Abstract:
A method for enabling a user to proactively reduce the likelihood of audio feedback in an application requiring audio input and output, comprising the steps of: generating a graphical user interface (GUI) display screen including a first area for displaying information about preventing audio feedback and a second area for user selections and controls; displaying a list of available audio outputs in the second area; prompting the user to select one of the audio outputs from the list; prompting the user to select one of a plurality of muting options for each selected one of the audio outputs; and, displaying in the GUI display screen an explanation for each one of the plurality of muting options, whereby muting selections for proactively reducing the likelihood of audio feedback can be made based on user experience and knowledge. Only one of the muting option explanations is displayed at a time, responsive to the user selection of one of the muting options.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to the field of connecting audio input devices to audio systems in computers, as well as determining the proper audio settings for the audio input devices to achieve optimal results. In particular, this invention relates to selecting, connecting and optimizing all audio input devices, not just microphones. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Typically, audio input devices for computers have been only microphones. The use of alternative input devices in connection with personal computers has increased in popularity due to the advent of inexpensive multimedia computers. Alternative audio input devices can include, for example, personal transcription devices, that is, hand-held recorders used for dictation. In some cases, these devices are analog and use recording tape. More recent arrivals in the marketplace are digital recorders using flash memory cards. Example of such digital input devices are the Olympus® D1000 or the Sony® ICD-70. Such audio input devices, and others, can be used in addition to microphones to provide audio inputs to speech recognition applications in computers. Inasmuch as microphones are considered the fundamental audio input device, the alternative audio input devices need to be connected to other input plugs and ports. Such plugs and ports are generally designated as line-in or auxiliary plugs and ports. The term input device as used herein is intended to cover all sources of audio input signals, particularly those sources other than microphones, for example, line-in or auxiliary devices. 
     Audio input devices are generally connected to sound cards installed within a computer, for example a personal computer. The sound card receives and digitizes the analog signals generated by the input device. The digital signals are processed by the processor of the computer for performing functions such as storage of the audio file in memory or other audio related functions. The audio levels, as measured by the amplitude of the audio input waveform, at which the analog audio signals are recorded prior to being digitized are critical to any application that subsequently uses this data. It will be appreciated that each of the alternative audio input devices can have characteristically different output signals, requiring different kinds of jacks or ports and requiring different parameters with respect to setting up the sound card. These differences can be manifested from manufacturer to manufacturer, and from model to model of each manufacturer. Moreover, sound cards from different manufacturers, as well as different sound cards produced by the same manufacturer, will also have different characteristic responses to input signals. Despite the vast potential for variation of alternative input devices and sound cards, each speech application has optimum signal parameter requirements independent of the audio input sources which must be satisfied to maximize the efficiency of the speech recognition engine in the speech application. The audio levels at which the analog audio signals are recorded, prior to being digitized, are critical to any application that uses this data. These settings can adversely affect applications that require audio signals to function properly. 
     There are many ways in which audio input devices can be improperly connected and audio systems can be misconfigured. These include, for example, selection of the wrong sound card, selection of the wrong audio input device, loose plugs, selection of the wrong jack, improper setting of mute switches, battery problems in microphones and adapters, environments with high background noise, improper adjustment of audio parameters and the presence of disruptive audio feedback. 
     The present approach to this problem, to the extent there is any approach at all, is the use of a manual procedure. Manual procedures require considerable user intervention, which is by nature problematic at best. Accordingly, a significant need exists for a method and apparatus that facilitates the proper connection of the input device or devices and the configuration of the respective audio settings, no matter the variation of the input devices and sound cards and speech applications. The method and apparatus should be user-friendly, insofar as sophisticated knowledge of computer operation should not be required. The method or apparatus should address all of the problems which can be encountered, and in so doing, should display diagnostic information and clear instructions to the user for correcting problems. 
     Certain characteristics of the digitized signals can be used to enhance algorithms that process the signals. In other word, a cleaner, less noisy audio input signal enhances the performance of the speech recognition engine. One such class of algorithms that processes digitized signals are those that perform speech recognition. Some speech recognition systems allow the user to train the speech recognition engine with digitized samples of the user&#39;s own speech. This training produces a set of training data that is associated with a particular user and/or enrollment. This generally increases the performance and accuracy of the system because the speech application is taking into account specific voice and speaking characteristics of the user gathered during training, the environment and the corresponding audio input device. The system can be trained, for example, for different input devices, such as microphones and line-in devices. The system can also be trained, for example, for a low or high background noise environment. Such training gives the user the flexibility to optimally tailor the system to the user&#39;s particular needs. However, performance of the system using the data, for example the accuracy of a speech recognition, can suffer severely if the speech recognition engine is using a particular set of training data that does not correspond correctly to the current digitized signals coming in from the sound card. This can easily occur if the user accidentally mismatches the input device or environment with the selected training data. 
