Interactivity using voice commands

• US 20020019732A1
• Filed: 06/05/2001
• Published: 02/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eagle New Media Investments, LLC (Nexstar Media Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Eagle New Media Investments, LLC (Nexstar Media Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kikinis, Dan, Kamen, Yakov, Feroglia, Gene
• Application Number:
  US09/875,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20020019732A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/201
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling an interactive television system using voice commands. In one embodiment, a remote control device contains a microphone, into which a user may speak. Circuitry within the remote control device digitizes the speech. The speech may then either be processed by the remote control device or sent to a set top box (STB) for processing. The STB then performs the command given by the user.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

An unit to transmit information and to receive information via wireless;

A voice activated control unit to interact with an electronic programming guide (EPG); and

An indicator to indicate an availability of an interactive function in a program corresponding to the EPG.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the voice activated control unit identifies a voice print of a speaker to grant operational access.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a memory device to store verbal commands prior to transmitting the verbal commands.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the display changes background colors to indicate the availability of the interactive function in the program corresponding to the EPG.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the display flashes to indicate the availability of the interactive function in the program corresponding to the EPG.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is personal digital assistant.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a web phone.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein indicator is a unit that generates a sound to indicate the availability of the interactive function in the program corresponding to the EPG.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indicator is a section of the apparatus that illuminates to indicate the availability of the interactive function in the program corresponding to the EPG.

10. A method comprising:

An apparatus transmitting information via wireless in response to voice activation commands, the information interacting with an electronic programming guide (EPG); and

The apparatus indicating an availability of an interactive function in a program corresponding to the EPG.

11. The method of claim 10, further including identifying a voice print of a speaker to grant operational access.

12. The method of claim 10, further including storing verbal commands prior to transmitting the verbal commands.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the indicating includes is displaying an indicator on a display of the apparatus.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the indicating includes changing the background colors of the display to indicate the availability of the interactive function in the program corresponding to the EPG.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the indicating includes the display flashing to indicate the availability of the interactive function in the program corresponding to the EPG.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is personal digital assistant.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is a web phone.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the indicating includes a unit of the apparatus generating a sound to indicate the availability of the interactive function in the program corresponding to the EPG.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the indicating includes a section of the apparatus illuminating to indicate the availability of the interactive function in the program corresponding to the EPG.

20. A machine readable medium having stored thereon a set of instructions, which when executed cause a system to perform a method comprising:

An apparatus transmitting information via wireless in response to voice activation commands, the information interacting with an electronic programming guide (EPG); and

The apparatus indicating an availability of an interactive function in a program corresponding to the EPG.

21. The machine readable medium of claim 20 further including identifying a voice print of a speaker to grant operational access.

22. The machine readable medium of claim 20 further including storing verbal commands prior to transmitting the verbal commands.

23. The machine readable medium of claim 20, wherein the indicating includes is displaying an indicator on a display of the apparatus.

24. The machine readable medium of claim 23, wherein the indicating includes changing the background colors of the display to indicate the availability of the interactive function in the program corresponding to the EPG.

25. The machine readable medium of claim 23, wherein the indicating includes the display flashing to indicate the availability of the interactive function in the program corresponding to the EPG.

26. The machine readable medium of claim 20, wherein the apparatus is personal digital assistant.

27. The machine readable medium of claim 20, wherein the apparatus is a web phone.

28. The machine readable medium of claim 20, wherein the indicating includes a unit of the apparatus generating a sound to indicate the availability of the interactive function in the program corresponding to the EPG.

29. The machine readable medium of claim 20, wherein the indicating includes a section of the apparatus illuminating to indicate the availability of the interactive function in the program corresponding to the EPG.