Abstract:
The present invention is directed towards a system and process for navigating through a large amount of information (e.g., audio files, text files, video files, device functions, etc.) using audio cues representative of the information. The audio cues are arranged in a multi-level tree data structure such that the user can select general categories (e.g., music classification) and navigate down to a specific data segment (e.g., a particular song or song list). Each audio cue is a brief burst of sound (e.g., a lyric from a particular song) representative of a predetermined number of additional audio cues or a particular data segment. The audio cues are selectable by a user and permit the user to navigate through the information or data segments without having to remember visual or alphanumeric elements (e.g., song title, artist name, or track number). The audio cues are stored in a storage device that can be accessed using a wireless device (e.g., a remote control or wireless mouse) or a wired device (e.g., keyboard, trackball, or touch pad). By manipulating the wireless or wired device, the user can navigate through the multi-level tree data structure of audio cues (generated by speakers) until a desired data segment is found.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to user interfaces for information systems. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of an acoustic interface to assist in navigation and manipulation of data segments. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A graphical user interface is often used to facilitate a user&#39;s ability to navigate through large amounts of data. For example, if a user has downloaded a large number of MP3 audio files onto a hard drive of a personal computer, it may be cumbersome for the user to find a desired file by searching through a displayed list of stored MP3 audio files. To facilitate the search process the user may use a graphical user interface that enables the user to store the audio files in various user-defined folders. Thus the user may store related audio files in predetermined folders in a predetermined order. For example, the user may identify all of the audio files that relate to country music and store the country music audio files in a “Country Music” folder. Furthermore, the user may generate sub-folders within the “Country Music” folder that further sort the country music by artist, album title, and/or song name. Afterwards, the user can quickly sort through a large amount of MP3 audio files to locate a particular audio file associated with a music genre, artist, album, and/or song. Although graphical user interfaces facilitate a user&#39;s ability to locate desired audio files, the graphical user interfaces suffer form a number of drawbacks. 
   One such drawback is that graphical user interfaces relies on a user&#39;s ability to remember a visual or alphanumeric element associated with an audio file. In the case of music, a user typically must remember the genre, artist, album, and/or title of a desired vocal or instrumental. However, the user may only remember a few words of a song or a few notes of a tune. If this is the case, the user must guess as to which visual element represents the desired song until the desired song is located. 
   Another drawback is that the user may be in an environment where a graphical user interface is not provided or, even if provided, is not convenient to use. For example, many automobiles come equipped with a multi-CD storage device that enables a driver to play a plurality of compact disks. Sometimes these multi-CD storage devices have primitive graphical user interfaces that only display the number of compact disks in the storage device and the number of tracks on a given compact disk. As a result, if the driver has not memorized the numerical identification of each compact disk in the storage device and the track number of every song on every compact disk, the driver must blindly search through the tracks of the compact disks until the desired audio content is located. If a more advanced graphical user interface is provided, the driver must still remember a visual element (e.g., album, artist, and/or title) associated with a desired song. Moreover, even if the driver has memorized which visual element is associated with a desired song, the driver may not be able to safely remove his or her focus from the surrounding driving conditions to locate the visual element displayed on the graphical user interface. 
   The present invention is directed to overcoming these drawbacks. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Briefly stated, the present invention is directed towards a system and process for allowing a user to navigate through a large amount of information (e.g., audio files, text files, video files, device functions, etc.) using audio cues representative of the information when the user is in an environment where a graphical user interface is not provided. The audio cues are arranged in a multi-level tree data structure such that the user can select general categories (e.g., music classification) and navigate down to a specific data segment (e.g., a particular song or song list). Each audio cue is a brief burst of sound (e.g., a lyric from a particular song) representative of a predetermined number of additional audio cues or a particular data segment. The audio cues are selectable by a user and permit the user to navigate through the information or data segments without having to remember visual or alphanumeric elements (e.g., song title, artist name, or track number). The audio cues are stored in a storage device that can be accessed using a wireless device (e.g., a remote control or wireless mouse) or a wired device (e.g., keyboard, trackball, or touch pad). By manipulating the wireless or wired device, the user can navigate through the multi-level tree data structure of audio cues (generated by speakers) until a desired data segment is found. 