     Accordingly, a need exists for a method and apparatus that programmatically maintains the correct association between a user&#39;s training data and the corresponding audio input device. 
     Audio feedback is a problem caused by having an open microphone in the acoustic field of the corresponding output speaker. The audio levels in which the analog audio signals are recorded at, prior to being digitized, are critical to any application that uses this data. Before the audio settings can be correctly set for a particular device, that device has to be correctly connected to the computer and correctly set up for use with the computer. However, an incorrectly configured audio mixer has the potential of causing audio feedback that is not only annoying, but in severe cases can cause hearing problems. This problem usually manifests itself as a loud high-pitched sound, often described as a squeal or whistle. The user will generally have no idea of the potential of audio feedback, and if this is the case, the user probably will not recognize the need to correct the problem proactively. 
     Accordingly, a need exists to identify the likelihood or potential for audio feedback, so that the user can take the steps necessary to prevent such audio feedback before the feedback occurs. 
     Speech recognition programs use standard microphone input to obtain data to convert to text. However, other kinds of audio input devices must now be accommodated, and users must be able to select from multiple audio input sources. These sources can even include recorded data files in multiple formats. The ability to convert standard windows audio files(.WAV) to text has been demonstrated. Even so, the user must still manually convert the recorded data from the input device in the *WAV format before using another software application to convert the audio data into text. There is a need for a method and apparatus for simplifying the selection of many input audio devices and the processing of their respective output signals in many file formats, not just the .WAV format. 
     Use of the wrong audio device, or source, in the first instance, is another potential problem occasioned by the availability of multiple audio input devices. Connecting the wrong audio input device can cause the set up procedure to fail. In such a case, there is a need for a method and apparatus to guide a user through the procedure for changing the audio input device when it appears that such a wrong connection is the cause of the set up failure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The need to identify the likelihood or potential for audio feedback, so that the user can take the steps necessary to prevent such audio feedback before the feedback occurs, is satisfied by the inventive arrangements taught herein. 
     A method for enabling a user to proactively reduce the likelihood of audio feedback in an application requiring audio input and output, in accordance with the inventive arrangements, comprises the steps of: generating a graphical user interface (GUI) display screen including a first area for displaying information about preventing audio feedback and a second area for user selections and controls; displaying a list of available audio outputs in the second area; prompting the user to select one of the audio outputs from the list; prompting the user to select one of a plurality of muting options for each selected one of the audio outputs; and, displaying in the GUI display screen an explanation for each one of the plurality of muting options, whereby muting selections for proactively reducing the likelihood of audio feedback can be made based on user experience and knowledge. 
     The method can comprise the step of displaying only one of the muting option explanations at a time, responsive to the user selection of one of the muting options. 
     The method can comprise one or more of the steps: of muting all line level playback controls responsive to user selection of one of the plurality of muting options; muting only selected ones of all line level playback controls responsive to one of the plurality of muting options; and, changing no line level playback controls responsive to one of the plurality of muting options. 
     A computer apparatus programmed with a routine set of instructions stored in a fixed medium, for enabling a user to proactively reduce the likelihood of audio feedback in an application requiring audio input and output, in accordance with the inventive arrangements, comprises the steps of: means for generating a graphical user interface (GUI) display screen including a first area for displaying information about preventing audio feedback and a second area for user selections and controls, the second area including a list of available audio inputs and outputs in the second area; means for prompting the user to select one of the audio inputs and outputs from the list; means for prompting the user to select one of a plurality of muting options for each selected one of the audio inputs and outputs; and, means for displaying in the GUI display screen an explanation for each one of the plurality of muting options, whereby muting selections for proactively reducing the likelihood of audio feedback can be made based on user experience and knowledge. 
     Only one of the muting option explanations can be displayed at a time, responsive to the user selection of one of the muting options. 
     One or more of the following muting options are available: all line level playback controls are muted responsive to user selection of a first one of the plurality of muting options; only selected ones of the line level playback controls are muted responsive to a second one of the plurality of muting options; and, none of the line level playback controls is changed responsive to a third one of the plurality of muting options. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a flow chart useful for explaining connecting and optimizing input devices. 
     FIG. 2 is a flow chart useful for explaining the association of training data and input devices. 
     FIG. 3 is a flow chart useful for explaining architecture setup for maintaining input device identity. 
     FIG. 4 is a flow chart useful for explaining user flow for the architecture shown in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a flow chart useful for explaining input device association setup. 
     FIG. 6 is a flow chart useful for explaining user flow and automatic configuration for a selected input device. 
     FIG. 7 is a flow chart useful for explaining creation of enrollments using device description blocks. 
     FIG. 8 is an example of a configurable display screen, in this case for connecting a line in device. 
     FIG. 9 is an example of a configurable display screen, in this case for testing a line in device. 
     FIGS. 10 and 11 are two views of an example of a display screen useful for explaining managing enrollments. 
     FIG. 12 is an example of a display screen useful for explaining help menu item text during an enrollment. 
