Method and apparatus for voice activation of a mobile device

Abstract

The present invention relates to mobile device voice activation. The mobile computerized device receives an indication of a first user input including button activation to initiate a push-to-talk voice search. The device receives from the user a spoken search phrase comprising one or more search terms, and receives an indication of a second user input comprising releasing an activated button to indicate that the user has completed the spoken search phrase. In response to receiving the second user input, the mobile device generates a search query using one or more search terms in the spoken search phrase. In a further example, the computerized mobile device displays one or more possible text search phrases obtained from a spoken search phrase through speech-to-text conversion, and receives an indication of which of the possible text search phrases is the desired search phrase. The user enters and uses the desired search phrase as one or more search terms used in generating the search query.

Description

Background technique [0001] The variety and number of applications that can be used by smartphones, tablets, and other mobile computerized devices is enormous. Many smartphones and tablets are associated or connectable to one or more application stores or marketplaces, and often include a variety of pre-installed applications that provide a basic set of functions (e.g., phone, camera, web browser, and navigation tools) . [0002] Users are typically able to interact with such applications through input on a touch screen overlaid or incorporated into the display. For example, the device may detect whether a finger is pressed to a fixed image touch screen button and / or detect the presence and position of a finger above, near or on a larger touch screen display. This functionality enables users to press virtual or displayed buttons to perform functions such as dialing a phone number using a phone application, navigating using a Global Positioning System (GPS) application, or en...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Although this is significantly simpler than using a small virtual keyboard on a touchscreen display to enter a message, it still requires explicit touchscreen interaction and attention from the user to complete entry into a text field using voice input

This can be distracting while driving or walking, and involves enough steps that the efficiencies gained relative to text entry using a virtual keyboard are not obvious

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