NL1024398C2 - Method, equipment and software for presentation to user of text of non-activatable and activatable text constituents, e.g. referring to a digital information object - Google Patents

Abstract

The method, equipment and software are for presentation of a user of a text of non-activatable and activatable text constituents, e.g. referring to a digital information object. The text is converted into audio format, whereby the activatable text components are presented in an audio format which differs from that applicable to the non-activatable text components. The activatable text constituents can then be activated by the user by means of audio or non-audio input. The activatable text constituents converted into audio can e.g. be preceded and/or followed by an attention signal. A mobile terminal (1) is used, which via a communication module (2) can interchange with a suitable network (3), usable for telephony and data, including Internet. In the terminal, the communication module (2) is connected with a control module (4), in which a number of control functions are incorporated. The terminal has a video screen (6) and a keyboard (7) on an input/output module (5). The keyboard incorporates a pointer device, with which a pointer on the video screen can be moved and selections made.

Description

Title: Method and means for presentation of a text with activatable text elements

Field of the invention The present invention relates to a method for presenting (to a user) a text comprising non-activatable text elements and one or more user-activatable text elements referring, for example, to a (digital) information object that after activation, a search is performed and 10 are presented. In addition to the said method, the invention also comprises a device and a software package suitable for carrying out the method, as well as the installation software and / or information carriers insofar as these are required for installation of the software package intended for carrying out the method in the said device .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Methods and means for presenting texts to non-activatable and user-activatable text elements (hereinafter also referred to as "links" or "hyperlinks"), for example referring to (digital) information objects with associated data text elements related further information, are today particularly known in the domain of the internet. Use can herein be made of software which, after installation and activation on for instance a personal computer (PC), is suitable for reading and processing texts / documents in a "Markup Language" (ML), for example HTML (. "HyperText Markup Language ").

Application of texts in an ML provides the possibility to make 30 text elements (words, sentences, images, etc.) activable by providing them with a "link tag", which usually includes the address of a location - inside or outside the same text , inside or outside the same PC where, for example, further, more extensive or related information can be "retrieved".

35 An ML is acquired by The Computer Language Company Ine. described as follows: 1024098

- --- I

"A set of labels that are embedded within text to distinguish I

individual elements or groups of elements for display or I

Identification purposes. The labels are typically known as M

"tags." Markup languages identify elements within a continuous I

5 stream of text rather than more structured data in a database. m

However, XML is a markup language that turns text streams into the equivalent of database records. SGML is the foundation

markup language from which HTML and XML were devised. "I

For presenting to the user i.c. ML texts I

visual presentation means known, for example as I

presentation module of a device installed and activated in the PC I

software package such as the well-known ML "browser" Microsoft * Internet I

Explorer *, that when presenting the text via the PC-I

15 screen visually distinguishes between non-

activatable and activatable text elements by, for example, I

displaying the activatable text elements in an I

different font (for example different color and / or underlined) I

and / or change of the screen cursor on the display I

20 locations of the activatable text elements. Such an activable I

text element can be activated by means of an I

activating member or module, for example by pressing I

of one of the buttons of the computer mouse that by means of

a mouse driver cooperates with the screen cursor and further I

25 control modules of the ML browser. The relevant I

control modules read in the relevant ML tag the address where I

the information object with related information can be I

found, then search for that information object and bid

the content to the presentation means, so that content on I

30 the screen appears, either via a new screen

"window", or in place of the original I

screen content. I

The known browsers are all based on visual representation of I

35 the activable text elements. Such I

activatable text elements are linked to I via their "tag"

1024398 I

3 for example a source of "streaming audio" or with, for example, MP3, WAV, MID files. The activable "links" are, however, always visualized via the screen / so that they can be activated with the aid of visual means - mouse, cursor.

With the rapidly becoming popular of small, mostly wireless, mobile terminals - originally intended primarily for telephony - for "mobile internet", etc., there is more and more the feeling that the screens of such "mobile phones" are still very small and its operation is not undivided pleasure. Moreover, such mobile terminals are regularly used during, for example, driving, etc., which can result in awkward and / or unsafe situations. Finally, there are large numbers of "mobile phones" in circulation that can be used for telephoning, but which do not have facilities for "mobile internet", etc., while the use of the internet, also for mobile use, is increasing hand-over-hand.

The following summarizes the way in which the present invention aims to contribute to a solution of such problems.