     FIG. 13 is an example of a display screen useful for explaining transcribe help menu selections. 
     FIG. 14 is an example of a display screen useful for explaining dictation menu selections. 
     FIG. 15 is an example of a display screen after transcription is performed from two different devices. 
     FIG. 16 is an example of a display screen for guiding a user through preventing audio feedback. 
     FIG. 17 is an example of a display screen for guiding a user through trouble shooting a wrong audio source. 
     FIG. 18 is a flow chart useful for explaining trouble shooting a wrong audio source. 
     FIG. 19 is a flow chart useful for explaining the development of contiguous data in the same document from different input devices. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An overall method for connecting and optimizing audio input devices for speech applications, for enabling users selectable input devices for speech applications, for maintaining input device identity in speech applications, for preventing audio feedback while executing the speech application in a pro-active manner and for trouble shooting problems in connection with the foregoing, in particular for trouble shooting wrong audio sources, is illustrated by flow chart  10  in FIG.  1 . The method starts in block  12 , and proceeds by displaying a welcome screen in connection with the step of block  14 , the welcome screen providing a brief introduction to the program. 
     In accordance with the decision step of block  16 , a determination is made as to whether the speech application has access to more than one sound card. If the user has two or more sound cards that support speech recognition, the user will be presented with a GUI screen, not shown, for selecting one of the sound cards. This screen allows the user to select which sound card will be use for input, that is recording, and which sound card will be used for output, that is playback. If more than one sound card is available, the method branches on path  17  to the step of block  18  in accordance with which a sound card is selected. Thereafter, in accordance in the step of block  20 , the type of the input device is determine, for example by users selection, command line parameters, registry entries and or queries from users specific data, such as enrollment identifications. If there is only one sound card, the method branches on path  19  directly to the step of block  20 . 
     After the input type has been determined, the audio play back level is tested and adjusted to a comfortable setting in accordance with step of block  22 . The user is instructed to connect the device in preparation for the testing in the Connecting the Input Device screen shown in FIG.  8 . This is also configurable with respects to the instructions and/or bitmap image that is displayed on the screen. Audio feedback can be proactively prevented in accordance with the step of block  24 , by prompting the user to select one or more switch settings which can be expected to prevent audio feedback in the first instance. Alternatively, the user can choose to use the default settings. 
     The user is prompted to select a input device in accordance with the step of block  28 , and thereafter, is prompted to connect the input device in accordance with the step block  28 . The display screens associated with steps of blocks  22 ,  24 ,  26  and  28  can be configured with respect to instructions, bitmap images and other information useful for assisting the user. An exemplary display screen  200  is shown in FIG.  8 . Screen  200  has a title  202  identifying the screen, a general instruction  204 , an area  206  having a device specific bitmap  208  illustrating device specific hardware and connections and an area  210  for displaying detailed, device specific instructions  212 . 
     The foregoing steps place the audio input device in the condition for testing the audio. Such a test usually requires two short audio recordings, one to record background noise and the other to record a speech selection. Instructions for testing the line in device can be provided by a display screen  220  as shown in FIG.  9 . Screen  220  has a title  222 , an area  224  for displaying device specific testing instructions  226 , an area  228  for displaying general instructions  230 , that is instructions which are not device specific, an area  232  for providing visual feedback, for example an animated icon  234  of a tape recorder and at least one activatable icon  236 , for example a button, for initiating the test procedure in accordance with the general and device specific instructions. 
     If the test is successful, in accordance with step of decision block  32 , the method branches on path  33  to step  50 , in accordance with which a screen is displayed informing the user that connection of the input device have been completed. Thereafter, the input device level can be adjusted in accordance with step  52 , and a further screen can be displayed advising the user that the input device and setup has been successful, in accordance with step  54 . 
     In view of the need to efficiently manage multiple input devices, an association is made in accordance with step  56  between the tested input audio device and all of the setup data associated with connecting, testing and adjusting the input level of the device. The association is recorded in accordance with the step  582 , and the method ends with step  60 . 
     If testing of the input device in accordance with the step decision block  32  is not successful, the method branches on path  35  to the trouble shooting step of block  36 . A number of possible problems can result in failure of the input device test, including for example, selection of the wrong sound card, selection of the wrong audio input device, loose plugs, selection of the wrong jack, improper setting of mute switches, battery problems with microphones and adapters, environments with high background noise, improper adjustment of audio parameters and the presence of disruptive audio feedback. Depending upon how many problems are detective or appear to be possible or probably, the method branches path  35  through a number of pages or display screens in accordance with step  36  so that one or more screens can be displayed to assist the user in trouble the problem or problems. 
     More particularly, the first appropriate trouble shooting page or screen will be displayed and the user will be prompted to make various adjustment. These screens can also be configured with respect to the instructions and bitmap images displayed on the screens. After each page, the input device can be retested in accordance with step  38 . If the retest is not successful in accordance with decision step  40 , the method branches on path  43  to decision step  44 . If the last trouble shooting page has not been processed, the method branches on path  45  back step  46 , in accordance with which a new trouble shooting page is displayed and processed. 
