Prior art

Prior Art Analysis for US Patent 7,818,176

An analysis of the prior art cited during the prosecution of US Patent 7,818,176 reveals several key patents that disclose elements related to voice recognition, natural language processing, and advertising. The following references are the most relevant to the independent claims of the '176 patent.

Key Prior Art References

1. US Patent 6,499,013 B1: "Interactive user interface using speech recognition and natural language processing"

• Full Citation: US Patent 6,499,013 B1, filed by Jourjine et al. on September 9, 1998, and granted on December 24, 2002. Assigned to One Voice Technologies, Inc.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed September 9, 1998; Published December 24, 2002.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a user interface that uses speech recognition and natural language processing to control a computer and its applications. It discloses a system that can receive a natural language utterance, interpret it to understand the user's intent, and execute a command. The focus is on providing a more natural and intuitive way for users to interact with computer software.
• Potential Anticipation of Claims:
  • Claims 1 & 27 (Core Method & System): The '013 patent discloses receiving a natural language utterance and interpreting it to understand a user's request, which aligns with the initial steps of claims 1 and 27. However, it does not explicitly teach the selection and presentation of an advertisement based on the context of that utterance. Its focus is on command and control of applications rather than a voice-based advertising system. Therefore, while it anticipates the natural language processing aspects, it likely does not anticipate the advertising-specific elements, which are central to the '176 patent's claims.

2. US Patent 7,398,209 B2: "Systems and methods for responding to natural language speech utterance"

• Full Citation: US Patent 7,398,209 B2, filed by Kennewick et al. on June 3, 2003, and granted on July 8, 2008. Assigned to VoiceBox Technologies, Inc.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed June 3, 2003; Published July 8, 2008.
• Brief Description: This patent, from the same original assignee and involving one of the same inventors as the '176 patent, is cited in the '176 patent's specification as foundational technology. It describes a system that interprets natural language speech to generate responses, using techniques like dynamically updating dictionaries and phrase tables to improve recognition accuracy. It details a conversational system that can understand context and manage dialogue.
• Potential Anticipation of Claims:
  • Claims 1 & 27 (Core Method & System): The '209 patent describes in detail the core conversational language processing technology that the '176 patent builds upon. It teaches receiving an utterance, recognizing words, and interpreting them within a context. However, the claims and specification of the '209 patent are focused on the mechanics of natural language understanding and response generation to fulfill a user's direct request (e.g., for information or to perform a task). It does not specifically claim or describe the step of selecting and presenting a third-party advertisement based on that understanding. The '176 patent's novel contribution is the application of this conversational technology to an advertising model.

3. US Patent Application Publication 2005/0288925 A1: "Method and system for providing targeted advertisements"

• Full Citation: US 2005/0288925 A1, filed by Van et al. on June 28, 2004, and published on December 29, 2005.
• Brief Description: This application describes a system for providing targeted advertisements to users of mobile communication devices. It discloses capturing audio, such as a user's speech or ambient noise, and analyzing it to identify keywords or topics. Based on this analysis, relevant advertisements are selected and delivered to the user's device.
• Potential Anticipation of Claims:
  • Claims 1 & 27 (Core Method & System): This reference is highly relevant as it directly links audio/speech analysis with the selection of targeted advertising. It teaches capturing a user's speech, identifying content from it, and selecting an ad. However, the claims of the '176 patent are specific about using a conversational language processor to establish a context for the utterance, which implies a deeper level of understanding than simple keyword spotting. The '176 patent also details a more advanced speech recognition process (mapping phonemes to syllables). The novelty in the '176 patent may lie in the sophistication of its natural language understanding and its conversational approach, rather than just keyword-based ad targeting.

4. US Patent 7,620,549 B2: "System and method of supporting adaptive misrecognition in conversational speech"

• Full Citation: US Patent 7,620,549 B2, filed by Kennewick et al. on August 10, 2005, and granted on November 17, 2009. Assigned to VoiceBox Technologies, Inc.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed August 10, 2005; Published November 17, 2009.
• Brief Description: Also from the same original assignee and cited within the '176 specification, this patent focuses specifically on the problem of speech recognition errors. It describes a system that can detect when an utterance has been misinterpreted and can trigger a reinterpretation based on subsequent user actions or inputs.
• Potential Anticipation of Claims:
  • Claims 14 & 40 (Adaptive Misrecognition Method & System): This patent is the foundational reference for the "adaptive misrecognition" feature claimed in the '176 patent. It explicitly teaches the method of detecting a "predetermined event" (like a user correction) and reinterpreting the original words. The novelty of claims 14 and 40 in the '176 patent is the integration of this adaptive misrecognition technology into the specific application of a voice-based advertising system. While the '549 patent discloses the core error-correction method, the '176 patent claims the use of that method within its broader advertising framework.

Summary of Prior Art Impact

The prior art establishes that the core concepts of speech recognition, natural language processing, and even targeted audio-based advertising existed before the '176 patent's 2007 filing date. However, the novelty of US Patent 7,818,176 appears to be in the specific combination and application of these technologies.

• For the core claims (1 and 27), the invention combines a sophisticated, context-aware conversational language processor with an advertising selection module.
• For the adaptive misrecognition claims (14 and 40), the invention integrates an existing error-correction methodology directly into this voice-driven advertising system.

The patentability of the '176 claims hinges on this unique synthesis of a conversational interface with an advertising delivery mechanism, creating a more seamless and "human-like" interaction for ad presentation than was disclosed in the prior art.