Summary of the invention The present invention proposes a method in which the text, including the non-activable and well-activatable text elements, is presented to the user in audio form instead of in visual form or in addition to it, wherein each activable text element is presented in an audio format that differs from the format of the non-activable text elements. Thus, according to the invention, the text is not "written out" via the screen, as is known in known browsers, etc., but the text, both the non-activable and the indeed activable text elements, is "read out" to the user. The activatable text elements are played in such a way that the. 10 2 4 o 9 8 '

user - in this case, listener - while listening to I

the read text can be heard when a text element I

(for example word, phrase or sentence) can be activated resp. not- I

is activable. For example, the activatable I

5 text elements preceded and / or followed by a presented I

attention signal ("bell", "beep"). Another or I

additional method is the activatable text element in I

present at a different pitch and / or a different timbre than I

the non-activable text elements. As an example of that I

In the latter case, the activatable text elements may, for example, be I

are presented in the form of a male voice and I

the non-activable text elements in the form of an I

female voice or vice versa. I

15 After an activable text element in distinctive audio I

format is presented to the user, he can, preferably I

by means of audio input, for example via a microphone, the I

activate the text element, in the same way as in the known I

visually oriented browsers the activable "links" can be 'I

20 are "clicked". Incidentally, it may be desirable that the I

possibility remains to also - if via "sound" the I

attention is drawn to activable elements in the i

"pronounced" text - such activable "links" not via I

audio, but in a different way, for example by pressing I

25 of a key on the relevant (mobile) terminal can be I

activated. I

Information objects that, after activating a "link", the I

browser and / or PC control connects the user, I

In many cases, preferably also in audio form on the I

be presented to the user, although it depends on the I

user preferences and the nature of the "retrieved" I

information can also be presented in non-audio form, I

for example, in case that information object is largely graphic I

35 is of a nature and the user has options for accessing that I

view information. I

1024398 I

s

Unless the text is already supplied in audio format, it will often be necessary to convert the text from non-audio format to audio format. The same also applies to the information objects that are searched for by activating the activatable text elements on the basis of the address tags and delivered to the user in audio format.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments of a device in which the above-discussed method can be carried out. The architecture of a software package with which such a device can be controlled is also discussed.

Figures

Figure 1 shows schematically a mobile terminal for presenting texts with non-activatable and activatable text elements to a user in audio.

Figure 2 shows the architecture of a software package with which the device of Figure 1 can be controlled.

Figure 3 shows an exemplary embodiment in which the "intelligence" is not in the terminal, but in a network server.

Description of the figures

Figure 1 shows a mobile terminal 1 that can exchange data via a communication module 2 with a suitable network 3. That network 3 is suitable for telephony and data, including the internet. In the terminal 1, the communication module 2 is connected to a control module 4 in which a plurality of control functions are incorporated.

The terminal 1 comprises two input / output means connected to an I / O module 5, namely a screen 6 and a keyboard 7. The keyboard 7 comprises, in addition to keys, also a "pointer device" with which a "pointer" "on the display 6 can be 1024398

be moved and selections can be made. H

As is known, for example, a telephone connection can be established

set up by the desired telephone number via the keypad 7 I

5 ', with that number being displayed on the I

display 6. By subsequently pressing one of the I

keys of the keyboard becomes the connection, under I

collaboration of modules 5, 4 and 2, with the network 3 I

requested. When a connection is made, the user can connect to the I

10 called party conversing via the microphone 11 and the I

loudspeaker 10. I

In addition to telephony, the terminal 1 is also suitable for I

"mobile internet" etc. For this purpose, using the "pointer H

Device "from the keyboard 7 to an on the display 6 I

appearing menu, controlled by I / O module 5, a selection H

be done, for example for requesting the current H

news for example on the internet, site H

http://www.omroep.nl/nos/nieuws/index.html. The content of this I

The site becomes via a modules I and 4 via the modules 4 and 2 and the network 3

12 and sent from there to the terminal 1 where I

it appears on the screen 6. The homepage includes a short I

texts followed by an activable text element or I

"hyperlink", such as the following example: H

25 "The British Parliament is going to start an investigation into the H

decision of the Blair government to attack Iraq. More info I

US President Bush has arrived in Jordan for the I

summit meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Sharon and the I

Palestinian prime minister Abbas. The subject of the conversation I

30 is the roadmap for peace. More info H

Lightning strikes last night had train traffic in the H

southeast of the country largely laid flat. More H

info "I

The text sent by the server 12 comprises non-activatable I

35 text elements, such as "The British parliament is going to investigate H

start with the decision etc. ”and activatable text elements H

1024398 I

7 such as the "More info" hyperlinks. To activate a hyperlink, the user can place the screen cursor on the hyperlink "More info" at the end of the first text by means of the pointer device on the keyboard 7 and activate that hyperlink by the pointer device or one of the keys to press. As a result, the (related) information stored under the internet address (i.c.

www.omroep.nl/../blair.html in the "tag" of the hyperlink, retrieved via the modules 4 and 2 and the network 3 from server 12 and sent from 10 to the terminal 1 where it is displayed on the screen 6 appears.

