client machine (e.g., a palmtop/handheld computer or wireless communication device) coupled to a transcoder proxy. One embodiment of the system allows a client machine with limited resources to support JAVASCRIPT. The transcoder proxy receives an electronic document in a first digital format (e.g., HTML or XML). A JAVASCRIPT event may be associated with an element of the document including JAVASCRIPT code executed in response to the JAVASCRIPT event. The transcoder proxy assigns a unique identifier to the element, and forms a model of a logical structure of the document (e.g., a document object model or DOM). The transcoder proxy uses the model to produce an 'original' script including a portion of the document expressed in a second digital format (e.g., a scripting language), and provides the original script to the client machine. The client machine uses the original script to display/present the document portion. The client machine associates the JAVASCRIPT event with the element identifier, generates the JAVASCRIPT event in response to user input, and provides JAVASCRIPT event information and the associated identifier to the transcoder proxy. The transcoder proxy accesses the element within the model using the identifier, executes the JAVASCRIPT code producing a result, uses the model and the result to produce a 'modification' script, and provides the modification script to the client machine. The client machine uses the modification script to modify the displayed/presented portion of the document.

Electronic document delivery system employing distributed document object model (DOM) based transcoding and providing interactive javascript support

A system and method for transferring information a data processing network. A client device suitable for connecting to the network includes a client application configured to receive information from the network and to present the received information to a user as audio information. The server is configured to provide information to the client data processing device responsive to the client request. The system is configured to determine when at least a portion of the information provided by the server is unsuitable for presentation by the client and to respond to the determination by storing the information for later access by the user, presenting a visually enhanced version of the information to the user, or providing portions of the information suitable for audio presentation to the user.

Dynamic data generation suitable for talking browser

A method, program, and apparatus for providing a description of current position in an electronic document are provided. The invention first comprises parsing the electronic document into a parse tree. When the system receives a command from the user requesting current position in the electronic document, an algorithm performs a walk up the parse tree, from the current position to the root of the document. A position response, containing nodes in the walk up the parse tree, is constructed by the algorithm and reported to the user.

Method for providing a description of a user's current position in a web page

A system and method are described for selectively providing display data to a display device dependent upon an optically detected proximity of a user's face to a camera. One embodiment of a computer system includes the camera, the display device, and a processing system. The camera produces image signals representing a first image and a second image of the user's face, wherein the first image precedes the second image in time. The processing system receives the image signals and analyzes the first and second images to determine the proximity of the user's face to the camera. More specifically, the processing system compares the first and second images to determine the proximity of the user's face to the camera in the second image relative to the proximity of the user's face in the first image. The processing system provides the display data to the display device dependent upon the proximity of the user's face to the camera. In order to determine the proximity of the user's face to the camera, the processing system may compare: (i) a size of the user's face in the first and second images, and/or (ii) a distance between selected facial features of the user in the first and second images. The processing system may provide more of the display data to the display device when the user's face is closer to the camera, and may provide less of the display data to the display device when the user's face is farther from the camera.

Computer system providing hands free user input via optical means for navigation or zooming

Several different embodiments of an electronic document delivery system are described including a client machine (e.g., a palmtop/handheld computer or wireless communication device) coupled to a transcoder proxy. The system allows a client machine with limited resources to provide interactive aspects of electronic documents such as Web pages and/or an assistive technology solution for a physically challenged user. The transcoder proxy receives an electronic document including one or more elements and expressed in a first digital format (e.g., HTML or XML). The transcoder proxy assigns a unique identifier to each element, produces an &ldquo;original&rdquo; script including at least a portion of the document expressed in a second digital format (e.g., a scripting language), and provides the original script to the client machine. The transcoder proxy may form a model of the document (e.g., a document object model or DOM), and may use the model to produce the original script. The client machine uses the original script to display or otherwise present the portion of the document. The client machine generates an event in response to user input, associates the event with an element within the original script, and provides the event and the identifier assigned to the element to the transcoder proxy. The transcoder proxy accesses the model using the identifier, uses the model to produce a &ldquo;modification&rdquo; script, and provides the modification script to the client machine. The client machine uses the modification script to modify the displayed or otherwise presented portion of the document.

Electronic document delivery system employing distributed document object model (DOM) based transcoding

Several different methods for presenting (e.g., displaying) a hierarchical structure are presented. The hierarchical structure includes multiple elements, and defines hierarchical relationships between the elements. The hierarchical structure may be embodied within an electronic document such as a Web document, an interactive application program, or a map divided into sections. Each element has a &ldquo;presentation property&rdquo; which may be a value or a function. A single one of the elements has &ldquo;focus&rdquo; (e.g., in accordance with the coding of the document by an author, by default, etc.). A &ldquo;view depth&rdquo; method includes forming a model (e.g., a tree structure) of the hierarchical structure. The model includes multiple levels ranked with respect to one another, multiple nodes representing elements, and at least one branch.

