Patent Issued for System and method for dynamic accessibility app experiences (USPTO 11853534): United Services Automobile Association

2024 JAN 15 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- A patent by the inventors Alonzo, III, Edward Manuel (San Antonio, TX, US), Amann, Manfred (San Antonio, TX, US), Buentello, Andre Rene (San Antonio, TX, US), Guerra, Oscar (San Antonio, TX, US), Hansen, Gregory David (Fuquay Varina, NC, US), Haslam, Justin Dax (San Antonio, TX, US), Moncrief Brown, Donnette L (San Antonio, TX, US), Philbrick, Ashley Raine (San Antonio, TX, US), filed on June 21, 2022, was published online on December 26, 2023, according to news reporting originating from Alexandria, Virginia, by NewsRx correspondents.

Patent number 11853534 is assigned to United Services Automobile Association (San Antonio, Texas, United States).

The following quote was obtained by the news editors from the background information supplied by the inventors: “User interfaces for APIs (application programming interfaces) can be used to facilitate an end user’s interaction with, for example, a distributed computing environment (e.g., a web-based application), or an application residing wholly on a single computer system (e.g., a stand-alone application). Some interfaces, such as those used in the commercial or business enterprise context, have a layout of objects and widgets that is common to all versions of the interface. For example, two users will find the presentation experience of the interface to be the same. This uniform layout of objects and widgets is typical, although it does not usually serve as the most efficient layout for a particular end-user’s purposes.

“Although there have been various methods developed by electronic content providers to enhance the user’s online experience, users have not been provided with personalized interfaces based on patterns of the individual’s behavior and needs.

“There is a need in the art for a system and method that addresses the shortcomings discussed above.”

In addition to the background information obtained for this patent, NewsRx journalists also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent: “In one aspect, a method for automatically enabling accessibility tools during use of an application in response to device data is disclosed. The method includes a first step of receiving, during an application usage session, at least first input data from a first computing device, and a second step of detecting a first usage pattern in the first input data. In addition, the method includes a third step of determining the first usage pattern is associated with a first disability type, as well as a fourth step of automatically causing, during the application access session, a first accessibility tool configured to assist users with the first disability type to be enabled for the application.

“In another aspect, a method of automatically providing an appropriate accessibility tool to a user of an application is disclosed. The method includes a first step of obtaining at a first time, during an application usage session, at least first input data from a first computing device associated with a first user account. A second step includes determining the first input data includes use of a first accessibility tool during access of a first content via the application, and a third step includes receiving, at a second time subsequent to the first time, a request to access the application from a second computing device associated with the first user account. In addition, the method includes a fourth step of automatically enabling a second accessibility tool when the first content is again selected.

“In another aspect, a system is disclosed for adjusting a configuration of an application in response to device data. The system comprises a processor and machine-readable media including instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive, during an application usage session, at least first input data from a first computing device. The instructions further cause the processor to detect a first usage pattern in the first input data. In addition, the instructions cause the processor to determine the first usage pattern is associated with a first disability type, and automatically cause, during the application access session, a first accessibility tool configured to assist users with the first disability type to be enabled for the application.

“Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the disclosure will be, or will become, apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description and this summary, be within the scope of the disclosure, and be protected by the following claims.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“1. A method for automatically enabling accessibility tools during use of an application in response to device data representing user behavior, the method comprising: receiving, during a first application usage session, at least first input data from a first user of a first computing device; classifying, during the first application usage session, the first input data as corresponding to a first pattern of behavior, the first pattern of behavior referring to one or more of repeated undo usage, and repeated playback of audio or video; determining the first pattern of behavior is associated with a first disability type; and responsive to determining the first pattern of behavior is associated with the first disability type, automatically selecting and adjusting, during the first application access session, a first user experience setting for the application that is best configured to accommodate the first disability type.

“2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first input data is one of a sequence of mouse clicks and touchscreen taps.

“3. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusted first user experience setting causes audio playback of text being presented by the application.

“4. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusted first user experience setting causes closed captioning of audio being accessed through the application to be displayed.

“5. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusted first user experience setting causes a magnification of elements of a user interface for the application.

“6. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusted first user experience setting causes an increase in the volume of audio being played by the application.

“7. The method of claim 3, further comprising: obtaining the first input data via a camera associated with the first computing device; and detecting a face of a user that is at a first distance from the camera, the first distance being significantly different than an average distance for a population of users of the application.

“8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: obtaining the first input data via a touchscreen associated with the first computing device; and wherein the first pattern of behavior is associated with users experiencing hand tremors.

“9. A method of automatically providing an appropriate accessibility tool to a user of an application, the method comprising: obtaining at a first time, during an application usage session, at least first input data from a first user via one of a touchscreen and mouse for a first computing device; determining the first input data indicates an inability to distinguish certain color(s) by the first user; and responsive to determining an inability to distinguish certain color(s) by the first user, automatically adjusting a user experience setting for the application that includes one or more of an activation of a dictation tool, modification of contrast level, presentation of content in grayscale, change to colors of text, providing speech-based image descriptions, audio playback of text, and enabling closed captioning.

“10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: receiving from the first user, at a second time subsequent to the first time, a request to access the application from a second computing device; and automatically adjusting the user experience setting at the second computing device to accommodate the inability to distinguish certain color(s).

“11. The method of claim 10, wherein the adjustment to the user experience setting at the second computing device differs from the adjustment to the user experience setting at the first computing device.

“12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first input data includes a pattern of inappropriate user selections of elements or regions that are a specific color range or hue.

“13. A system for automatically enabling accessibility tools during use of an application in response to device data representing user behavior, the system comprising a processor and machine-readable media including instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: receiving, during a first application usage session, at least first input data from a first user of a first computing device; classifying, during the first application usage session, the first input data as corresponding to a first pattern of behavior, the first pattern of behavior referring to one or more of repeated undo usage, and repeated playback of audio or video; determining the first pattern of behavior is associated with a first disability type; and responsive to determining the first pattern of behavior is associated with the first disability type, automatically selecting and adjusting, during the first application access session, a first user experience setting for the application that is best configured to accommodate the first disability type.

“14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first input data is one of a sequence of mouse clicks and touchscreen taps.

“15. The system of claim 13, wherein the adjusted first user experience setting causes audio playback of text being presented by the application.

“16. The system of claim 13, wherein the adjusted first user experience setting causes closed captioning of audio being accessed through the application to be displayed.

“17. The system of claim 13, wherein the adjusted first user experience setting causes a magnification of elements of a user interface for the application.

“18. The system of claim 13, wherein the adjusted first user experience setting causes an increase in the volume of audio being played by the application.

“19. The system of claim 15, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to obtain the first input data via a touchscreen associated with the first computing device, and wherein the first usage pattern is associated with users experiencing hand tremors.

“20. The system of claim 13, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to obtain the first input data via a touchscreen associated with the first computing device, and the first pattern of behavior is associated with users experiencing hand tremors.”

URL and more information on this patent, see: Alonzo, III, Edward Manuel. System and method for dynamic accessibility app experiences. U.S. Patent Number 11853534, filed June 21, 2022, and published online on December 26, 2023. Patent URL (for desktop use only): https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/external.html?q=(11853534)&db=USPAT&type=ids

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