Browser Voice Agent for Web Application Context Detection
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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 executing within the browser to monitor events and determine the current context of web applications, using a Contextual Command Sheet (CCS) to specify voice interactions and enable voice input based on the context, even for web applications without native voice interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If web applications are made accessible over the Internet using standard web technologies, then ease of operation and accessibility are improved, but voice-interface functionality is lost because browser capabilities are not exposed to the application logic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a voice application as an intermediary layer between the user and the web application. This voice application captures voice input, processes it through speech recognition, and translates it into commands that the web application can execute, thereby enabling voice-interface functionality without modifying the underlying web application code or exposing browser capabilities directly to the application logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the voice-enablement functionality into a separate voice application component that operates independently from the web application. This segmentation allows the web application to maintain its standard web technology stack while the voice application handles all voice-related processing, including grammar configuration, speech recognition, and command translation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If voice interactions are enabled for web applications, then adaptability and user interaction capabilities are improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for external information sources and context monitoring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal voice application framework that can be applied to multiple different web applications without requiring application-specific customization. The voice application provides multi-functional capabilities including context detection, grammar management, speech recognition, and command translation, which can serve any web application that supports JavaScript execution, thereby reducing overall system complexity through standardization.
Solution Approach 2:
The voice application monitors browser events and DOM changes to automatically detect the current context of the web application. This self-service mechanism allows the system to dynamically configure appropriate grammars and voice commands based on the detected context without requiring manual intervention or complex configuration management, thereby reducing the perceived complexity for users.
3Measurement precision
If context monitoring is implemented to enable dynamic voice commands, then voice interaction precision is improved, but loss of information increases due to the complexity of tracking application state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes changes in the Document Object Model (DOM) structure and browser event states as indicators of application context changes. By monitoring these structural and state changes, the voice application can accurately detect the current context without requiring complex tracking mechanisms, thereby maintaining high precision while minimizing information loss and processing overhead.
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.