Browser Voice Agent for Web Application Interaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Many web applications lack native voice-interface functionality, making it difficult to enable voice interactions since browser capabilities are not exposed, and identifying elements in the Document Object Model (DOM) is insufficient for determining voice-enabled elements.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a voice application and an agent within the browser to monitor events and determine the context of web applications, using a Contextual Command Sheet (CCS) to specify voice interactions, enabling voice input based on the current context and available voice commands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If web applications use standard browser rendering without voice capabilities, then browser compatibility is maintained, but voice interaction functionality is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a voice application as an intermediary layer between the browser and web applications. This voice application includes components that intercept keyboard events and translate them into voice commands, allowing voice interaction without modifying the core browser or web application code. The intermediary approach enables voice capability addition while preserving existing browser architecture and compatibility.
2Ease of operation
If voice commands are enabled for all web applications, then voice accessibility is improved, but accuracy in identifying voice-enabled elements decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements context-specific voice command handling where different voice commands are enabled based on the current web application context and DOM element type. The system analyzes the specific element that received the keyboard event and enables only relevant voice commands for that context, rather than providing universal voice commands across all applications. This contextual approach improves identification accuracy while maintaining accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback mechanisms that monitor which voice commands are successfully recognized and executed versus those that fail. This feedback is used to refine the mapping between keyboard events and voice commands, improving accuracy over time. The system learns from successful interactions to better identify which voice elements should be enabled in specific contexts.
3Measurement precision
If native voice interfaces are integrated into web applications, then voice recognition accuracy is improved, but ease of manufacture and adoption decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal voice application layer that can work with any web application without requiring application-specific voice interface integration. The voice application intercepts and translates keyboard events into voice commands that can be processed by existing speech recognition systems. This multi-functional approach allows the same voice infrastructure to serve multiple web applications, reducing implementation complexity while maintaining adequate voice recognition accuracy through standardized event handling.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for voice-enabling a web application, wherein the web application includes one or more web pages rendered by a web browser on a computer. At least one information source external to the web application is queried to determine whether information describing a set of one or more supported voice interactions for the web application is available, and in response to determining that the information is available, the information is retrieved from the at least one information source. Voice input for the web application is then enabled based on the retrieved information.