User interface management through view depth

A computer controlled display interface system is provided for accessing information interactively inaccessible through said display interface comprising means for storing a database model of the dynamic data content of said display interface, means for connecting said display interface to said stored database model, means in said database model for sensing predetermined displayed data content in said interface, and means responsive to said sensing means for providing said information to said interface. The information provided may come from a help library or from a database accessed through an Internet or World Wide Web Browser.

Alternate access through a stored database model of a computer controlled interactive display interface to information inaccessible directly through the interactive display interface

An electronic document delivery system is described including a client machine coupled to (i.e., in wired or wireless communication with) a transcoder proxy. The client machine may be, for example, a palmtop or handheld computer or a wireless communication device with limited memory and/or processing capability. The client machine includes a Braille display and provides Braille format information identifying a selected Braille format to the transcoder proxy. The transcoder proxy is coupled to receive the Braille format information and electronic documents. Each electronic document includes presentation information (e.g., text and/or user controls such as buttons). The transcoder proxy includes a rule set including rules for translating electronic documents from any one of a set of first digital formats (e.g., a text-based markup language such as HTML, extensible markup language/XML, POSTSCRIPT, or portable document format/PDF) to any one of various Braille formats (e.g., English Braille, European Braille, Japanese Braille, and/or grades such as grade 1, grade 2, etc.). Locating the rule set within the transcoder proxy reduces the resource requirements of the client machine. The transcoder proxy translates the electronic document from the first digital format to a second digital format (e.g., a scripting language) such that the presentation information is converted to the selected Braille format, and provides the electronic document to the client machine in the second digital format.

Transcoding system for delivering electronic documents to a device having a braille display

Several embodiments of an electronic document delivery system are described including a client machine (e.g., a palmtop/handheld computer or wireless communication device) coupled to a transcoder proxy. The system allows a client machine with limited resources to provide an assistive technology solution for a physically challenged user. In one embodiment, the client machine includes an assistive technology which functions as an interface for a device (e.g., a Braille display or a speech engine). The transcoder proxy receives an electronic document expressed in a first digital format (e.g., HTML or XML). The transcoder proxy assigns a unique identifier to the element, and forms a model of a logical structure of the document (e.g., a document object model or DOM). The transcoder proxy uses the model to produce an &ldquo;original&rdquo; script including a portion of the document expressed in a second digital format (e.g., a scripting language). The client machine uses the original script to present the document portion. The client machine generates an assistive technology event in response to user input via the assistive technology device, associates the assistive technology event with the element, and provides assistive technology event information and the element identifier to the transcoder proxy. The transcoder proxy accesses the element within the model using the identifier, uses the model to produce a &ldquo;modification&rdquo; script, and provides the modification script to the client machine. The client machine uses the modification script to modify the presented portion of the document.

Electronic document delivery system employing distributed document object model (DOM) based transcoding and providing assistive technology support

A system, method, and program allow the execution of a different response of an application extension manager without modifying the default response of the application extension manager. The application extension manager resides in system memory. The application extension manager allows an execution unit to execute a task or a series of tasks in an ordered list associated with an event. A task is a set of executable instructions associated with an event that may be executed by the execution unit. When an event occurs, the application extension manager acquires the task on top of the ordered list. The acquired task then becomes selected to be executed by the execution unit. The selected task returns a value which indicates whether the application extension manager should proceed to the next task. If the value indicates to proceed to the next task, the next task becomes the selected task and the above stated process is repeated.

System, method and program for producing a customized response

Systems and methods for presenting (e.g., displaying) a hierarchical structure are presented. The hierarchical structure includes multiple elements and defines hierarchical relationships between the elements. The hierarchical structure may be embodied within an electronic document such as a Web document, an interactive application program, or a map divided into sections. Each element has a &ldquo;presentation property&rdquo; which may be a value or a function. One of the elements has &ldquo;focus&rdquo; (e.g., as created, by default, etc.). A &ldquo;branch isolation&rdquo; method includes forming a tree-like model of the hierarchical structure having multiple nodes and at least one branch. Each node represents one of the elements. One node is a root node and occupies a highest level in the hierarchical structure. A given branch connects a first node in a first level to a second node in a level directly below the first level. Each branch represents a hierarchical relationship between connected nodes. A &ldquo;focus node&rdquo; represents the element receiving focus. A &ldquo;path&rdquo; in the model from the root node to the focus node is determined. The presentation property of the element represented by the root node is selectively presented. The presentation property of each element represented by a node, other than the root node, along the path from the root node to the focus node is also presented. The presentation property of each element represented by a node in a subtree is also presented, wherein the focus node is a root node of the subtree.

User interface management through branch isolation

A data processing system and method providing for the sharing of inputs and outputs between a first assistive technology application and a second assistive technology application. An input/output manager in the first application is used to manage inputs to and outputs from the second application. An input method in the first application sends input to the second application. An output method in the first application receives output from the second application. A channel is formed between the input/output manager and the input and output methods to pass input and output that allows assistive technology applications to share user interface devices.

Data processing system and method for sharing user interface devices of a provider assistive technology application with disparate user assistive technology applications

Growing community of inventors

Round Rock, TX, United States of America

Lawrence Frank Weiss