Patent Document ID: 7966188
Application ID: 10441839

Base Claim:
1. A method for use with a multimodal computing device capable of displaying visual messages comprising the steps of: providing a multimodal interface that includes an audio interface and a visual interface; sampling for a background noise to produce a sampled noise level; comparing the sampled noise level with a first predetermined noise threshold; in response to determining that the sampled noise level is above the first predetermined noise threshold, enabling interaction with the user via the visual interface by providing at least one visual prompt for user input; comparing the sampled noise level with a second predetermined noise threshold; and in response to determining that the sampled noise level is below the second predetermined noise threshold: disabling interaction with the user via the audio interface; enabling interaction with the user via the visual interface; determining whether earphones are connected to the multimodal computing device; and when it is determined that earphones are connected to the multimodal computing device, re-enabling interaction with the user via the audio interface.

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Claim 2:
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: visually presenting within said multimodal interface a prompt for speech input; receiving the speech input from the user; and, visually presenting within said multimodal interface a confirmation of the speech input.