The terminal 1 of figure 1 is (also) suitable for "audio internet", by means of a Special User Interface module 8 (hereinafter also referred to for the sake of simplicity as part of a generic User Interface 9) on which the loudspeaker 10 and microphone 11 are connected. The UL module 8 is, among other things, arranged for conversion via module 4. data supplied in audio information by means of a Text / Speech module (T / S module) 8a. For example, the T / S module 8a converts the above text from the internet address www.omroep.nl: "The British parliament is going to start an investigation into the decision of the Blair government to attack Iraq." 25 in speech, pronounced with the pitch and timbre of a male voice - adjustable by a "voice parameter" in the T / S module 8 - which is played through the loudspeaker 10 to the user. The activable text element (the hyperlink) "More info" at the end, of the text can be recognized by the Ul module 8 or T / S module 8a by its HTML "tag" format: "<a href =" www .omroep.nl /../ blair.html "> More info </a>". As soon as module 8 or module 8a - in which this is programmed - a text element of the form "<a href="<URL>" > <label> </a> ', the "voting parameter" is changed to a 35 female voice, which only reads the <label> text to the user, after which the user can have a response time 1024398

be awarded by reading the continuation of the text an I

while interrupting the UL module 8 occasion I

to hear via the microphone 11 whether the user is on the I

Question responds by giving one into the microphone I

5 spoken command, for example the word "link /". To an I

To be able to recognize such a command, the Ul module 8 comprises an I

Speech recognition module (SH module) 8b that has an I

includes a comparison module with which, in collaboration with an I

register 8c in which valid command words are stored, by I

10 words spoken by the user can be recognized as I

commands or non-commands1. For example, as soon as the I command

"link!" is recognized by modules 8, 4 and 2 I

made a connection to the server 12 (or another source) where I

the internet address registered in the "tag", i.c. I

15 www.omroep.nl/../blair.html can be retrieved. Then I

the content of the relevant document is I

www.omroep.nl/../blair.html via modules 2, 4 and 8

by means of text-to-speech conversion to the user I

"read", in the same way as the original I previously

20 internet site http: //www.omroep♦en/nos/nieuws/index.html. I

It is possible to indicate a hyperlink by means of the I

preceded and / or following the spoken hyperlink by I

by means of an I output by the Ul module 8 via the loudspeaker 10

25 give an attention signal, in the form of, for example, a bell or I

beep signal. Use can also be made of the register I

8c saved voice files (for example WAV, MP3) that I

can be called by the software of the Ul-module 8. I

Such speech files can be processed by the software

30 combined with the contents of the relevant activatable I

text elements. For example, when the I appears

the above text element <a I

href = "www.omroep.nl /../ blair.html"> More info </a> through module 8 I

detected that this text element is a reference to the I

The hyperlink is "www.omroep.nl/../blair♦html", and becomes, under I

control of that data in the register 8c a WAV file I

1024398 I

9 retrieved with the default hyperlink label "Link to" spoken by a synthetic male or female voice, possibly followed by a hyperlink label "More info" converted by text module 8a, preceded by 5 and / or followed by an alert signal ·.

Incidentally, there are more activatable text elements that can be operated by the user in the same way - as described above - via "speech". For example, an internet site may contain an input field that can be filled in by the user, or where the user must make a choice from a number of presented options. Examples of activable (HTML) text elements are: <a href="ORL"> (label) </a>

Creates a hyperlink <a href="mailto:EMAIL"x/a> ·

Creates a mailto link <a name="NAME"x/a>

Creates a target location within a document <a href="#NAME"x/a>

Links to that target location from elsewhere in the document <select multiple name = "NAME" size =? X / select>

Creates a scrolling menu. Size sets the number or menu items visible before you need to scroll.

<select name = "NAME" X / select>

Creates a pulldown menu cinput type = "checkbox" name = "NAME">

Creates a checkbox. Text follows tag.

cinput type = "radio" name = "NAME" value = "x">

Creates a radio button. Text follows tag cinput type = text name = "foo" size = 20>

Creates a one-line text area. Size sets length, in characters.