   A feature of the present invention includes a method of providing access to a plurality of data segments. The method includes storing a plurality of audio cues in a memory, each audio cue representing a predetermined number of stored audio cues or a data segment, providing access to a first predetermined number of stored audio cues, playing one of the first predetermined number of stored audio cues in response to a first user request, and retrieving one of a data segment or a second predetermined number of stored audio cues in response to a second user request. 
   Another feature of the present invention includes a user interface system. The user interface system includes a data segment interface communicatively connected to a source of data segments, a computer readable medium interface communicatively connected to a computer readable medium having a plurality of audio cues stored thereon, each audio cue being associated with a data segment, a device for transmitting a request in response to a user input, an audio interface communicatively connected to an audio system, and a processor for retrieving an audio cue from the computer readable medium and playing the retrieved audio cue on the audio system in response to a received request. 
   A further feature of the present invention includes a multi-level data tree structure of audio cues stored in a computer readable medium. Each level containing a predetermined number of audio cues. Each audio cue of a given level being linked to another level in the multi-level data tree structure or to a data segment. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary computer system configured to support the acoustic interface of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating the movement of a remote control of the system of  FIG. 1  along a virtual arc of the acoustic interface of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is an exemplary multi-level tree data structure for the audio cues of the acoustic interface of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is another exemplary multi-level tree data structure for the audio cues of the acoustic interface of the present invention; 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  are flowcharts illustrating a process of navigating through audio information using the acoustical interface of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is an exemplary graphical user interface for managing the acoustical interface of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 8  is a further exemplary multi-level tree data structure for the audio cues of the acoustic interface of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description, given by way of example. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , some of the elements of a computer system  10  configured to support the invention are shown. Computer system  10  includes a processor  12  having a central processing unit (“CPU”)  14 , a memory section  16 , and an Input/Output (“I/O”) section  18 . Memory section  16  may be volatile or non-volatile and may include a removable flash card memory. The I/O section  18  is connected to an answering machine  20 , a display unit  22 , a keyboard  24 , a speaker system  26 , a compact disk (“CD”) unit  28  that can read data from a CD-ROM medium and preferably includes a CD storage unit for storage of a plurality of CDs, and a database  30  for storing files such as audio files read from a CD or downloaded from the internet. Processor  12  has a network interface  32  that enables computer system  12  to communicate over the internet  34  such that computer system  12  can retrieve audio files in a plurality of formats (e.g., MP3, MIDI, etc.) from remote databases. Network interface  32  also enables computer system  12  to receive audio content from internet radio sources. Processor  12  includes an RF receiver interface  36  that enables computer system  10  to receive signals from a remote control and/or pointing device  40  via a pair of RF receivers  38  in accordance with the present invention, as discussed in further detail below. 
