초록 ▼

A multimedia interface presents information and receives user commands for a computer system. The multimedia interface operates in parallel with another application software module, such as an expert system. To add multimedia features to the application software module, the module is modified so as

A multimedia interface presents information and receives user commands for a computer system. The multimedia interface operates in parallel with another application software module, such as an expert system. To add multimedia features to the application software module, the module is modified so as to generate multimedia commands at the same time as it displays text on a text monitor. The multimedia commands, which are held in a queue, provide additional information in the form of video images and generated speech corresponding to the displayed text. In addition, the multimedia commands are split into at least two sets: one set which is dispatched to the user substantially immediately after displaying the corresponding text, and one set which is dispatched only upon request by the user. In the preferred embodiment, the multimedia interface presents information to the user through text, graphics, video speech production, and printed output. User inputs are made through a special-function keypad and voice recognition. The preferred embodiment is a portable expert system which fits in a single portable suitcase sized package.

대표청구항 ▼

In a computer system, a multimedia interface comprising: input means for entering user commands; multimedia output means for presenting information to the user of said system using a plurality of output media; said multimedia output means including text displaying means for displaying text strings,

In a computer system, a multimedia interface comprising: input means for entering user commands; multimedia output means for presenting information to the user of said system using a plurality of output media; said multimedia output means including text displaying means for displaying text strings, and at least one additional output media; an application program coupled to said input means and multimedia output means, said application program including means for generating output strings, said output strings including text strings for immediate delivery to a user of said computer system via said text display means, a multiplicity of said output strings further including means for denoting multimedia commands denoting information that can be presented by said multimedia output means; queue means for receiving and storing said multimedia commands; and dispatch means coupled to said queue means for executing said multimedia commands stored in said queue means by delivering said multimedia commands to said multimedia output means and thereby presenting said information denoted by said multimedia commands via said multimedia output means.