     If a retest is successful in accordance with decision step  40 , the method branches on path  41  to step  50 , already explained above. 
     If the retest of the last page has failed, in accordance with decision step  44 , the methodbranches on path  47  to step  48 , in accordance with which a screen displayed advising the user that input device connection and setup has been unsuccessful. Suggestions for user actions can be provided, for example, having the input device independently tested, or selecting a new input device and resuming the procedure, for example at step  20 . 
     The speech application, and in particular the speech recognition engine, can be trained for different input devices, for example a microphone or a line-in device. The system can also be trained for different environments, for example quiet or noisy. This gives the user the flexibility to optimally tailor the system to their particular needs. However, performance and accuracy can suffer severely if the speech recognition engine is using a particular set of training data that does not correspond correctly to the current digitized signals generated by the sound card. This can easily occur if the user accidentally mismatches the input device with the selected training data. 
     In accordance with the inventive arrangements, the correct association between a user&#39;s training data and its corresponding input device can be advantageously maintained by associating a particular input device to the user and/or to the enrollment. An enrollment represents a set of training data. This association could be implemented in a number of ways. One such way is to embed this information inside one of the user&#39;s speech files or centrally located it in a system wide database, for example a Windows Registry as explained below. 
     When a user changes to another user or to another enrollment for the same user, the system is programmatically configured for the associated input device. This configuration can be, but is not limited to, selecting the correct input line and setting the input gain to an optimal level for that particular user and/or environment and/or input device combination. This can ensure that the proper input device, based on the current user/enrollment, is selected for input into the speech application. Moreover, steps can be taken to assure that other input lines from other connected devices are not selected, for example by muting, so that they do not contribute to the input signal. A corrupted and/or improperly mixed audio signal that is passed on to the speech recognition software would have detrimental effects on the performance and accuracy the system. Advantageously, the user is not burdened by the need to configure the audio system when changing between users and/or enrollments. 
     A process  70  for illustrating how such associations can be advantageously implemented is shown in FIG.  2 . From start block  72 , a dictation session is opened in accordance with step  74 . An input device is selected in accordance with step  76 . The setup for the selected device is checked in accordance with decision step  78 . If the setup is OK, the method branches on path  81  to the step of decision step  82 , which determines if a training session has been associated with the selected and properly set up device. If an association is available, the method branches on path  85  to step  90 , in accordance with which the association for the input device is selected. The user is then prompted to operate the input device in accordance with step  92 . 
     If the setup in decision step  78  is not OK, the method branches on path  79  to step  80 , which represents the connecting and optimizing process  10  shown in FIG. 1. A training session is then undertaken in accordance with step  84 . If there is no associated training session in decision step  82 , the method branches on path  83  to the training session of step  84 . After the training session, the training data is associated with the selected input device and the device setup data in accordance with step  86 . The association is recorded in accordance with step  88 , making the association available for recognition in step  82  the next time a dictation session is opened with the associated input device. 
     After dictation or transcription from a line in device, the dictation session is closed in accordance with step  94  and the process ends at step  96 . 
     The dashed line box in FIG. 2 denotes a path  98 , the steps of which are incorporated into a flow chart  380  explained later in connection with FIG.  19 . 
     A number of shorter processes can be defined for understanding the manner in which input device identity can be maintained in accordance with the inventive arrangements. In architecture setup process  110  shown in FIG. 3, one or more input devices are installed. A record is added to the database for each device in accordance with step  114 . Each added record is filled with device specific information in accordance with step  116 . 
     In process  120  shown in FIG. 4, the user initiates the process of changing the device in accordance with step  122 . The application queries the data base for a list of available devices in accordance with step  124 . The user selects a device from the list in accordance with step  126 . The system automatically configures for the new device based on the data base information, in accordance with step  128 . 
     In input device association setup process  130  shown in FIG. 5, a user file is created in accordance with step  132 . An association is set up between the user file and the input device settings, in the registry or by embedding in the user file, in accordance with step  134 . 
     In user flow process  140  shown in FIG. 6, an input device is selected in accordance with step  142 . An association is retrieved from the user file or the data base in accordance with step  144 . The GUI is changed according to the selected input device in accordance with step  146 . The audio mixer input is configured in accordance with step  148 . The audio mixer gain is configured in accordance with step  150 . Other device specific information is configured in accordance with step  152 . 
     A device can be represented to a speech application, in accordance with the inventive arrangements, by a data block that identifies the attributes which make up the device. In the presently preferred embodiment, the data block defining a device exists in the Windows registry. Table 1 is a description of the data block as it exists in the registry with a description of each of the attributes. The following registry keys are specified by the device manufacturer. A full file path/name is exemplified by HKLM\SOFTWARE\IBM\VOICETYPE\AUDIO\DEVICES\&lt;Device Key Name&gt;. 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Registry Key 
                 Definition 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 &lt;Device Key Name&gt; 
                 Key name used to identify which DLL 
               
               
                   
                 should be used for transcription in the 
               
               
                   
                 transcription request message. 
               
               
                 AUDIODEVINFOVERSION 
                 “&lt;Version # of audio device info&gt;” 
               
               
                   
                 This should be a string set to “1.0”, for 
               
               
                   
                 example, for the first version. 
               
               
                 DICTATIONDEVICETYPE 
                 “&lt;Type of device used for dictation&gt;” 
               
               
                   
                 The audio device which should be used 
               
               
                   
                 during dictation/transcription. Possible 
               
               
                   
                 values are Microphone, Line-In, and 
               
               
                   
                 Custom. 
               
               
                 ENROLLDEVICETYPE 
                 “&lt;Type of device used for enrollment&gt;” 
               
               
                   
                 The audio device which should be used 
               
               
                   
                 during enrollment. Possible values are 
               
               
                   
                 Microphone, Line-In, and Custom. 
               
               
                 ENROLLDEVICE 
                 “&lt;Audio DLL name for enrollment&gt;” 
               
               
                   
                 The name of the audio DLL used for 
               
               
                   
                 enrollment. 
               
               
                 AUDIOSETUPDEVICETYPE 
                 “&lt;Type of device used for microphone/ 
               
               
                   
                 audio setup&gt;” 
               
               
                   
                 The audio device which should be used 
               
               
                   
                 during microphone/audio setup. 
               
               
                   
                 Possible values are Microphone, 
               
               
                   
                 Line-In, and Custom. 
               
               
                 AUDIOSETUPDEVICE 
                 “&lt;Audio DLL name for microphone/ 
               
               
                   
                 audio setup&gt;” The name of the audio 
               
               
                   
                 DLL used for microphone/audio setup. 
               
               
                 ENROLLSAMPLINGRATE 
                 “&lt;Sample rate of the enrollment&gt;” 
               
               
                   
                 The sampling rate of an enrollment for 
               
               
                   
                 this device. Examples are “8”, “11” and 
               
               
                   
                 “22” (thousand samples per second). 
               
               
                 DEFAULTRECORDLEVEL 
                 DWORD &lt;Default mixer setting for this 
               
               
                   
                 device&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 This is the default mixer setting for this 
               
               
                   
                 device. Device manufacturers will be 
               
               
                   
                 provided with this value, which should 
               
               
                   
                 be stored as a DWORD registry value. 
               
               
                 AUDIOSETUP 
                 DWORD(0 or 1) 
               
               
                 FORDICTATION 
                 A value of 1 means that the audio setup 
               
               
                   
                 should be run when being called from a 
               
               
                   
                 dictation application. A value of 0 
               
               
                   
                 means that it should not. A file device 
               
               
                   
                 can have an audio setup connection of 
               
               
                   
                 Line-In, for example, but when 
               
               
                   
                 transcribing a file into a dictation 
               
               
                   
                 application, it is undesirable to switch 
               
               
                   
                 the mixer controls to the Line-In. 
               
               
                 AUDIOSETUPFOR 
                 DWORD(0 or 1) 
               
               
                 ENROLLMENT 
                 A value of 1 means that the audio setup 
               
               
                   
                 should be run when being called from a 
               
               
                   
                 dictation application. A value of 0 
               
               
                   
                 means that it should not. A file device 
               
               
                   
                 can have an audio setup connection of 
               
               
                   
                 Line-In, for example, but when 
               
               
                   
                 transcribing a file into a dictation 
               
               
                   
                 application, it is undesirable to switch 
               
               
                   
                 the mixer controls to the Line-In. 
               
               
                 COMPATIBLEDEVICES 
                 “List of device keys compatible with 
               
               
                   
                 this device” 
               
               
                 \EN_LANG_ID 
                 The key which contains the language 
               
               
                   
                 specific information for the device. 
               
               
                   
                 Exemplary key names are EN_US, 
               
               
                   
                 EN_UK, EN_DE, etc. 
               
               
                 \EN_LANG_ID 
                 “&lt;Your select file DLL Name&gt;.DLL” 
               
               
                 \SELECTFILEDLLNAME 
                 The name of the DLL containing the 
               
               
                   
                 exported function which provides the 
               
               
                   
                 open file dialog functionality for files of 
               
               
                   
                 the given device type. 
               
               
                 \EN_LANG_ID 
                 “&lt;Function name exported&gt;” 
               
               
                 \SELECTFILEFUNCTION 
                 The name of the function exported 
               
               
                   
                 which provides the open file dialog 
               
               
                   
                 functionality for files of the given 
               
               
                   
                 device type. 
               
               
                 \EN_LANG_ID 
                 “&lt;Text to appear in dictation menu&gt;” 
               
               
                 \DESCRIPTIONTEXT 
                 This is the text that describes the audio 
               
               
                   
                 device. This text is used when a 
               
               
                   
                 description of the device is required. It 
               
               
                   
                 will be displayed in the Dictation menu 
               
               
                   
                 of SpeakPad for the File Transcription 
               
               
                   
                 option, when creating a new enrollment, 
               
               
                   
                 and in the control panel applet when 
               
               
                   
                 selecting a different enrollment. 
               