   One skilled in the art will understand that the invention described herein does not depend on the existence of all of the units of computer system  10  and may include additional sources of audio data. For example, the invention does not require a network interface connecting the computer system  10  to the internet since the audio data to be played to a user often resides in the memory of the computer accessing the information. Furthermore, one skilled in the art will understand that processor  12  may reside in one of a plurality of electronic devices such as a desk-top computer, a lap-top computer, a stereo system, a home entertainment center, an automobile music system, or a household device. As such, the acoustic interface of the present invention is not restricted to facilitating a user&#39;s navigation through audio data segments. The acoustic interface may also facilitate the user&#39;s manipulation of other data segments such as text and video files as well as the user&#39;s ability to remotely control various electronic devices. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the communication between pointing device  40  and RF receivers  38  as pointing device  40  travels along an acoustic interface virtual arc  50  is shown. As shown in  FIG. 2 , pointing device  40  includes a pair of RF transmitters  42  and  44  on either end thereof. As pointing device  40  is moved along virtual arc  50  transmitters  42  and  44  generate RF signals  46  and  48 , respectively. RF receivers  38  receive these signals and, together with RF receiver interface  36  and CPU  14  (shown in  FIG. 1 ), process the signals to determine the position of pointing device  40  along virtual arc  50 , as known by those skilled in the art. Alternatively, pointing device  40  may include four RF sensors that detect a single-source signal (i.e., a signal transmitted from a transmitter of computer system  10 ) and a CPU that process the input from the sensors to determine the positioning of pointing device  40  along virtual arc  50 . The positioning data may then be transmitted back to computer system  10  such that computer system  10  can track the positioning of pointing device  40  along virtual arc  50 . Although pointing device  40  is illustrated as the preferred remote control, use of a conventional remote control having directional arrows, a track ball, or the like, is considered within the scope of the present invention. It should be noted that if a conventional remote control is used, the user would merely manipulate the directional buttons or track ball in a horizontal or vertical manner to navigate along a virtual configuration such as a virtual grid or matrix. It should also be noted that the use of wired controls (e.g., control pads, touch pads, joysticks, trackballs and the like) are considered within the scope of the present invention. 
   Pointing device  40  preferably includes a plurality of functional buttons, toggles, thumb wheels and the like. Some exemplary buttons are a “select” button permitting the user to select a given virtual arc point  52 - 60  on virtual arc  50 , “navigation” buttons allowing a user to go up or down through the audio cue levels in an audio cue tree (shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ), a thumbed wheel to adjust volume, a “pause” button, a “fast-forward” button, a “rewind” button, a “skip” button, and a “power” button. The use of other buttons for additional conventional audio controls is considered within the scope of the present invention. 
   Virtual arc  50  includes a plurality of points  52 - 60  corresponding to audio cues stored in a memory of computer system  10 . The audio cues are arranged in a multi-level tree data structure such that the user can select general categories (e.g., music classification) and navigate down to a specific segment of audio information (e.g., a particular song or song list), as discussed in further detail below. Virtual arc  50  roughly corresponds to the natural sweep of the user&#39;s arm moving as if shining a flashlight in an arc of roughly 90-120 degrees centered on a virtual point  56  directly in front of the user. When processor  12  determines that pointing device  40  is in the vicinity of one of the points  52 - 56  of virtual arc  50 , processor  12  retrieves an audio cue stored in a storage device (e.g., memory  16 , database  30 , or a remote database accessed over Internet  34 ) and processes the audio cue such that speakers  26  generate the audio cue. The audio cue is preferably a brief (2-5 seconds) burst of sound representative of the audio content assigned to a given point  52 - 56  on virtual arc  50 . The audio cues may be selected by a user or provided by the supplier of the audio content, as discussed in further detail below. One exemplary audio cue is a snippet of a favorite music (e.g., the four opening notes of Beethoven&#39;s 5 th  Symphony) to serve as the identifier for a music category (e.g., classical music), song (Beethoven&#39;s 5 th  Symphony), song list (a compilation of Beethoven&#39;s symphonies), or artist (Beethoven). Another exemplary audio cue may be a computer-generated voice indicating music category, song, or artist. A further exemplary audio cue may be a stored version of the user&#39;s own voice describing a music category, song, or artist. 
