IP Library Granted Patent US 7,870,002
Granted Patent B2
US 7,870,002 · App. 11/876,222 · Granted Jan 11, 2011

Computer, display control device, pointer position control method, and program

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,870,002
App. No.
11/876,222
Granted
Jan 11, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

To provide a pointer position control method and the like for manipulating a pointer more easily. The user moves the pointer P two-dimensionally and perform click and other operations by using only “voice”—by varying the volume and pitch of produced voice without uttering any specific command. The user moves the pointer P by varying the volume and switches the travel direction of the pointer P by changing the pitch. Also, by stopping to vary the volume, the user can automatically enter a fine adjustment mode in which the user can make fine adjustments. Furthermore, the user can perform a click by stopping to produce voice suddenly and return to normal speech recognition mode by keeping silent.

Claims (20)

1. A computer comprising:

voice input means for accepting voice input from outside;

volume detection means for detecting the volume of voice entered through said voice input means;

frequency detection means for detecting the frequency of the voice entered through said voice input means;

display means for displaying images on a display screen together with a pointer for pointing to the images; and

pointer control means for controlling the operation of said pointer based on the volume detected by said volume detection means and frequency detected by said frequency detection means by selecting an axis along which to move the pointer based on the detected frequency and selecting a direction on the selected axis in which to move the pointer based on the detected volume.

2. A computer comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one memory that stores processor-executable instructions for controlling the operation of a pointer displayed on the display device;

at least one processor, coupled to the memory and the display device, that executes the processor-executable instructions to:

receive voice input;

detect the volume of the voice input;

detect the frequency of the voice input;

control the operation of the pointer based on the detected volume and the detected frequency by selecting an axis along which to move the pointer based on the detected frequency and selecting a direction on the selected axis in which to move the pointer based on the detected volume.

3. A method for controlling the operation of a pointer displayed on a display device, the method comprising:

receiving voice input;

detecting the volume of the voice input;

detecting the frequency of the voice input;

controlling the operation of the pointer based on the detected volume and the detected frequency by selecting an axis along which to move the pointer based on the detected frequency and selecting a direction on the selected axis in which to move the pointer based on the detected volume.

4. At least one tangible computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed on a computer, perform a method for controlling the operation of a pointer displayed on a display device, the method comprising: receiving voice input; detecting the volume of the voice input; detecting the frequency of the voice input; controlling the operation of the pointer based on the detected volume and the detected frequency by selecting an axis along which to move the pointer based on the detected frequency and selecting a direction on the selected axis in which to move the pointer based on the detected volume.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 13, 2023
From: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 065552/0934 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 2, 2009
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 022330/0088 →