Selectable State Machine User Interface System

Abstract

A system that concurrently provides multiple user interface (UI) mechanisms that facilitate control of an application state machine (e.g., unified message system). More particularly, the invention can create two relatively distinct user experiences, one via dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) navigation and another through speech recognition navigation of a unified message system. In accordance therewith, one single underlying state machine can be used. Navigation and flow control (e.g., state transitions) in the state machine can be leveraged by multiple UI mechanisms that actively co-exist. The invention introduces speech recognition features together with other input mechanisms to drive the UI of an application state machine (e.g., unified messaging system). The speech recognition UI can be designed to provide a natural navigation through the application independent of a DTMF UI.

1 . A method of employing a unified messaging system, the method comprising:
 concurrently providing a plurality of user interfaces that facilitate navigating through the unified messaging system;   selecting one of the plurality of user interfaces;   transmitting an instruction to the unified messaging system via the selected user interface; and   processing the instruction to control operation of the unified messaging system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising alternatively selecting another of the plurality of user interfaces and transmitting a second instruction in accordance with the alternative user interface. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein processing the instruction comprises:
 receiving a message of a first format from a first device;   analyzing the message;   transforming the message to a second format that corresponds to a second device; and   synchronizing the messages of the first format and the second format.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein receiving the message of the first format comprises receiving a voicemail communication. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein transforming the message to the second format comprises transforming the message to an email communication. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising conveying content of the message. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein conveying the content of the message comprises employing at least one of the following: rule-based logic and artificial intelligence. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein employing at least one of the following: the rule-based logic and the artificial intelligence comprises at least one of the following:
 analyzing the content of the message, and   ranking the message according to importance.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving audible information from an individual via telephone; and   reformatting the information.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising populating a calendar with the reformatted information. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a first navigation command via a first navigation input mechanism; and   selecting a first user interface of the plurality of user interfaces based on a first type of the first navigation input mechanism, the first user interface being associated with the first navigation input mechanism.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising entering a first state within the unified messaging system via the first user interface in accordance with the first navigation command. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving a second navigation command via a second navigation input mechanism, the second navigation input mechanism being a second type different from the first type; and   selecting a second user interface of the plurality of user interfaces based on the second type of the second navigation input mechanism, the second user interface being associated with the second navigation input mechanism.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising entering a second state within the unified messaging system via the second user interface in accordance with the second navigation command, the second state being different from the first state. 
     
     
         15 . The method  claim 1 , further comprising conveying, by the unified messaging system, available commands associated with the selected one of the plurality of user interfaces. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein conveying, by the unified messaging system, the available commands comprises conveying the available commands based on an input mechanism used to interact with the unified messaging system. 
     
     
         17 . A system that facilitates navigating within an application state machine, the system comprising:
 a processor;   a user interface store that retains a plurality of user interfaces that are each associated with a navigation input mechanism;   a user interface selection component, executed by the processor, that facilitates selecting one of the plurality of user; and   a user interface component, executed by the processor, that conveys a distinct set of prompts and menus associated with each user interface, wherein the distinct set of prompts and menus associated with each user interface change based on the navigation input mechanism.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the user interface component is configured to provide, upon first entry into the application state machine:
 a default user interface based on a set personal option, and   a corresponding distinct set of prompts and menus associated with the default user interface, the corresponding distinct set of prompts being cooperative with both: a dual tone multi-frequency input and a microphone input.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of user interfaces is concurrently available during a single navigation session to effect navigation within the application state machine. 
     
     
         20 . A computer-readable medium having a set of instructions which when executed performs a method for facilitates navigating within an application state machine, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:
 presenting, upon first entry into the application state machine, a default user interface mechanism of a plurality of user interface mechanisms;   enable, at any point within the application state machine, user interaction with any one of a plurality of user interface mechanisms that facilitate navigating through the application state machine, each of the plurality of user interface mechanisms being associated with a different navigation input mechanism of a plurality of navigation input mechanisms and having a distinct set of prompts and menus;   receive a navigation command via a navigation input mechanism of the plurality of navigation input mechanisms;   select a user interface mechanism of the plurality of user interface mechanisms based on a type of the navigation input mechanism;   receive an instruction via the user interface mechanism; and   process the instruction to control the application state machine.