   Processor  12  may raise or lower the sound of an audio snippet being generated by speakers  26  as pointing device  40  approaches or departs from a given point  52 - 60  on virtual arc  50 . Processor  12  also preferably provides audio feedback (e.g., an electronic beep or tone) via speakers  26  when a user selects a given point  52 - 60  on virtual arc  50 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an exemplary multi-level tree data structure  70  of audio cues  82  is shown. The multi-level tree data structure  70  is created by a user using conventional data management software and is stored in a storage device (e.g., memory  16 , database  30 , or a remote database accessed over Internet  34 ), as discussed above. Audio cues  82  are arranged in levels  72 - 80  of multi-level tree data structure  70  such that the user can select general categories and navigate down to a specific segment of audio information. For example, in  FIG. 3 , level  72  contains user-selected audio cues  82  that are representative of the source (e.g., the user&#39;s CD music collection) of the desired audio information. Level  74  contains user-selected audio cues  82  representative of different styles of music (e.g., Rock and Roll music). Level  76  contains user-selected audio cues  82  that are representative of specific artists or groups (e.g., artist/group  3 ). Level  78  contains user-selected audio cues  82  representative of specific albums (e.g., Album  3 ). Level  78  contains user-selected audio cues  82  representative of a specific song (e.g., song  4 ). It should be noted that the number of audio cues  82  per level  72 - 80  should correspond to the number of points  52 - 60  on virtual arc  50  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). It should also be noted that each level may contain a different number of audio cues and that the number of points on the virtual arc may dynamically change to reflect the number of audio cues in a given level. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , another exemplary multi-level tree data structure  90  of audio cues  96  is shown. Multi-level tree data structure  90  illustrates that a user can link an audio cue  103  of one level  102  to audio cues  95  and  101  of other levels  94  and  100 . This permits a user to navigate to a desired segment of audio information using different pathways in the multi-level tree data structure  90 . More specifically, a user can access and play “song  5 ” though the “classical music” pathway or the “personal moods” pathway, as shown. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a process  110  of navigating through audio information using the acoustic interface of the present invention is shown. Initially, at step  112 , the user turns system  10  on by actuating the power button on pointing device  40 . Afterwards the user, at step  114 , initializes the acoustic interface by double clicking the “select” button on pointing device  40 . In response, pointing device  40  transmits an initializing signal to processor  12  via RF receivers  38  and RF receiver interface  36 . Processor  12 , in turn, assigns the current position of pointing device  40  as the center point  56  of virtual arc  50  and maps the highest level of audio cues in the multi-level tree data structure (e.g., level  72  of  FIG. 3 ) to points  52 - 60  of virtual arc  50 . Processor  12  may also check the availability of audio data segment sources (e.g., Internet  34 , CD-ROM unit  28 , database  30  and/or memory  16 ). Next, at step  116 , processor  12  determines if the initialization has been completed. If not, processor  12  returns to step  114  and continues the initialization process. If so, processor  12 , at step  118 , begins tracking the movement of pointing device  40  along virtual arc  50  as discussed in greater detail above. 
   Next, at step  120 , processor  12  determines if pointing device  40  is within a predetermined distance from a virtual arc point  52 - 60 . If not, processor  12  returns to step  118  and continues to track the movement of pointing device  40  along virtual arc  50 . If so, processor  12 , at step  122 , retrieves the audio cue assigned to the virtual arc point  52 - 60  from a storage device (e.g., memory  16  or database  30 ) and plays it via speakers  26 . Afterwards, at step  124 , processor  12  determines if the user has actuated the “select” button on pointing device  40 . If not, processor  12  returns to step  118  and continues to track the movement of pointing device  40  along virtual arc  50 . If so, processor  12 , at step  126 , provides audio feedback (e.g., an electronic beep or tone) to the user and, at step  128 , determines if the user is currently at the lowest level of the multi-level tree data structure (e.g., level  80  of  FIG. 3 ). 
