IP Library Granted Patent US 9,558,737
Granted Patent B2
US 9,558,737 · App. 14/805,328 · Granted Jan 31, 2017

System and method for audibly presenting selected text

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,558,737
App. No.
14/805,328
Granted
Jan 31, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods for presenting speech from a selected text that is on a computing device. This method includes presenting text on a touch-sensitive display and having that text size within a threshold level so that the computing device can accurately determine the intent of the user when the user touches the touch screen. Once the user touch has been received, the computing device identifies and interprets the portion of text that is to be selected, and subsequently presents the text audibly to the user.

Claims (42)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

displaying, via a processor, text via a touch-sensitive display;

receiving, from the touch-sensitive display, a plurality of user taps;

identifying a portion of the text based on one of the user taps;

identifying a set of paragraphs to audibly present based on a count of the user taps, the set of paragraphs including the portion; and

audibly presenting the set of paragraphs.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of user taps are substantially simultaneous, the method further comprising:

determining a number of fingers used for the plurality of substantially simultaneous user taps; and

identifying the set of paragraphs to audibly present based on the determined number of fingers.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein audibly presenting the set of paragraphs occurs via a speaker associated with the touch-sensitive display.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein audibly presenting the set of paragraphs comprises communicating pre-recorded phonemes combined together.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the touch-sensitive display is part of a mobile phone.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user taps identify an area of the touch-sensitive display.

7. A computing device comprising:

a processor;

a touch-sensitive display; and

a computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored which, when executed by the processor, result in the processor performing operations comprising:

displaying, via the processor, text via the touch-sensitive display;

receiving, from the touch-sensitive display, a plurality of user taps;

identifying a portion of the text based on one of the user taps;

identifying a set of paragraphs to audibly present based on a count of the user taps, the set of paragraphs including the portion; and

audibly presenting the set of paragraphs.

8. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of user taps are substantially simultaneous, the operations further comprising:

determining a number of fingers used for the plurality of substantially simultaneous user taps; and

identifying the set of paragraphs to audibly present based on the determined number of fingers.

9. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein audibly presenting the set of paragraphs occurs via a speaker associated with the touch-sensitive display.

10. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein audibly presenting the set of paragraphs comprises communicating pre-recorded phonemes combined together.

11. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein the computing device is a mobile phone.

12. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein the user taps identify an area of the touch-sensitive display.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor perform operations comprising:

displaying, via the processor, text via a touch-sensitive display;

receiving, from the touch-sensitive display, a plurality of user taps;

identifying a portion of the text based on one of the user taps;

identifying a set of paragraphs to audibly present based on a count of the user taps, the set of paragraphs including the portion; and

audibly presenting the set of paragraphs.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of user taps are substantially simultaneous, the operations further comprising:

determining a number of fingers used for the plurality of substantially simultaneous user taps; and

identifying the set of paragraphs to audibly present based on the determined number of fingers.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein audibly presenting the set of paragraphs occurs via a speaker associated with the touch-sensitive display.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein audibly presenting the set of paragraphs comprises communicating pre-recorded phonemes combined together.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the computing device is a mobile phone.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the user taps identify an area of the touch-sensitive display.

Assignments (11)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 4, 2025
From: RUNWAY GROWTH FINANCE CORP., AS AGENT
To: INTERACTIONS CORPORATION; INTERACTIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 072802/0931 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE APPLICATION NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 060445 FRAME: 0733. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Feb 1, 2023
From: INTERACTIONS LLC; INTERACTIONS CORPORATION
To: RUNWAY GROWTH FINANCE CORP.
Reel/Frame 062919/0063 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME: 043039/0808 Recorded Jun 30, 2022
From: SILICON VALLEY BANK
To: INTERACTIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 060557/0636 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME: 049388/0082 Recorded Jun 30, 2022
From: SILICON VALLEY BANK
To: INTERACTIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 060558/0474 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 27, 2022
From: INTERACTIONS LLC; INTERACTIONS CORPORATION
To: RUNWAY GROWTH FINANCE CORP.
Reel/Frame 060445/0733 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 5, 2019
From: INTERACTIONS LLC
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 049388/0082 →
AMENDED AND RESTATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 29, 2017
From: INTERACTIONS LLC
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 043039/0808 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2016
From: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
To: AT&T ALEX HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 038592/0712 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2016
From: AT&T ALEX HOLDINGS, LLC
To: INTERACTIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 038592/0761 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CONVEYING PARTIES EXECUTION DATES PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 037972 FRAME: 0535. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded May 13, 2016
From: CONKIE, ALISTAIR D.; SCHROETER, HORST
To: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
Reel/Frame 038701/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2016
From: CONKIE, ALISTAIR D.; SCHROETER, HORST
To: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
Reel/Frame 037972/0535 →