               
                 \EN_LANG_ID 
                 “&lt;Text to appear in help menu&gt;” 
               
               
                 \HELPMENUITEMTEXT 
                 The text which will appear in the Help 
               
               
                   
                 menu of SpeakPad, for example. When 
               
               
                   
                 this menu item is selected, the help file 
               
               
                   
                 found in the HELPFILEPATH registry 
               
               
                   
                 value will be executed. 
               
               
                 \EN_LANG_ID 
                 “&lt;Full Path to your help file&gt;” 
               
               
                 \HELPFILEPATH 
                 The full path to the help file which will 
               
               
                   
                 be executed when the HELP- 
               
               
                   
                 MENUITEMTEXT item is selected. 
               
               
                   
                 This help file should contain 
               
               
                   
                 information unique to using SpeakPad, 
               
               
                   
                 for example, with a specific 
               
               
                   
                 manufacturer&#39;s device. 
               
               
                 \EN_LANG_ID 
                 “&lt;Error text for error num XXX&gt;” 
               
               
                 \ERRMSGXXX 
                 The text for the error message 
               
               
                   
                 associated with value XXX. 
               
               
                 \EN_LANG_ID 
                 “&lt;BMP for Audio Setup&gt;” 
               
               
                 \AUDIOSETUPFILLERBMP 
                 The full path to BMP file displayed on 
               
               
                   
                 Audio Setup main screen. 
               
               
                   
                 “&lt;RTF for Audio Setup&gt;” 
               
               
                 \EN_LANG_ID 
                 The full path to RTF files displayed on 
               
               
                 \AUDIOSETUPCONNECTION 
                 the Audio Setup connection description 
               
               
                 RTF 
                 screen. 
               
               
                 \EN_LANG_ID 
                 “&lt;RTF for Audio setup&gt;” 
               
               
                 \AUDIOSETUPCONNECTION 
                 The full path to BMP file displayed on 
               
               
                 BMP 
                 the Audio Setup connection description 
               
               
                   
                 screen. 
               
               
                 \EN_LANG_ID 
                 “&lt;RTF for Audio Setup&gt;” 
               
               
                 \AUDIOSETUPTESTRTF 
                 The full path to RTF files displayed on 
               
               
                   
                 the Audio Setup test screen. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The input device installation method is illustrated by process  160  in FIG.  7 . From start block  162 , a device description block is written into the registry in accordance with step  164 . The device description block attributes must be created by the manufacture of a new device. The speech application, for example ViaVoice, will use the device description block to determine how to interact and manage this new input device. It will be the responsibility of the device manufacturer to create the device description block in the registry with the correct values. 
     The application files are installed in accordance with step  166 . When the speech application installs, the application will process each of these device blocks. The first installed device description block is located in accordance with step  168 . For each user, an enrollment is created for the current device, in accordance with step  170 . A determination of whether any device remain is made in accordance with decision step  172 . If any devices are left, the method branches on path  173  to step  174 , in accordance with which the next device description block is retrieved. An enrollment is then created for the newly current device in accordance with step  170 . The loop continues until no devices are left. When no devices are left, the method branches on path  175  and ends at step  176 . 
     The process advantageously creates an enrollment representing each device located in the system for each user installed in the system. This allows a user access to the device without having to manually create an enrollment for the device. 
     The process for enrollment allows the user to train the system to improve accuracy. This needs to be done for each individual device. Some devices, however, have multiple configurations which can appear as different devices to the speech application, but actually use the same enrollment data. These devices are tied together using the COMPATIBLEDEVICES attribute of a device description block, listed above in Table 1. Devices that are compatible with each other advantageously appear as a single option to the user. This allows the users to enroll for one device, and use the same enrollment for the devices that are compatible with it. When creating a new enrollment, the user is presented with a list of devices to choose from. The compatible devices are tied together as a single entry. The user selects the device to enroll for, and then the enrollment proceeds using the selected device. The compatible device attribute of the device description block lists all the compatible device with which the device can share an enrollment. The text items displayed to the user describing the device are obtained from the attribute DESCRIPTIONTEXT, and is unique for each language installed on the system. 
     After the device is selected, the audio hardware needs to be configured so that audio settings are optimal for speech recognition. This is accomplished using the speech application&#39;s audio setup procedure, the details of which are not pertinent herein, but which can correspond to commercial versions of IBM&#39;s ViaVoice. The device block attribute AUDIOSETUPFORENROLLMENT is checked to determine when an audio setup is required to enroll for the selected device. If the value is 1, audio setup is run for the selected device. If the value is 0, then audio setup is not executed. 
     After audio setup is complete, the enrollment process begins. Part of this process is configuring the speech recognition engine to use the correct audio DLL for obtaining audio data from the selected device. The configuration information is obtained from the device description block attribute ENROLLDEVICE. This attribute specifies the name of the customized audio DLL required to obtain the enrollment audio data from the device. From this point, the enrollment proceeds normally, as for example in any ViaVoice enrollment process. During the enrollment process, if the user requires help using the device, a menu item can be used to obtain help for the device. The menu item text and the help file that is displayed are retrieved from the attributes HELPMENUITEMTEXT and HELPFILEPATH respectively. 
     Each enrollment in the system is tagged to belong to a specific device. The information stored in each of the enrollment files is shown in Table 2. 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Tag 
                 Definition 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 AudioDeviceKey 
                 The value of this field is the device key which 
               
               
                   
                 uniquely identifies a transcription device in the 
               
               
                   
                 ViaVoice system. 
               
