Voice directed system and method configured for assured messaging to multiple recipients

A method for delivering a message in a speech-enabled work environment that includes a plurality of users with terminal devices that perform applications using speech, the method comprising the steps of:

• executing at least one application, using user speech and speech recognition, through a terminal device that is communicating with a communications network;
• receiving the message, at the terminal device of a user, over the communications network;
• outputting the message as audio output to the user of the terminal device;
• receiving verbal confirmation spoken by the user that the audio output was at least one of accessed or understood;
• and
• transmitting an acknowledgement message from the terminal device over the communications network, the acknowledgement message being reflective of the receipt of the spoken verbal confirmation for indicating that the audio output was at least one of accessed or understood by the user.

A method for delivering a message in a speech-enabled work environment that includes a plurality of users with terminal devices that perform applications using speech, the method comprising the steps of:

• executing at least one application, using user speech, through a terminal device that is communicating with a communications network;
• receiving the message, at the terminal device of a user, over the communications network;
• outputting the message as audio output to the user, by indicating that the message has been received, delaying outputting of the message as audio output until receiving a verbal command and receiving the verbal command to play the message;
• interrupting an executing application when the verbal command is received;
• and
• receiving verbal confirmation from the user that the audio output was at least one of accessed or understood;
• resuming the executing application when the verbal confirmation is received;
• transmitting an acknowledgement message from the terminal device over the communications network, the acknowledgement message indicating that the audio output was at least one of accessed or understood by the user.

A multi-recipient communications system for facilitating speech-enabled work among a plurality of users comprising:

• a server configured to transmit a message to multiple users;
• a plurality of terminal devices associated with the users and configured for use with speech recognition applications, each terminal device configured to receive the message;
• a wireless network configured to provide bi-directional communication between the server and the plurality of user terminal devices for the user to execute at least one application;
• and
• each of the terminal devices further configured to output the message as audio output to the respective user, receive a respective verbal confirmation spoken by the user that the audio output was at least one of accessed or understood, and transmit, to the server, a respective indication that reflects that the spoken verbal confirmation was received from the user.

A multi-recipient communications system for facilitating speech-enabled work among a plurality of users comprising:

• a server configured to transmit a message to multiple users;
• a plurality of terminal devices associated with the users, each terminal device configured to receive the message;
• a wireless network configured to provide bi-directional communication between the server and the plurality of user terminal devices for the user to execute at least one application;
• and
• each of the terminal devices further configured to:
• output the message as audio output to the respective user;
• receive a respective verbal confirmation from the user regarding whether the audio output was at least one of accessed or understood;
• perform speech recognition on the verbal confirmation from the user to determine if the verbal confirmation indicates the audio output was at least one of accessed or understood;
• re-output the message as audio output to the respective user if the verbal confirmation does not indicate that the message was understood;
• transmit, to the server, a respective indication that the verbal confirmation was received from the user.

A multi-recipient communications system for facilitating speech-enabled work among a plurality of users comprising:

• a server configured to transmit a message to multiple users;
• a plurality of terminal devices associated with the users, each terminal device configured to receive the message and to transmit a respective acknowledgement message indicating that the message was successfully received by the terminal device;
• a wireless network configured to provide bi-directional communication between the server and the plurality of user terminal devices for the user to execute at least one application, including executing a logistical application within a warehouse environment;
• each of the terminal devices further configured to output the message as audio output to the respective user, receive a respective verbal confirmation from the user that the audio output was at least one of accessed or understood, and transmit, to the server, a respective indication that the verbal confirmation was received from the user;
• the terminal devices further configured to interrupt the logistical application after outputting the audio output;
• and
• resume the logistical application after receiving the verbal confirmation.