Simple affirmative response operating system

Abstract

A simple affirmative response operating system for selecting a data item from a list of options using a unique affirmative action. Text-based labels in a listing of content are converted to speech using an embedded text-to-speech engine and an audio output of a first converted label is provided. A listening state is entered into for a predefined pause time to await receipt of the simple affirmative action. If the simple affirmative action is performed during the predefined pause time, an associated content item is selected for output. If the simple affirmative action is not performed during the predefined pause time, an audio output of a next converted label in the list is provided. This protocol may be used to control a variety of computing devices safely and efficiently while a user is distracted or disabled from using traditional input methods.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a processor,   a sensor coupled to the processor,   an electronic sensory presentation device, and   non-transitory memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 store an identification of a unique, system-wide, and context-independent affirmative action; 
 divide a content input to generate a sequence of contents and a sequence of identifiers, wherein each identifier of the sequence of identifiers is associated with a content from the sequence of contents; 
 enter a list-pause cycle comprising:
 outputting, via the sensory presentation device, an identifier from the sequence of identifiers; and 
 pausing a predetermined length of time; 
 
 repeat list-pause cycles until determining, via input from the sensor, that the affirmative action has been performed during the pause of a list-pause cycle; and 
 responsive to determining that the affirmative action has been performed during the pause of the list-pause cycle, output, via the sensory presentation device, the content from the sequence of contents associated with the identifier output during that list-pause cycle. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the non-transitory memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:
 store an identification of a unique, system-wide, and context-independent pause-initiation action; and   responsive to determining that the pause-initiation action has been performed during the pause of a list-pause cycle, terminate the repetition of list-pause cycles and entering a wait-pause mode.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the non-transitory memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:
 store an identification of a unique, system-wide, and context-independent options-initiation action;   responsive to determining that the options-initiation action has been performed during either a list-pause cycle or the wait-pause mode:
 generate a new sequence of identifiers, each of which represents an option for controlling the computing device; 
 enter a list-pause cycle comprising:
 outputting, in an audio form and via the speaker, an identifier of the new sequence of identifiers; and 
 pausing a predetermined length of time; 
 
 repeating list-pause cycles until the affirmative action or pause-initiation action is performed by the user during the pause of a list-pause cycle; and 
 responsive to the user performing the affirmative action or pause-initiation action, perform an action associated with the option for controlling the computing device or terminating the list-pause cycle and entering a wait-pause mode, respectively. 
   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the list-pause cycle further comprises, after outputting the identifier and before pausing the predetermined length of time, outputting, via the speaker, an audio signifier that the pause is beginning. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the list-pause cycle further comprises, after pausing the predetermined length of time, outputting, via the speaker, an audio signifier that the predetermined length of time has elapsed and a new list-pause cycle will begin. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the content input comprises textual data, and wherein outputting, in an audio form, the content comprises converting the content with a text-to-speech engine and playing the converted content. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the textual data is received from a search engine, the sequence of identifiers is a sequence of webpage titles, and the sequence of contents is a sequence of webpage contents. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the textual data is received from an email server, the sequence of identifiers is a sequence of email header values, and the sequence of contents is a sequence of email contents or attachments. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the textual data is received from a mapping service, the sequence of identifiers is a sequence of location identifiers, and the sequence of contents is a sequence of informative texts about locations associated with the location identifiers. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the content input is received from a video streaming service, the sequence of identifiers is a sequence of video identifiers or portions of video content, and the sequence of contents comprises at least a portion of an audio track or video track from each video of a sequence of videos. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the content input is received from an application programming interface (API) of a second computing device, the sequence of identifiers is a sequence of commands of the API, and the sequence of contents comprises at least a confirmation of an action taken by the second computing device. 
     
     
         12 . A computer-implemented method for interaction between a human and a computing device, comprising:
 storing an identification of a unique, system-wide, and context-independent affirmative action;   dividing a content input to generate a sequence of contents and a sequence of identifiers, wherein each identifier of the sequence of identifiers is associated with a content from the sequence of contents;   entering a list-pause cycle comprising:
 outputting, in an audio form, an identifier of the sequence of identifiers; and 
 pausing a predetermined length of time; 
   repeating list-pause cycles until determining the affirmative action has been performed during the pause of a list-pause cycle; and   responsive to determining the affirmative action has been performed during the pause of a list-pause cycle, outputting, in an audio form, the content from the sequence of contents associated with the identifier output during that list-pause cycle.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 storing an identification of a unique, system-wide, and context-independent pause-initiation action; and   responsive to determining that the pause-initiation action has been performed during the pause of a list-pause cycle, terminating the repetition of list-pause cycles and entering a wait-pause mode.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 storing an identification of a unique, system-wide, and context-independent options-initiation action;   responsive to determining that the options-initiation action has been performed during either a list-pause cycle or the wait-pause mode:
 generating a new sequence of identifiers, each of which represents an option for controlling the computing device; 
 entering a list-pause cycle comprising:
 outputting, in an audio form, an identifier of the new sequence of identifiers; and 
 pausing a predetermined length of time; 
 
 repeating list-pause cycles until the affirmative action or pause-initiation action is performed by the user during the pause of a list-pause cycle; and 
 responsive to the user performing the affirmative action or pause-initiation action, performing an action associated with the option for controlling the computing device or terminating the list-pause cycle and entering a wait-pause mode, respectively. 
   
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , wherein the list-pause cycle further comprises, after outputting the identifier and before pausing the predetermined length of time, outputting an audio signifier that the pause is beginning. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , wherein the list-pause cycle further comprises, after pausing the predetermined length of time, outputting an audio signifier that the predetermined length of time has elapsed and a new list-pause cycle will begin. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , wherein the content input comprises textual data, and wherein outputting, in an audio form, the content comprises converting the content with a text-to-speech engine and playing the converted content. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 17 , wherein the textual data is received from a search engine, the sequence of identifiers is a sequence of webpage titles, and the sequence of contents is a sequence of webpage contents. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 17 , wherein the textual data is received from an email server, the sequence of identifiers is a sequence of email header values, and the sequence of contents is a sequence of email contents or attachments. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 17 , wherein the textual data is received from a mapping service, the sequence of identifiers is a sequence of location identifiers, and the sequence of contents is a sequence of informative texts about locations associated with the location identifiers. 
     
     
         21 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , wherein the content input is received from a video streaming service, the sequence of identifiers is a sequence of video identifiers or portions of video content, and the sequence of contents comprises at least a portion of an audio track or video track from each video of a sequence of videos. 
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , wherein the content input is received from an application programming interface (API) of a second computing device, the sequence of identifiers is a sequence of commands of the API, and the sequence of contents comprises at least a confirmation of an action taken by the physical device. 
     
     
         23 . A computer-implemented method for interaction between a human and a computing device, comprising:
 storing, by a first computing device, an identification of a unique, system-wide, and context-independent affirmative action;   storing, by the first computing device, a sequence of available commands for a second computing device and a sequence of identifiers, wherein each identifier of the sequence of identifiers is associated with a command from the sequence of available commands;   entering a list-pause cycle comprising:
 outputting, in an audio form, an identifier of the sequence of identifiers; and 
 pausing a predetermined length of time; 
   repeating list-pause cycles until determining the affirmative action has been performed during the pause of a list-pause cycle; and   responsive to determining the affirmative action has been performed during the pause of a list-pause cycle, transmitting, to the second computing device, the command from the sequence of available commands associated with the identifier output during that list-pause cycle.   
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 receiving a confirmation from the second computing device that the command has been received; and   notifying a user that the command was received by the second computing device.   
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 23 , wherein the second computing device is a smart home appliance.