               
                 CompatibleTag 
                 This is a number which correlates compatible 
               
               
                   
                 enrollments with one another. When a new enrollment 
               
               
                   
                 is created, a new unique CompatibleTag number is 
               
               
                   
                 generated. This value is stored in each enrollment 
               
               
                   
                 created for each compatible device. This allows 
               
               
                   
                 compatible enrollments to be associated with one 
               
               
                   
                 another to ensure the correct values are used during 
               
               
                   
                 transcription. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The screen display  240  in FIGS. 10 and 11 shows the enrollment for a user named Harvey Ruback. The screen has a title  242  and a data display area  244  for a list  246  of enrollments for the user. The data display area  244  is scrolled to the right in FIG.  10  and to the left in FIG. 11 to show the individual enrollments for compatible devices. The first two enrollments in the list  246  are values for the Olympus D1000 Line and DSS File devices. The first enrollment in the list is different than the second enrollment because the noise environment is different in a car. The third enrollment is valid for both Sample Devices  1  and  2 . Finally, the fourth device is only valid for Sample Device  3 . Activatable icon buttons  248 ,  250 ,  252  and  254  are provided to add, describe and delete enrollments, and to start a selected enrollment. 
     The display screen  260  shown in FIG. 12 illustrates the Help menu item text during an enrollment for Sample Device  3 . Device specific text is extracted from the data base. Different text can therefore be extracted for other devices, for example as text  262  for enrollment and text  264  for Sample Device  3 . 
     In general the menu items are retrieved from the data base when the speech application, for example SpeakPad, is started. The DESCRIPTIONTEXT attribute of each device registered in the system is used to create the menu list of devices used in the Help/Transcribe Help menu. The menu item text is obtained from the device description block attribute DEVICEDESCRIPTION. For each device, a list of enrollments for the current user is created which are compatible with the device. An enrollment associated with a device when the device key is found in the AudioDeviceKey of the enrollment identification file. For each device, an item is added to the transcribe help menu. The help file and menu item text are obtained from the device description attributes HELPMENUITEMTEXT and HELPFILEPATH respectively. 
     When a user chooses to transcribe from an input device, the device is selected from the “transcribe from” menu item in a screen  270  as shown in FIG. 13. A help pull down menu  272  includes an item  274  for Transcribe Help. Selection of Transcribe Help item  274  initiates a display of a second pull down menu  276 . Menu  276  includes five transcription devices, corresponding to those in list  246  in screen  240  in FIGS. 10 and 11. 
     Another view of screen  270  in FIG. 14 shows that selection of the Dictation menu  278  initiates a pull down menu that includes a Transcribe From menu item  282 . Selection of Transcribe From menu item  284  initiates a menu  286  listing the five enrolled transcription devices. The Olympus devices each have at least  2  enrollments, indicated by the right hand facing arrows  288  indicative of another menu list for each item. Selection of the Olympus DSS File menu item  292  initiates a menu  294  listing the two enrollments for that device. The device is selected and then the enrollment is selected. Note that for Sample Device X, that is a Sample Device other than Sample Devices  1 ,  2  and  3 , no enrollment is displayed. Because only one enrollment exists for that device. The item is not displayed to save the user a selection. 
     A flow chart useful for explaining the steps which need to be implemented to conduct a dictation or transcription session are shown in flow chart  380  in FIG.  19 . The method starts at step  382 . The speech application accepts a user selected input device, and enrollment, either implicitly or explicitly, in accordance with step  284 . 
     The current dictation or transcription session data is saved to a temporary file in accordance with step  286 . This data associates the text with the audio that was used to dictate or transcribe it. The current speech engine session is disconnected in accordance with step  288 . The selected device&#39;s description block attributes are used to configure a new instance of the speech engine to obtain audio from the transcription device in accordance with step  290 . The attributes used are DICTATIONDEVICETYPE and DICTATIONDEVICE. After the new engine connection is established, the AUDIOSETUPFORDICTATION attribute is checked to determine if audio setup must be requested to restore any previous audio configuration data to ensure an accurate transcription session. An example is having the line input gain restored if the device feeds the audio data to the engine through the PC line in connection. These steps are the equivalent of executing the steps of path  98  in FIG. 2, in accordance with step  292 . 
     The previous dictation or transcription session data is restored in the context of this new engine connection in accordance with step  294 . This allows the new data to be appended into the current text, advantageously creating one contiguous transcribed or dictated file, as the new dictation or transcription session is processed in accordance with step  296 . After the dictation or transcription is complete, any of the text can be corrected rather than just the last transcribed text, in accordance with processing step  296 . The audio data can be retrieved through the custom audio DLL specified by the device description block. The standard process of dictation proceeds, except the audio is being retrieved automatically without the user have to repeat it again. When all the audio data has been retrieved, the process can continue. 
