Abstract:
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing network support for voice-activated mobile web browsing for audio data streams. More particularly, the presently described embodiments are directed to enhancing an existing wireless network to provide hands-free web browsing to retrieve audio data. This allows wireless customers to make verbal web requests, (e.g., not requiring the use of hands), thus making it possible to request web audio programs while engaging in other activities, such as safely driving their vehicles.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing network support for voice-activated mobile web browsing for audio data streams. More particularly, the presently described embodiments are directed to enhancing an existing wireless network to provide hands-free web browsing to retrieve audio data. This system allows wireless customers to make verbal web requests (e.g., not requiring the use of hands), thus making it possible to request web-based audio programs while engaging in other activities, such as safely driving their vehicles.  
         [0002]     While the invention is particularly directed to the art of voice-activated mobile web browsing for audio data streams, and will be thus described with specific reference thereto, it will be appreciated that the invention may have usefulness in other like fields and applications.  
         [0003]     By way of background, voice-activated web browsers are known. Moreover, browsing for audio data streams is known. However, wireless network support for such systems is lacking.  
         [0004]     The present invention contemplates a new and improved system for providing network support for voice-activated mobile web browsing for audio data streams that resolves the above-referenced difficulties and others.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     A method and apparatus for providing network support for voice-activated mobile web browsing for audio data streams are provided.  
         [0006]     In one aspect of the invention, the method comprises receiving an audio request comprising input voice data for voice-activated web browsing from a subscriber, validating the audio request, converting the input voice data to input text data, determining if the input text data corresponds to a pre-defined web site, connecting the subscriber to the pre-defined web site if the input text data corresponds thereto, receiving first audio data streams from the pre-defined web site if the input data corresponds thereto, providing the first audio data streams to the subscriber, providing the input text data to an audio search engine if the input text data does not correspond to the pre-defined web site, configuring a search request by the search engine based on the input text data, conducting a search for second audio data streams based on the search request, and providing results of the search to the subscriber.  
         [0007]     In another aspect of the invention, determining if the input text corresponds to a pre-defined web site comprises accessing a database.  
         [0008]     In another aspect of the invention, the conducting of the search for second audio data streams comprises conducting the search based on file extensions.  
         [0009]     In another aspect of the invention, providing the results of the search comprises providing the second audio data streams to the subscriber.  
         [0010]     In another aspect of the invention, providing the results of the search comprises providing a listing of located web sites to the subscriber.  
         [0011]     In another aspect of the invention, the listing is an audio listing.  
         [0012]     In another aspect of the invention, the method further comprises—in the absence of the audio request—retrieving the first audio data streams based upon predetermined criteria and providing the first audio data streams to the subscriber.  
         [0013]     In another aspect of the invention, a means for implementing the method are provided.  
         [0014]     In another aspect of the invention, the apparatus comprises a switching module, an internet gateway, a speech recognition unit, a subscriber web database, a subscriber web interface, and an audio web search engine.  
         [0015]     In another aspect of the invention, the apparatus comprises a subscriber web alert manager.  
         [0016]     Further scope of the applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided below. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]     The present invention exists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the device, and steps of the method, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a network according to the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart illustrating a method according to the present invention; and,  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating a method according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]     The presently described embodiments provide network support for voice-activated web browsing for audio data streams. The system allows wireless customers or subscribers to make verbal web requests for audio streams. An advantage of this system is that it does not require the use of hands, making it possible to request web audio programs while, for example, safely driving a vehicle. Wireless service providers may wish to offer such value added services to utilize existing wireless voice and internet browsing capabilities.  
         [0022]     As an example of an implementation of the present invention, presume a subscriber is a Chicago Bears fan, and is out of town during one of the Bears&#39; football games. A service in accord with the present invention allows the subscriber to call a service provider voice and internet browsing request point (e.g., via an 800-number). Then, the subscriber states, “Audio for today&#39;s Chicago Bears football game.” The wireless network service subsequently performs a number of functions including translating the statement (i.e., “Audio for today&#39;s Chicago Bears football game”) to a search request, searching the internet for a match based on the request, and connecting the mobile subscriber to an audio feed for the Bears football game, if a match is found. Other similar examples of implementation may involve a request for a “Chicago traffic report” or a “Chicago weather report” while driving.  