1024398 I _w_ I <input type = "submit" value = "NAME"> I Creates a Submit button I <input type = "image" border = 0 name = "NAME" src = "name.gif"> I Creates a Submit button using an image <input type ^ 'reset' ^ I Creates a Reset button

As soon as in such a text originating from an internet server 12 such an activatable text element is detected by the I-ul module 8, the loaded software in the register 8c becomes a spoken message associated with that specific "tag" (in That register 8c stored in the form of, for example, a WAV file) is retrieved and played via the loudspeaker.

For example, when the I-activatable (selection) text element appears, the Ul module 8 searches: I 10 "<SELECT NAME =" URL ">

I <OPTION SELECTED

VALUE- "http: // www. Omroep.nl/nos/nieuws/ main points"> Main points I <OPTION VALUE = nhttp: // www. omroep.nl/nos/nieuws/binnenland ">

Domestic 15 <OPTION VALUE = "http: // www. omroep.nl/nos/nieuws/buitenland ">

Abroad <OPTION VALUE = "http: // www. Omroep.nl/nos/nieuws/economie"> H Economy <OPTION VALÜE- "http: // www. omxoep.nl/nos/nieuws/sport ”> Sport 20 <OPTION VALUE ^ http: // www. omroep.nl/nos/nieuws/weer "> Weer I </SELECT>" H in the.register 8c the voice file with the spoken words H "Choose from the following options:", after which the following list in the H text, "Hoofc (points - Domestic - Foreign 25 Economy - Sport - Weather") is converted into corresponding spoken words and then waited for the user's answer. As soon as the user announces his selection by speaking it through the microphone, it becomes audio input by the speech recognizer 8b compared (either in the speech domain or in the text domain) with the same enumeration.If the answer is recognized as a valid choice from that enumeration, the link belonging to that choice (e.g. the link 5 ") http://www.omroep.nl/nos/nieuws/buitenland "), and the session is continued by conversion and" reading out "of the content of that new link through module 8a.

Similarly, the non-activatable text elements 10 that are delivered to the terminal 1 and presented to the user in audio form, the activable text elements being presented in an audio format - adapted to the type of activable element (see above) - that differs from the format of the non-activatable text elements.

Figure 2 shows the architecture of the software package with which the device of Figure 1 can be controlled. The modules shown largely correspond to the modules of the device shown in Figure 1, which device modules are therefore largely controlled by the software application described below. More generic functions are controlled by generic control software or other application software that is not further described. As shown in Figure 1, at a certain moment a document in HTML format, referred to as "HTML txt", is presented to the control module 4, originating from "the internet" 3, for example server / host 12. A detection module 8d examines in the supplied flow of text elements. In that text, the detection module detects numerous HTML text elements 30 which do not need to be converted into speech, since they only relate to the graphic layout, which is only relevant when the text (possibly also) via the screen 6 of the device 1 is shown to the user, for example: 35 "<! DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC" - // W3C // DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional // EN "> <HTML> 1024398 I ui

I <HEAD> I

I <meta http-equiv = ”Content-Type" content = "text / html; charset = iso I

I 8859-1 "> I

I <TITLE> NOS news </TITLE> I

I 5 <SCRIPT language = ”JavaScript !. 1 "I

I src * "../../../. ./Scripts/nos.js" x / SCRIPT> I

I <SCRIPT> TpsSignOn (this) / </SCRIPT> I

I <SCRIPT LANGÜAGE = "JavaScript"> I

I </ - I

I 10 // script for the star banner I

I function MM_swapImgRestore () {//v3.0 I

I var i, x, a = doc. ment.MM_sr; I

I for (i = 0; a && i <a.length && (x = a [i]) &&x.oSrc; i ++) x.src-x.oSrc; I

I} etc. etc. "I

I 15 I

I If the detection module in the HTML text supplied is "normal" I

I detects text elements (which, according to the syntax, does not detect I

I relate to graphic formatting etc., then (only) I

I passed that text to the "Text-to-Speech" module 8a, where I

The "clear" text is converted into speech, which via a "driver"

8e and the loudspeaker 10 is played, for example I

The text already cited above:

I "The British Parliament is going to start an investigation into the I

I decide by the Blair government to attack Iraq. ", Followed I

I 25 by (see above) "<a href =" www. omroep.nl/ .. /blair.html"> More I

I info </a> "this last word sequence is used by the I

I detection module 8d based on the HTML syntax "<a I

I href = "URL"> label </a> "recognized as a (by the user) I

I activatable text element, which in this case (see above for I

Other activatable text elements) a reference (hyperlink, I

I URL) to another information object, i.c. the HTML-I

I text file "www.omroep.nl/../blair.html". I

As soon as, as indicated above, the detection module 8d has an I

I 35 detectable activable text element, the module 8d indicates the I

I conversion module 8a a "format" code, whereby conversion module I

I 1024398 1-3 8a represents the "link label" "More info" in a form that is recognizable by the user as such, for example spoken by another voice (male / female) and / or provided with a signal (beep / call) before and / or after saying "More 5 info". In order to give the user a clear opportunity to respond to that activable text element, the influx of the HTML text to the detection module can be stopped for a certain time and possibly buffered in a buffer that is not explicitly indicated. The speech recognizer 8b and microphone 10 are activated by means of, for example, an "on" signal ("off" as default). If the user - while the text is being read aloud is either temporarily interrupted or simply continued - a command is recorded in the microphone 10 and this is recognized as such by the speech recognizer, the command is - for example (in response to the last read aloud) hyperlink "More info") the command "link!" - offered to the detection module, which takes action on it: with "link!" the relevant URL, in this case wvw.omroep.nl/../blair.html, is provided via the control module 4 called; without "link /" input, reading of the text in progress (i.c. http://www.omroep.nl/nos/nieuws/-index.html) will be continued after the "time-out".

Similarly, other text elements that can be activated by the user 25 can be examined and processed by the detection module 8d. The exact form in which the activatable text elements are presented to the user in audio can be made dependent on the nature and content of the active text elements. For example, module 8a can use a spoken default label "Link" with a "normal" hyperlink, and with a selection element - such as below - a default spoken link label "Choose from:"; the possible attention signals can also be different for the different types of activatable elements that present themselves.

35 '

For example, if a more complex activatable text element: 1024398 ·

I 14 I

I "<SELECT NAME =" URL "> I

I <OPTION SELECTED

VALUE = "http: // www. Omroep.nl/nos/nieuws/ main points"> Main points I

I <OPTION VALUE = "http: // www. Omroep.nl/nos/nieuws/binnenland"> I

I 5 Interior I

<OPTION VALUE = "http: // www. Omroep.nl/nos/nieuws/buitenland"> I

I Abroad I

<OPTION VALUE => "http: // www. Omroep.nl/nos/nieuws/economie"> I

Economy I

I 10 <OPTION VALUE * = "http://www.omroep.nl/nos/nieuws/sport"> Sport I

I <OPTION VALUE = "http: // www. Omroep.nl/nos/nieuws/weer"> Weer I

I </SELECT> "I

module 8d detects itself based on the syntax I

I "<SELECT NAME = ---- I

I 15 / SELECT> that this is a selection string with the I

I selection items "Highlights", "Domestic", "Foreign", I

I "Economy", "Sport" and "Weather". The software module 8d is so I

programmed that those selection items pass through the text-to-speech I

I module 8a converted I

I and are played to the user via the "driver" I

8th and loudspeaker 10, for example in the format "Choose from the I

I following options: Main points - Inland - Abroad - I

I Economy - Sport - Weather ". Also the processing of the HTML I

I text suspended, for example as long as the user does not have I

I has input 25 via the microphone 11 or, if no I

I input is received during a certain "time out". As soon as I

the user responds, it is received by the microphone 11

I word by the speech recognizer 8b compared to the one in the. I

I activatable HTML text element of selection items incorporated. I

30 (which from the detection module 8a to module 8b and / or database 8c I

I have been transferred). If it is indeed one of the valid I

options, for example "Economy", is detected by the detection module I

8d the relevant URL "www.omroep.nl/nos/nieuws/economie" to I

I sent the control module 4 and with internet server / host 12 I

I 35 requested. If the user does not provide a valid response, the I

I speech recognition 8b "Choose from the following options: etc." I

I 1024398-5. In this case, the "pronouncing" of the phrase "Choose from the following options:" in itself can be a sufficiently distinctive "format" for the user to understand that the software has detected an activatable text element to which a reaction can or must be made. turn into. To underline this, however, the phrase "Choose from the following options: Main points - Domestic - Foreign - Economy - Sport - JVeer" are preceded and / or followed by a sound signal and / or spoken by a voice that deviates from the voice. voice in which the non-activable text is spoken.

In the manner outlined above, the package with the different software modules, loaded and activated in the device shown in Figure 1, can thus provide for the processing of the different types of text elements in accordance with the method according to the invention.