     When the dictation or transcription session processing is concluded, the data currently in the dictation or transcription session is saved to a temporary file in accordance with step  298 . The custom audio engine is disconnected in accordance with step  300 . The speech engine is connected with the default parameters in accordance with step  302 . This requires execution of the steps of path  98  shown in FIG. 2, in accordance with step  304 . Audio setup is called to restore the audio settings for the default engine audio device. Finally, the dictation and/or transcription session data is restored in accordance with step  306 , appearing as unitary text. The method ends at step  308 . 
     The session now contains the data before the dictation or transcription started and the data just obtained from the input device, whether through dictation or transcription. Yet another version of screen  270  is shown in FIG. 15, which illustrates a situation after dictation and/or transcription is performed from two different devices. The first sentence  296  originated from Sample Device  1  and the second sentence originated from Sample Device  2 . All of the data is contiguous in the document, and any of the data can be corrected, revised or otherwise edited. 
     A Preventing Audio Feedback screen  300  is shown in FIG.  16  and identified by title  301 . The screen  300  is divided into two main areas, an Information Area  302  for displaying information  304  about audio feedback and a User Control Area  306  for providing user controls  308  and a window  310  for listing audio mixer output controls. The user controls in this example include mutually exclusive selection circles  312 ,  314  and  316 . Display screen  300  thus presents the user with a visual interface that allows the user to select one of several options to proactively prevent audio feedback. A first option is the use of Mute controls by activating selection circle  312 . This option mutes the outputs of the audio mixer interface for all controls that could possibly be connected to the input device that is being setup and/or tested. This can be the default action, and thus guarantee that no audio feedback can occur. However, this option has the drawback of possibly muting wanted outputs. A second option is to leave the controls alone by activating selection circle  314 . This option will leave the audio mixer interface in the state that it was found. This is useful for a knowledgeable user who has already configured the outputs of the audio mixer interface and wants it left alone. A third option is to leave selected controls alone by activating selection circle  316 . This option allows the user the option of selecting those controls that are known not to be related to the input device being setup and/or tested. This gives a knowledgeable user the flexibility to configure the outputs of the audio mixer interface by selecting or deselecting the appropriate items in the list. 
     The solution to preventing audio feedback uniquely and advantageously provides an indication of a potential audio feedback problem, and thereafter, allows the user to select which audio mixer output controls should be muted, thus aiding in proactively preventing audio feedback. Although this aspect of the inventive arrangements is described in the context of a speech application, the method and accompanying display screen is useful for preventing audio feedback in any application, for example any audio or multimedia application, requiring audio input and output. 
     A screen  320  for trouble shooting a wrong audio source is shown in FIG.  17 . The screen is divided into four main areas, a Title area  322 , an Information area  324 , a Status area  326 , a first User Control area  328  and a second User Control area  332 . The Title area  322  is for displaying the title of the screen and/or the problem. The Information area  324  is for displaying information about the test. The Status area  326  is for displaying instructions and providing dynamic feedback and status information. The first and second User Control areas  328  and  332  are for providing user controls, such as buttons, selection boxes and pull down menus. 
     With reference to FIG. 18, which illustrates the trouble shooting process by flow chart  350 , after starting at step  352 , and prior to invocation of the trouble shooting screen  320 , the user first tests the first possible audio source for that particular device in accordance with step  354 . If the test is successful, in accordance with decision step  356 , then further trouble shooting is unnecessary, and method branches on path  359  to step  370 , in accordance with which the audio source is saved for use with the particular input device at a later time, and the process ends at step  372 . 
     If the first audio source is incorrect, the test in decision step  356  is not successful, the method branches on path  357  and the trouble shooting screen  320  is invoked in accordance with step  360 . The user is guided through the trouble shooting screen  320  shown in FIG.  17 . The user is informed of the problem in the Title area  322 , is shown the currently selected audio source in the first User Control area  328 . If additional sources are available in accordance with decision step  362 , the method branches on path  363  to step  364 , in accordance with which the user is requested to choose another audio source to be tested utilizing the first User Control area  328 . The user then selects an alternate audio source from the selection box in the first User Control area and activates the Test/Re-test button  334  in the second User Control area  332 , in accordance with step  366 . Information on what the user is supposed to do, for example visual feedback and test status, is displayed in the Status area  326 . The method then returns to decision step  356 , which determines if the retest was successful. 
     If the retest was successful, the method branches on path  359  to step  370 , as explained above. However, if the retest was not successful, the method branches on path  357  to steps  360 ,  362 ,  364  and  366  if other sources are available. If no other audio sources are left, the method branches on path  365  to step  368 , in accordance with which additional trouble shooting screens are invoked, such additional trouble shooting screens not forming a part of the inventive arrangements. Visual feedback on the currently selected audio source advantageously allows the user to select which audio sources should be tested, and in which order. The dashed line box indicates all of the steps which are advantageously implemented in connection with display screen  320 .