   If the user is not at the lowest level, processor  12 , at step  130 , maps the current level of audio cues (e.g., level  74 ,  76  or  78  of  FIG. 3 ) to points  52 - 60  of virtual arc  50  and returns to step  118  to track the movement of pointing device  40  along virtual arc  50 . If the user is at the lowest level of the tree data structure, processor  12 , at step  132 , retrieves the audio data segment (e.g., song or song list) associated with the audio cues from a source of audio data segments (e.g., Internet  34 , CD-ROM unit  28 , database  30  and/or memory  16 ) and plays the segment via speakers  26 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 7 , an exemplary graphical user interface (“GUI”)  140  for managing the acoustical interface of the present invention is shown. GUI  140  includes an “Audio Cue Tree” pull-down menu  142 , an “Audio Segment” pull-down menu  144 , an “Audio Segment List” pull-down menu  146 , an “Audio Cue List” pull-down menu  148  and a “Help” pull-down menu  150  for allowing a user to manipulate various audio cue trees, audio cues, and audio data segments, as discussed in further detail below. GUI  140  also includes a window section  152  that allows a user to view textual and/or graphical data (e.g., names, identifiers, file sizes) associated with selected audio information (e.g., audio cue trees, audio cues, audio data segments), as discussed in further detail below. GUI  140  further includes controls  154 - 164  facilitating the user&#39;s control of selected audio cues or audio data segments. Some exemplary controls include, but are not limited to, a “volume” icon  154 , a “play” icon  156 , a “rewind” icon  158 , a “fast forward” icon  160 , a “pause” icon  162 , and a “stop” icon  164 . 
   In operation, the user may run the acoustical interface software associated with GUI  140  on system  12 . The software may be stored on any computer readable medium such as, but not limited to, a floppy disk, smart card, CD, or DVD, or may be downloaded from a remote server via an intranet (not shown) or internet  34 . The user preferably views GUI on display  22  and manipulates the GUI pull-down-menus and icons using keyboard  24 , a mouse (not shown), pointing device  40 , or a similar hardware device. 
   If the user selects “Audio Cue Tree” pull-down menu  142 , the following GUI icons, inter alia, are presented to the user. A “View Tree List” icon that, when selected, causes processor  12  to display a list of existing audio cues trees in window section  152 . A “Create Tree” icon that, when selected, causes processor to display an input screen in window section  152  wherein the user can input an audio tree name, the number of levels in the audio tree, the number of cues per level, and other relevant data. A “Download Tree” icon that, when selected, causes processor  12  to download a pre-existing audio cues tree provided by the supplier of audio content (e.g., a pre-existing audio cue tree of audio cues that are representative of satellite radio stations and are provided by the satellite service provider). A “Select Tree” icon that, when selected, causes processor  12  to point to the memory location of the selected audio cue tree such that the user navigates through the selected audio tree the next time the acoustical interface is used. A “Link Tree” icon that, when selected, causes processor  12  to link selected levels of selected audio cue trees together such that the user can quickly create larger audio cue trees and/or create multiple pathways to a segment of audio information. 
   If the user selects “Audio Segment” pull-down-menu  144 , the following GUI icons, inter alia, are presented to the user. A “Create Audio Segment” icon that, when selected, causes processor  12  to tag an audio data segment (e.g., a song in a stored MP3 file or on a compact disk track) in a storage device (e.g., CD-ROM unit  28 , database  30 , remote server connected to Internet  34 ) such that processor  12  can quickly retrieve the audio segment when the user selects the audio segment using the acoustical interface of the present invention. A “Play Audio Segment” icon that, when selected, causes processor to retrieve a selected audio data segment from a storage device and play it via speakers  26 . (It should be noted that the user can control the playback of the selected audio data segment via control icons  154 - 164 ). A “Delete Audio Segment” icon that, when selected, causes processor  12  to erase an existing tag for a selected audio data segment. 
   If the user selects “Audio Segment List” pull-down menu  146 , the following GUI icons, inter alia, are presented to the user. A “View Audio Segment List” icon that, when selected, causes processor  12  to display audio data segment lists in window section  152 . (It should be noted that the displayed audio data segment lists, or audio data segments within a selected audio data segment list, may be sorted by artist name, album title, song title, source (e.g., CD-ROM unit  28 , Database  30 , Internet  34 , etc.) or the like). A “Create Audio Segment List” icon that, when selected, causes processor  12  to display an input screen in window section  152  wherein the user can input, inter alia, an audio data segment list name and input the names of the audio data segments to be included in the created audio data segment list. An “Audio Segment Source” icon that, when selected, causes processor to display in window section  140  a list of available audio data segment sources (e.g., CD-ROM unit  28 , Database  30 , Internet  34 , Memory  16 , etc.) to which the user can add or remove audio data segment sources. 