Finally, a piece of text follows with non-activable words and activable words that, although they are activable, form one continuous whole with the text.

"Acacia Media Technologies is listed on the Nasdaq and part of Acacia Research. The company holds a total of 21 patents, five of which are only valid in the 25 United States. The patents are described on the company's site. Acacia also owns a patent from the Netherlands, the majority of which has been purchased, and 27 sites were asked to purchase this license at the end of last year, with compensation ranging between 1 and 2 percent of sales. the sites responded, and followed in December

Radio Free Virgin, owned by Richard Branson. Zack Zalon, general manager of Radio Free Virgin, says to Cnet that the patents turned out to be "specific enough" to also apply to Radio Free Virgin. Earlier this week, the Mexican 35 Telefonica Moviles also changed tack, shareholder Grupo Pegaso signed an agreement with Acacia. "1024398 K>

The entire text above is converted into module I by conversion

8a, read and spoken by, for example, a synthetic I

male voice, presented to the user via loudspeaker 10. I

The detection module 8d detects at a number of places in the I

text a "hyperlink"; the text supplied to the detection module I

namely in HTML code looks like this: I

"<a href =" http://www.acaciaresearch.com/main.html ”I

target = "_ blank"> I

10 Acacia Media Technologies </a> is listed on the Nasdaq and I

part of Acacia Research. The company has a total of 21 I

patents in his possession, of which five are only valid in the H

United States. The patents are described on <a I

href = "h t tp: // www. a ca ciaresearch.com / index_dm t. h tml" I

15 target = "_ blank"> the site </a> of the company. The largest part M

Acacia also has a patent for that

comes from the Netherlands. At the end of last year, 27 sites received <a I

href = "http: // www. siliconinvestor.com/stocktalk- I

/msg.gsp?msgid=18353390 "target -" _ blank "> the request </a> for I

20 purchase this license. The reimbursement is between 1 and 2 I

percent of sales. Some of the sites responded to this. I

In <a href- "http://www.siliconinvestor.com/stocktalk/- I

. msg.gsp? msgid = 18357669 "target =" _ blank "> december </a> also followed I

Radio Free Virgin, I

25 owned by Richard Branson. Opposite Cnet <a I

href = "http://news.com.com/2100-1023-983552.html"

target = ”_ blank"> says </a> Zack Zalon, general manager of I

<a href="http://www. radiofreevirgin.com/" target="_blank"> Radio H

Free Virgin </a>, that the patents proved "specific enough" to I

30 also apply to Radio Free Virgin. Earlier this I

The Mexican Telefonica Moviles also changed tack, H

shareholder Grupo Pegaso closed an <a M

href = "http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/cnn- I

storydisplay.cgi? story- I

35 = / www / bw / webbox / bw. 020503 / 230360089.htm & textcolor =% 23000000 & bgco I

lor =% 23FFFFFF & linkcolor =% 230000FF & vlinkcolor =% 230000FF & alinkcolo I

1024398 I

VJ

r =% 23FF0 OOO & ta rge t = _blank ipre ^ & strip ^ l & noh rule = l a imes% 2 O "> agreement </a> with Acacia."

At those places where the detection module finds a hyperlink, indicated by the syntax "<a href="URl" (target="n)> (link-label) </a>", an alert signal such as a "bell" and then the link label (for example "Acacia Media Technologies") is read by a female voice, after which the text is stopped for a moment to give the user the opportunity to communicate via his microphone 11 if desired (but not required). - by saying, for example, the command "link! tt - to want to be switched to the relevant URL. If the user does not make this known within the specified time, the male voice will continue reading the text.

Incidentally, after the appearance of an activable text element, the reading of the text can also be continued uninterrupted, in which case the user has the time to respond to the last readable activable text element (by calling "link!") A minimum response time can also be built in, which is especially useful if a text contains different activatable elements in a short period of time, which would leave the user very little time to respond and, moreover, become confused as to which of those activatable text elements is reacted precisely.

As soon as the next hyperlink (i.c. "the site") presents itself, the text label of that hyperlink ("the site") is again read out by the synthetic female voice after the attention signal has sounded. The male voice then continues reading the text, while the user can still activate the last-read hyperlink, and so on.

35

The above example may clarify on which 1024398

1-8 I

wise texts that contain hyperlinks and any other activatable I

contain elements in a simple and effective way by H

audio equipment such as telephone terminals etc. can be H

processed without the texts in a special format - I

5 for example "AudioXML" or "Speech Application languaqe Tags I

(SALT) must be offered to terminal 1. Although, H

as illustrated in the foregoing, the present I

method, design and software lends itself well to H

processing of more complex activatable elements H

10 such as selection strings (see example above), the large becomes H

advantage of the present invention especially seen in the H

simple and effective processing of texts with H

single hyperlinks, as in particular the last example shows H

see.

Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment in which the H

"intelligence" for carrying out the method according to H

1 invention - production of audio in various formats for H

non-activable resp. activatable text elements - H

20 are incorporated in the terminal 1. The advantage thereof is I

that all ML texts sent from internet servers (such as server 12) I

can be supplied, H

turn into. The downside, however, is that the terminal must be provided

of special features, i.c. the special User Interface 8. I

25 To ensure that (also) "normal" telephone terminals I

being able to use the method according to the invention, I

that "intelligence" can also be placed outside the terminal, I

for example, as Fig. 3 schematically shows, in a server I

13. In the architecture of Figure 3, a conventional I

30 mobile telephone terminal 14 connect to the server 13, I

for example by dialing a telephone number, meant I

for retrieving current news. Server 13 receives the I

news, for example, from server 12 in the form of an ML text, I

which is converted by the "intelligence" 8 into server 13 I

35 in audio transmitted to the telephone set 14. I

Activable text elements are controlled by module I

1024398 I

1-9 8 - presented by server 13 to the relevant telephone subscriber in such a way that he can hear - for example, a voice change and / or audio signal - when a word or text part can be activated. When the subscriber then enters an activation command - for example "link!" - into his / her microphone, this is transmitted to the module 8 and the last activatable text element is activated by, for example, retrieving the relevant information object via server 12 to which the activatable Thus, a "normal" telephone user can also use the method and service according to the present invention.

It is noted that it is also possible that, for example, the text to be offered to terminal 14 cannot be converted by server 13 from a "written" (ML) text - by means of conversion means 8a - but that audio text, including the displaying activatable text elements in a form recognizable by the listener (voice height; attention signal), to be produced separately, for example recorded at an earlier moment, for example in a news server 15, which is for example only provided with the in Figure 2 with 8 The indicated part (above the dotted line) of IU module 8. For the purpose of being able to respond to the activable elements, the activable text elements, as in the example text above, for example: I. Acacia Media Technologies (www.acaciaresearch.com) /main.html) 2. the site (www.acaciaresearch.com/index_dmt.html) 3. the request (www.siliconinvestor.com/stocktalk/-msg.gsp?msgid=18353390) 4. December (www.siliconinvestor. com / stocktalk / - 30 msg.gsp? msgid = 18 357669 5. Says (http://news.com.com/2100-1023-983552.html) 6. Radio Free Virgin (http://www.radiofreevirgin.com/) 7. Agreement (http: // www. businesswire.com / ....) presented in ML form to the body 8 in server 13. In each case 35, when transmitting an activatable text element by server 15, in a form that is distinguishable by the listener, it is possible for 1024398

I 20 I

server 13 the relevant activatable hyperlink becomes I

I "ready", ready for audio input through the I

Become a terminal user / listener via module 8b I

I activated. IU module 8 'in server 15 is possible with IU module 8 (in I

In this case, part 8 "thereof, see Figure 2 below the dotted line) of I

Server 12 exchange the relevant commands via the internet

I 3. I

Finally, for the sake of completeness, it is noted that the I

I 10 is customary to place a software package before placing the package on I

I for example install a terminal - to be delivered via I

I an installation program, either registered on or in an I

I information carrier such as an installation CD or diskette, or I

I by downloading that installation file via a network I

I like the internet, from a medium where that installation file is I

I has been saved. The installation file of the present I

I software package, either in compressed and / or encrypted I

I form, all data required for installation of the aforementioned I

I modules in the hardware of the described system for implementation I

Of the described method. I

I 1024398 I

Claims (34)

