US5799267A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Phonic engine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1995-06-07
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Granted: 1998-08-25
•
Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A method of accessing information in a database of text entries is provided. The user may be prompted for an initial sound of the information to be accessed, by providing a menu of symbols, each symbol representing a respectively different sound. The initial sound is received. A sound other than the initial sound for the information to be accessed is also received. A subset of the text entries in the database is associated with the initial sound and the other sound. The associated text entries are searched by a searching method that may include sequential search. The associated text entries are provided as the accessed information, and the meaning of a selected one of the text entries is indicated in a manner which would be understood by individuals who cannot read, such as sound and pictures, or sound and animation.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven H. Siegel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 16:01
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B5/00; G09B5/06; G09B5/065; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/40; G09B17/00; G09B17/003; G09B17/006; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99935
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of accessing information in a database of text entries comprising the steps of: receiving a non-verbal first sound indication signal representing an initial sound of the text entry for the information to be accessed; receiving a non-verbal second sound indication signal representing a sound other than the initial sound of the text entry for the information to be accessed; associating ones of text entries in the database with the first and second sound indication signals; providing the associated text entries as the accessed information; and; indicating a meaning for a selected one of the text entries in a manner which would be understood by individuals who can not read.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of accessing information in a database of text entries comprising the steps of: receiving a non-verbal first sound indication signal representing an initial sound of the text entry for the information to be accessed; receiving a non-verbal second sound indication signal representing a sound other than the initial sound of the text entry for the information to be accessed; associating ones of text entries in the database with the first and second sound indication signals; providing the associated text entries as the accessed information; and; indicating a meaning for a selected one of the text entries in a manner which would be understood by individuals who can not read.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of receiving the non-verbal first sound indication signal includes the step of prompting for the initial sound of the text entry for the information by providing a menu of symbols, each symbol representing a sound.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the initial sound and the sound other than the initial sound respectively consist of an initial phoneme and final phoneme.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of providing the associated text entries includes the step of sequentially processing each of the associated text entries to allow a user to select the selected one of the associated entries.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein: the text entries in the database each includes digital data representing a word and an associated definition and the information to be accessed includes a desired one of the words and its associated definition; and the step of sequentially processing each of the associated text entries includes the steps of: pronouncing the word included in the text entry; and receiving a response indicating whether the pronounced word is the desired one.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of receiving the non-verbal first sound indication signal representing the initial sound includes the step of prompting for the first sound indication signal of the text entries for the information in a manner which is to be understood by a user who cannot read.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of accessing information in a database of text entries comprising the steps of: receiving a non-verbal first sound indication signal representing an initial sound of the text entry for the information to be accessed; receiving a non-verbal second sound indication signal representing a sound other than the initial sound of the text entry for the information to be accessed; selecting one of text entries in the database using the first and second sound indication signals; providing the selected text entry as the accessed information; and displaying an animation relevant to the selected text entry to reinforce the selection to a user.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of accessing information in a database of text entries comprising the steps of: receiving a non-verbal first sound indication signal representing an initial sound of the text entry for the information to be accessed; receiving a non-verbal second sound indication signal representing a sound other than the initial sound of the text entry for the information to be accessed; selecting one of text entries in the database using the first and second sound indication signals; providing the selected text entry as the accessed information; and displaying an animation relevant to the selected text entry to reinforce the selection to a user.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of accessing information in a database of text entries comprising the steps of: receiving a non-verbal first sound indication signal representing an initial sound of the text entry for the information to be accessed; receiving a non-verbal second sound indication signal representing a sound other than the initial sound of the text entry for the for the information to be accessed; selecting one of the text entries in the database using the first and second sound indication signals; providing the selected text entry as the accessed information; and providing information which reinforces the selected text.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of accessing information in a database of text entries comprising the steps of: receiving a non-verbal first sound indication signal representing an initial sound of the text entry for the information to be accessed; receiving a non-verbal second sound indication signal representing a sound other than the initial sound of the text entry for the for the information to be accessed; selecting one of the text entries in the database using the first and second sound indication signals; providing the selected text entry as the accessed information; and providing information which reinforces the selected text.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
113 words
