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AppleGranted patentAI & softwareInterest 6/10

Apple patents system that guides users to switch between voice and touch inputs

Patent drawing
Patent drawing from the official filing.

This patent describes a method for electronic devices to recognize when a user is using one type of input, such as voice, and determine if a different input, like touch, would be better for the next step. If so, the device highlights specific areas on the screen to show the user where to tap to continue the task.

Why it mattersIt improves how people interact with smart assistants by making it clearer when to use their hands versus their voice.

In the filing’s own words

Systems and processes for operating an intelligent automated assistant to perform intelligent list reading are provided. In accordance with one example, a method includes, at an electronic device having one or more processors, receiving a first user input of a first input type, the first user input including a plurality of words; displaying, on the touch-sensitive display, the plurality of words; receiving a second user input of a second input type indicating a selection of a word of the plurality of words, the second input type different than the first input type; receiving a third user input; modifying the selected word based on the third user input to provide a modified one or more words; and displaying, on the touch-sensitive display, the modified one or more words.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An electronic device, comprising: one or more processors; a memory; and one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for: receiving a user input of a first input type, the user input indicative of a task; performing the task in response to the user input; determining whether the task may be performed in response to a user input of a second input type; in accordance with a determination that the task may be performed in response to a user input of a second input type: providing an output indicative of the user input of the second input type; and in accordance with a determination that the second input type includes a touch input type, highlighting one or more portions of a display of the electronic device to indicate to a user where on the display to provide the user input of the second input type.

Facts

Company
Apple (Apple Inc.)
Official title
Multi-modal interfaces
Patent number
US12748568B2
Application number
18653896
Filed
May 2, 2024
Granted
Sep 29, 2026
Inventors
4
Claims
24

Classified under

G06F 3/167 Physics & computingG06F 3/04817 Physics & computingG06F 3/0482 Physics & computingG06F 3/0488 Physics & computingG06F 2203/0381 Physics & computingG10L 15/26 Physics & computing

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.