Prior art

US Patent 10,516,775, titled "Method and system for communication," describes a system for delivering text messages, emails, and messenger application messages to a user engaged in activities like driving, exercising, or working, with a focus on hands-free, voice-based interaction and minimal visual distraction. The patent itself identifies and discusses prior art in its background section.

The most relevant prior art documents explicitly identified and discussed within US10516775 are:

1. US Patent Application Publication 2013/0275899

• Full Citation: US 2013/0275899 A1 (publication number)
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: October 24, 2013 (Filing Date: April 22, 2013)
• Brief Description: This patent application proposes a "limited-distraction user interface" that presents fewer selectable user interface objects when a device is determined to be operating in a limited distraction context. In a non-limited distraction context, a standard user interface is provided.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US 2013/0275899 potentially anticipates the general concept of adapting a user interface for limited distraction environments and determining when a user is engaged in such an activity. However, US10516775 distinguishes itself by emphasizing that its methods involve determining message arrival and informing the user "without any input by a user" (e.g., Claim 1, 14, 15, 17, 20). The prior art, in contrast, "relies on substantial input from the user even in the limited-distraction context, making it difficult for a user to use a mobile phone in such context." (Description, BACKGROUND SECTION OF THE INVENTION). Furthermore, US10516775 primarily focuses on reading aloud the content of messages (body, subject) either as a default or upon minimal, non-visual user interaction, and in some modes, "without displaying information about the sender or the email on the screen" (Claim 16), which is not explicitly taught by US 2013/0275899's focus on visual UI objects.

2. U.S. Patents 8,364,183, 8,526,973, and 8,359,014

• Full Citation:
  • US 8,364,183 B1: "Busykey for cell phone to send pre-typed text message or play pre-recorded audio message upon receipt of new text message or incoming call"
  • US 8,526,973 B1: "Busykey for cell phone to send pre-typed text message or play pre-recorded audio message upon receipt of new text message or incoming call"
  • US 8,359,014 B1: "Busykey for cell phone to send pre-typed text message or play pre-recorded audio message upon receipt of new text message or incoming call"
• Publication/Filing Date:
  • US 8,364,183: Publication Date: January 29, 2013 (Filing Date: August 4, 2011)
  • US 8,526,973: Publication Date: September 3, 2013 (Filing Date: August 4, 2011)
  • US 8,359,014: Publication Date: January 22, 2013 (Filing Date: August 4, 2011)
• Brief Description: These patents disclose a cell phone modified with software to respond to the press of one or more "Busykeys" by automatically sending a pre-typed text message to the sender of the latest text message received or by automatically answering an incoming call and playing a pre-recorded audio message.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): These patents anticipate the concept of automatic responses and pre-recorded audio in the context of incoming communications. However, US10516775 differentiates itself by enabling a user to "fully review messages" (Description, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION) through reading aloud the actual content (body and subject) of the incoming text message, email, or messenger application message without requiring a "Busykey" input to initiate the primary content delivery. The patent states that these prior arts "do not allow a person to respond to a text or a call other than by sending a pre-typed text message and still require substantial input from the user since the user has to choose and press on a Busykey button." (Description, BACKGROUND SECTION OF THE INVENTION). In contrast, US10516775's independent claims (e.g., Claim 1, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20) describe the automatic determination and informing of the user without input, and then proceeding to read aloud the message body (and subject for emails) unless an affirmative action is taken to stop it, or reading upon a specific command. The "Busykey" patents focus on responding to the sender or playing a generic audio message, not on converting the actual incoming message content to speech for the user.