   If the user selects “Audio Cue List” pull-down-menu  148 , the following GUI icons, inter alia, are presented to the user. A “Create Audio Cue” icon that, when selected, causes processor  12  to display an input screen in window section  152  wherein the user can input the name of the audio cue and the source of the audio cue (i.e., a snippet of an audio segment, a microphone input, a computer-generated sound, or the like). A “Store Audio Cue” icon that, when selected, causes processor  12  to store a created audio cue in a storage device such as memory  16 , local database  30 , or a remote database via Internet  34 . A “Play Audio Cue” icon that, when selected, causes processor to retrieve a selected audio cue from the storage device and play it via speakers  26 . (It should be noted that the user can control the playback of the selected audio cue via control icons  154 - 164 ). A “Delete Audio Cue” icon that, when selected, causes processor  12  to erase the selected audio cue from the storage device. A “View Audio Cue List” icon that, when selected, causes processor  12  to list in window section  152  a list of existing audio cues linked audio segments. A “Link Audio Cue” icon that, when selected, causes processor  12  to display an input screen in window section  152  such that a user can enter the audio segment, audio cue tree, and audio cue tree level to which the selected audio cue is to be linked. An “Unlink Audio Cue” Icon that, when selected, causes processor  12  display an input screen in window section  152  such that a user can enter the audio segment, audio cue tree, and/or audio cue tree level from which the linked audio cue is to be deleted. 
   If the user selects “Help” pull-down menu  150 , a plurality of “How To” icons are displayed to the user to enable the user to efficiently utilize GUI  140  of the acoustic interface of the present invention. It should be noted that alternative GUI displays, pull-down menus, icons, and controls for enabling the management of the audio, textual, and graphical data, as know by those skilled in the art, are considered within the scope of the present invention. For example, there may also be a “Data Segment” pull down menu in GUI  140  that facilitates a user&#39;s ability to link audio cues and/or audio cue trees to data segments other than audio data segments (e.g., linking audio cues or audio cue trees to text files, video files, and device functions). 
   Turning to  FIG. 8 , another exemplary multi-level audio cue tree  170  is shown. Multi-level audio cue tree  170  illustrates that different levels  172  and  184 - 192  in audio cue tree  170  may have a different number of audio cues contained therein. Audio cue tree  170  also illustrates that audio cues may be linked to data segments that are not purely audio data segments. For example, level  176  contain an audio cue  176  that is representative of a source of text files, an audio cue  178  that is representative of a source of video files, an audio cue  180  that is representative of the controls of an answering machine, and an audio cue  182  that is representative of the controls of a VCR. Furthermore, level  186  contains additional audio cues that are representative of text files, level  188  contains audio cues (e.g., famous movie lines) that are representative of movies provided by the source of video files, and levels  190  and  192  contain cues that represent the individual controls of an answering machine an a VCR, respectively. 
   Level  172  also contains an audio cue  174  that is representative of a satellite radio service provider. The satellite service provider can potentially provide hundreds of radio stations to a user. As a result, the satellite service provider may also provide metadata about the stations to the user such that the user could use the metadata to generate audio cue trees. Alternatively, the service provider may provide downloadable audio cues and/or audio cue trees that the user can access. It should be noted that the bottom level  184  in an audio cue tree that is representative of a satellite radio station would not be a particular song or song list, but rather a pointer to a stream of audio content that will be arriving in the future. It should also be noted that Internet, DSL, cable, and other service providers may provide similar services and the use of these services to provide audio cues, audio cue trees, or data that facilitates the generation of audio cues or audio cue trees is considered within the scope of the invention. 
   While the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it is apparent that various changes may be made in the embodiments without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.