         [0023]     Another feature that may be realized by implementation of this invention is the option of pre-designating a web site for a particular query request. For example, if the subscriber states “St. Charles Swim Team,” the network will search a subscriber database to find a match and connect the subscriber to the audio streams available on, for example, www.stcswim.com.  
         [0024]     Another feature that may be realized by implementation of this invention is the use of a reminder list to allow for the provision of audio data streams to a subscriber based upon predetermined criteria, in the absence of the audio request. In this regard, a reminder list may be stored and acted upon in such a way so as to allow a subscriber web alert manager to initiate a data session based on information stored in the reminder list.  
         [0025]     Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating the preferred embodiments of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting same,  FIG. 1  provides a view of an exemplary system according to the present invention. As shown, a network  10  is accessed by a mobile subscriber using a mobile device  12  through a base station  14 . The base station  14  is in communication with a switching center  16 , which may take the form of a mobile switching center (MSC) or other primary switching element of the network into which the invention is incorporated. The switching center  16  includes a switching module  16   a , as well as an internet gateway  18  which has access to a speech recognition unit  20 . The internet gateway  18  is also connected to a subscriber web database  22  which connects to a subscriber web interface  24 . Of course, the subscriber web interface  24  provides access to the internet  26 . A subscriber web alert manager  28  is also connected to the subscriber web database  22  and the internet gateway  18 . Also shown in  FIG. 1  is an audio web search engine  30 .  
         [0026]     It should be appreciated that—while the switching module  16   a , internet gateway  18 , speech recognition unit  20 , subscriber web database  22 , subscriber web interface  24 , subscriber web alert manager  28 , and audio web search engine  30  are shown as being part of the switching center  16 —these elements may also be configured as separate network elements, or be housed on separate network elements, in communication with one another. These elements may take a variety of forms as a consequence. Appropriate software techniques and hardware implementations may be used. The software may be housed on a single element or distributed among all or some of those elements.  
         [0027]     The switching center  16  may take the form of a mobile switching center (MSC). However, it will be understood that the embodiments described herein are not so limited. As noted above, the switching center  16  may take the form of any primary switching module available in a network—which, of course, may vary from network to network in a number of ways including the generation of technology that is implemented. The same is true for the base station  14 —its form may vary and may be replaced with an alternative structure.  
         [0028]     It should be further understood that the switching module  16   a  includes the functionality necessary for suitable switching to take place within the switching center  16 . This functionality is well known in the art and is thus not described herein. However, it should be appreciated that the switching center  16  preferably includes the additional functionality of having the ability to identify a request for voice-activated browsing according to the present invention and pass that request on to the internet gateway  18 . This could be accomplished through the use of a specific phone number to which a call is made from the mobile device  12  and/or a specific command that can be spoken, or a keystroke that can be entered, by the mobile subscriber into the mobile device  12 .  
         [0029]     The internet gateway  18  provides an interface from the switching module  16   a  to all of the various components that are required to provide the subject voice-activated web browsing functionality. For example, if a request for a certain audio program is received, the internet gateway  18  will send the input voice data to the speech recognition unit  20  to translate the input voice data to text data. The internet gateway  18  then sends the text data to audio search web engine  30  to find a desired web link or conducts a search of the subscriber web database  22 , as described below.  
         [0030]     In either case, the speech recognition unit  20  converts the speech web requests that are spoken by the mobile customer to text data. Speech to text conversion may be implemented in a variety of well known manners.  
         [0031]     The subscriber web database  22  stores customer requests and preferences for keyword translation that can be correlated to a specific web site. An example of this functionality resides in a customer preference to equate a web site to find out about school closings with the keyword “school closings.” So, the database may be configured in such a manner to have keywords act as indices and the corresponding web site data serve as an associative data field.  
         [0032]     Another type of request or preference that can be stored in this database relates to scheduling future programs to be provided to the subscriber. For example, a customer may set a program reminder for a football game that will be played tomorrow. The subscriber alert manager  28  will use this data to provide the appropriate audio stream at the appropriate time.  
         [0033]     The subscriber web interface  24  provides a secure interface for mobile customers, for example, to input customer specific data, such as that described in subscriber web database  22 . This interface also acts to receive audio streams that are captured in response to a user request.  
         [0034]     The subscriber alert manager  28  provides alerts to mobile customers about scheduled future audio programs when the time of the program happens. As noted above, the subscriber alert manager  28  accesses the subscriber web database to do so.  
         [0035]     The audio search web engine  30  is customized to find audio files on the internet (e.g., real player, windows media, etc.). Searching for audio data streams on the internet is a well known process. For example, it can be accomplished by simply limiting the search to results that have particular file extensions that are unique to audio data.  
         [0036]     With respect to operation of the system, an exemplary method according to the presently described embodiments is shown in  FIG. 2 . As illustrated, the method  100  is initiated upon the receipt of a call at the switching module  16   a  (at  102 ). The switching module  16   a  then determines if the call is an audio request according to the present invention (at  104 ). This can be accomplished by implementing a particular access number for the service. If not, of course, the call is processed in the normal course. If so, however, the audio request (or the subscriber who is operating the mobile device  12 ) is validated by the system (at  106 ). This is accomplished by accessing a subscriber database housed within, or simply in communication with, the switching center  16 , as is well known in the art. The subscriber web database  22  may also serve this function, depending on the design of the network.  
         [0037]     If the audio request is verified and the subscriber is validated, the audio request (e.g., the voice data) is forwarded to the internet gateway  18  (at  108 ). The voice data, or web query, is then received by the internet gateway (at  110 ). This received speech is converted to text data (at  112 ). The internet gateway  18  then determines if the converted speech (e.g., text data) corresponds to an entry in the subscriber web database  22  (at  114 ). A simple database search can be conducted by comparing the converted data to the database entries. If not, the text data is input to the audio web search engine (at  116 ). The audio web search engine  30  formulates a search query based on the text data and conducts an audio search on the internet (at  118 ). As noted above, searching for audio streams is a known process. Results of the search are returned to the mobile subscriber through the audio web search engine  30  (at  120 ). It should be appreciated that the search results may be provided in a variety of forms, such as an audio menu or the like, to the user. In some situations, the system may simply provide an audio stream directly to the mobile subscriber.  
         [0038]     If it is determined that the text data corresponds to an entry stored in the subscriber web database  22  (at  114 ), then the appropriate data in the subscriber database  22  is retrieved and correlated to an appropriate, pre-defined web site (at  122 ). The determined web site is then accessed through the subscriber web interface  24  (at  124 ). The results are ultimately returned to the mobile user (at  126 ). It should be understood that returning the results to the user in this context could simply mean providing the requested audio data streams to the mobile subscriber. This process may also include, or be accompanied by, an audio menu to allow the mobile subscriber to exercise options regarding the audio data stream.  
         [0039]     As noted above, the presently described embodiments also provide for the use of a technique for reminding and/or scheduling the mobile subscriber in connection with audio streams to which the mobile subscriber requests access. For example, the mobile subscriber may set a reminder and/or schedule a football broadcast to be played to the mobile subscriber on a particular day and time.  
         [0040]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a method  200  describing the process for doing so is illustrated. As shown, the method  200  includes the function of checking the reminder list periodically to determine if a connection should be made (at  202  and  204 ). If there is no connection that should be made, the reminder list is simply checked again after a predetermined time expires. If, however, the system determines that a connection should be made, the data relating to the desired web site is retrieved and/or correlated using the subscriber web database  22  (at  206 ). The desired web site is then accessed through the subscriber web interface  24  (at  208 ). Once the connection is completed, the audio is simply sent to the subscriber (at  210 ). As with the other embodiments, it should understood that the audio results returned to the subscriber may simply be a connection to the audio stream, or it may also be accompanied by a menu such as an audio menu to provide the mobile subscriber with alternatives regarding listening to the audio, storing the audio, . . . etc.  
         [0041]     The above description merely provides a disclosure of particular embodiments of the invention and is not intended for the purposes of limiting the same thereto. As such, the invention is not limited to only the above-described embodiments. Rather, it is recognized that one skilled in the art could conceive alternative embodiments that fall within the scope of the invention.