24 Method for presenting a text comprising non-activatable text elements and one or more user-activatable text elements, characterized in that the text is presented in audio form, wherein the activatable text elements are presented in an audio format that is distinguishes in any way from the audio format in which the non-activable text elements are presented. 2. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein such an activatable text element, after being presented in distinctive audio format, can be activated by the user by means of audio input. 3. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein such an activatable text element, after being presented in distinctive audio format, can be activated by the user by means of non-audio input. 4. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein such an activatable text element refers to an information object which after activation of the activatable text element is looked up and presented in audio form. The method of claim 1, wherein such an activable text element refers to an information object that is searched for after activation of the activable text element and presented in non-audio form. The method of claim 1, wherein the text of non-audio is converted to audio format. Method according to claim 4, wherein the relevant information object is converted from non-audio into audio format. 8. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the activatable text elements are presented in an audio format that differs from the format of the non-activable text elements in that the presented 'activatable text element is preceded and / or followed by a presented attention signal. The method of claim 1, wherein the activable 1024398 I 22 I text elements are presented in an audio format that differs from the format of the non-activable I text elements in that the activable text element is I presented at a pitch and / or timbre that differs from the pitch and / or timbre in which non-activable text elements are presented. A method according to claim 9, wherein the activatable I text elements are presented in an audio format that corresponds to a male voice, and the inactivable I text elements are presented in an audio format that corresponds to a female voice or, conversely, wherein the activatable text elements are presented in an audio I format corresponding to a female voice, and the non-activatable text elements are presented in an audio I format corresponding to a male voice. Device, comprising means for presenting a text comprising non-activatable text elements, as well as one or more user-activatable text elements, characterized by UI means (8) which are suitable for presenting in audio form the text, such that the activable text elements are presented in an audio format that differs from the format in which the non-activable H text elements are presented. H 25 Device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the µ-means (8) H are suitable for activating the activatable text elements by means of H audio input by the user. 13. Device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the UI means (8) are suitable for activating the activatable text elements by means of non-audio input by the user. Device as claimed in claim 11, wherein such an activatable text element refers to an information object and the UI means (8) are suitable for searching for the relevant information object or having it searched up after activation of the relevant activatable text element and in audio H form. I 1024398 Device as claimed in claim 11, wherein such an activatable text element refers to an information object and the UI means (8) are suitable for, after activation of the relevant activatable text element, the. to look up the relevant information object or to have it searched up and to offer it in non-audio form. The device of claim 11, comprising a conversion device (8a) for converting the text into audio form. 17. Device as claimed in claim 14, comprising a converter (8a) for conversion of the relevant information object in audio form. The device according to claim 11, wherein the UI means (8) are adapted to precede and / or follow the activable text elements by an attention signal. Device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the UI means (8) are suitable for presenting the activable text elements at a pitch and / or timbre that differs from the pitch and / or the timbre in which the non-activable text elements are presented . The device of claim 19, wherein the UI means (8) are adapted to present, as a first mode, the activatable text elements in an audio format corresponding to a male voice and the non-activable text elements in an audio format corresponding to to present with a female voice or, as a second mode, the activable text elements in an audio format that corresponds to a female voice and the non-activable text elements in an audio format that corresponds to a male voice. The device of claim 20, wherein the UI means (8) are adapted to be set by the user in either the first mode or the second mode. Terminal (1), comprising a device according to one or more of the claims 11-21. Server (13), comprising a device according to one or more of 1024398 I 24 I of claims 11 - 21. 24. Software package comprising an UL module suitable for presenting a text comprising an inactivable text elements of a device or system on which the software package is installed, as well as one or more text elements that can be activated by a user, characterized in that the Ul module (8) is suitable for presenting the text in audio form, such that the activable text elements are presented in an audio format that differs from the format in which I the non-activable text elements are being presented. The software package according to claim 24, wherein the Ul module I (8) is adapted to activate the activatable text elements by means of audio input. I 15 The software package according to claim 24, wherein such an activatable text element refers to an information object and the Ul module (8) is adapted to be activated after activation of one. such an activable text element, to look up the relevant information object or to have it searched up and also to offer it in audio form. The software package according to claim 24, comprising a conversion module (8a) for converting the text into audio format. The software package according to claim 24, wherein the Ul module 25 (8) is adapted to cause the activable text elements H to be preceded and / or followed by an attention signal to be presented via the presentation module. 29. Software package according to claim 24, wherein the Ul module (8) is suitable for presenting the activable text elements at a pitch and / or timbre that differs from the pitch and / or the timbre in which the non-activable text elements are presented . The software package according to claim 29, wherein the Ul module (8) is adapted to present, as a first mode, the activable text elements in an audio format corresponding to a male voice and the non-activable text elements. in an audio format that corresponds to a female voice or, as a second mode, to present the activable text elements in an audio format that corresponds to a female voice and the non-activable text elements in an audio format that corresponds to a male voice. The software package according to claim 29, wherein the UL module (8) is adapted to be set by the user to either the first mode or the second mode. 10 An installation program for the software package according to one or more of claims 24 to 31. An information carrier comprising the software package according to one or more of claims 24 to 31. An information carrier comprising the installation program of claim 32. 1024398