A computer implemented method for accessing one item from a collection of items, comprising the steps of: a) receiving a non-verbal first sound indication signal representing an initial sound of a word or words which represent the one item; b) receiving a non-verbal second sound indication signal representing a sound other than the initial sound of the word or words which represent the one item; c) associating ones of items in the collection of items with the first and second sound indication signals; d) indicating the associated items to a user in a manner which allows an individual who cannot read to recognize and select the one item from among the associated items.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
113 words
A computer implemented method for accessing one item from a collection of items, comprising the steps of: a) receiving a non-verbal first sound indication signal representing an initial sound of a word or words which represent the one item; b) receiving a non-verbal second sound indication signal representing a sound other than the initial sound of the word or words which represent the one item; c) associating ones of items in the collection of items with the first and second sound indication signals; d) indicating the associated items to a user in a manner which allows an individual who cannot read to recognize and select the one item from among the associated items.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein the one item is itself a word or group of words.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein the step d) includes the step of displaying a matrix of pictures, each representing a respective one of the provided items.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein the step d) includes the step of sequentially providing aural information representing each of the provided items.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein the initial sound and the sound other than the initial sound respectively consist of an initial phoneme and final phoneme, and no sound indication signal other than the first sound indication signal and the second sound indication signal is used in the associating step.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein the step of receiving the non-verbal first sound indication signal representing the initial sound includes the step of prompting for the first sound indication signal in a manner that is to be understood by a user who cannot read.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
148 words
An article of manufacture comprising a computer readable medium containing instructions to be used by a computer to access one item from a collection of items, the article of manufacture comprising: means for causing the computer to receive a non-verbal first sound indication signal representing an initial sound of a word or words which represent the one item; means for causing the computer to receive a non-verbal second sound indication signal representing a sound other than the initial sound of the word or words which represent the one item; means for causing the computer to associate ones of items in the collection of items with the first and second sound indication signals; and means for causing the computer to indicate the associated items to a user in a manner which allows an individual who cannot read to recognize and select the one item from among the associated items.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
148 words
An article of manufacture comprising a computer readable medium containing instructions to be used by a computer to access one item from a collection of items, the article of manufacture comprising: means for causing the computer to receive a non-verbal first sound indication signal representing an initial sound of a word or words which represent the one item; means for causing the computer to receive a non-verbal second sound indication signal representing a sound other than the initial sound of the word or words which represent the one item; means for causing the computer to associate ones of items in the collection of items with the first and second sound indication signals; and means for causing the computer to indicate the associated items to a user in a manner which allows an individual who cannot read to recognize and select the one item from among the associated items.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
53 words
An article of manufacture according to claim 15, wherein the initial sound and the sound other than the initial sound respectively consist of an initial phoneme and final phoneme, and no sound indication signal other than the first sound indication signal and the second sound indication signal is used by the associating means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
55 words
An article of manufacture according to claim 16, wherein the means for causing the computer to receive the non-verbal first sound indication signal representing the initial sound includes means for causing the computer to prompt for the first sound indication signal in a manner that is to be understood by a user who cannot read.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
112 words
Apparatus for accessing one item from a collection of items, comprising: means for receiving a non-verbal first sound indication signal representing an initial sound of a word or words which represent the one item; means for receiving a non-verbal second sound indication signal representing a sound other than the initial sound of the word or words which represent the one item; means for associating ones of items in the collection of items with the first and second sound indication signals; and means for indicating the associated items to a user in a manner which allows an individual who cannot read to recognize and select the one item from among the associated items.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
112 words
Apparatus for accessing one item from a collection of items, comprising: means for receiving a non-verbal first sound indication signal representing an initial sound of a word or words which represent the one item; means for receiving a non-verbal second sound indication signal representing a sound other than the initial sound of the word or words which represent the one item; means for associating ones of items in the collection of items with the first and second sound indication signals; and means for indicating the associated items to a user in a manner which allows an individual who cannot read to recognize and select the one item from among the associated items.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the initial sound and the sound other than the initial sound respectively consist of an initial phoneme and final phoneme, and no sound indication signal other than the first sound indication signal and the second sound indication signal is used by the associating means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the means for receiving the non-verbal first sound indication signal representing the initial sound includes means for prompting for the first sound indication signal in a manner that is to be understood by a user who cannot read.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-24 | 2002-02-23 | 2002-08-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-24 | 2006-02-23 | 2006-08-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-24 | 2010-02-23 | 2010-08-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |