Voice activated system and method to enable a computer user working in a first graphical application window to display and control on-screen help, internet, and other information content in a second graphical application window

Abstract

A system is disclosed for displaying a second window of a second application while a first window of a first application has input focus in a windowed computing environment having a voice recognition engine. The system comprises a retriever for launching the second application, a user command receiver for receiving commands from the voice recognition engine, and an application manager. The application manager responds to a command from the user command receiver by invoking the retriever to launch the second application and display the second window while the first window maintains substantially uninterrupted input focus.

1 . A system for displaying a second window of a second application while a first window of a first application has input focus in a windowed computing environment, the system comprising a computing device comprising:
 a voice recognition engine;   a retriever for launching the second application;   a user command receiver for receiving a command from the voice recognition engine while input focus is on the first window; and   an application manager for responding to the command by:
 invoking the retriever to launch the second application, display the second window, and set input focus on the second window; and 
 switching input focus back to the first window independent of user input. 
   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first graphical application window and the second window do not overlap. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a size of the second window is based on the contents of the second window. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first and second windows are displayed on any combination of display monitors. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the second application is a help application. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the second application is an Internet browser application. 
   
   
       7 . A system for displaying a second window of a second application while a first window of a first application has input focus in a windowed computing environment, the system comprising a computing device comprising:
 a voice recognition engine;   a retriever for launching the second application;   a user command receiver for receiving a command from the voice recognition engine while input focus is on the first window; and   an application manager for responding to the command by invoking the retriever to launch the second application and display the second window while input focus remains on the first window.   
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the first graphical application window and the second window do not overlap. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein a size of the second window is based on the contents of the second window. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the first and second windows are displayed on any combination of display monitors. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the second application is a help application. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the second application is an Internet browser application. 
   
   
       13 . A computer readable medium comprising code segments for displaying a second window of a second application while a first window of a first application has input focus in a windowed computing environment, the code segments for:
 receiving a voice command from a user while input focus is on the first window; and   responding to the voice command by:
 launching the second application, displaying the second window, and setting input focus on the second window; and 
 switching input focus back to the first window independent of user input. 
   
   
   
       14 . The computer readable medium of  claim 13  wherein the first graphical application window and the second window do not overlap. 
   
   
       15 . The computer readable medium of  claim 13  wherein a size of the second window is based on the contents of the second window. 
   
   
       16 . The computer readable medium of  claim 13  wherein the first and second windows are displayed on any combination of display monitors. 
   
   
       17 . A computer readable medium comprising code segments for displaying a second window of a second application while a first window of a first application has input focus in a windowed computing environment, the code segments for:
 receiving a voice command from a user while input focus is on the first window; and   responding to the voice command by launching the second application and displaying the second window while input focus remains on the first window.   
   
   
       18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17  wherein the first graphical application window and the second window do not overlap. 
   
   
       19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17  wherein a size of the second window is based on the contents of the second window. 
   
   
       20 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17  wherein the first and second windows are displayed on any combination of display monitors.