Speech enabled wireless device management and an access platform and related control methods thereof

• US 20020077095A1
• Filed: 10/03/2001
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Terrace Licensing LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Li, Wei, Shen, Jun, Song, Song, Fu, Rongyao
• Granted Patent: US 6,895,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/30 Distributed recognition, e.g. in client-server systems, for mobile phones or network applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A speech-enabled device management and access platform includes a communication module which provides a remote control device and a controlled device with data/speech paths; a connection management module which maintains the communication network and provides security administration and device access control; a device management module which discovers a controlled device and gathers respective controlled device data; a speech processing module which converts a speech command into a data command corresponding to the controlled device or converts a data response from the controlled device into a speech response and provides it to the communication module; and a command/event management module which generates instructions based on the data command and sends the instructions to corresponding modules or the controlled device. The inventive device management and access platform preferably is adapted to use the well-known BLUETOOTH™ wireless technology.

Claims

1. A speech enabled device management and access platform, designed to interface with at least one remote control device and at least one controlled device, said platform comprising:

(a) a communication module which is configured to;

establish connections with the remote control device and the controlled device; and

provide data and speech paths;

(b) a connection management module which maintains network topology and provides network security administration and device access control;

(c) a device management module which discovers the controlled device and gathers respective controlled device data therefrom;

(d) a speech processing module which is configured to perform at least one of;

converting a speech command received by said communication module into a data command corresponding to the controlled device data gathered by said device management module; and

converting a data response from the controlled device into a speech response and providing the speech response to said communication module; and

(e) a command/event management module which generates corresponding instructions based on the data command from said speech processing module and sends the generated instructions to at least one of corresponding ones of said modules and the controlled device.

2. The platform of claim 1, wherein said communication module is configured to operate using the well-known BLUETOOTH™

wireless communications standard and wherein the controlled device is located within radio frequency proximity of said platform.

3. The platform of claim 2, further comprising a database management system which stores respective controlled device data gathered by said device management module.

4. The platform of claim 2, further comprising a message dispatching module which transfers messages among said modules of said platform.

5. The platform of claim 2, further comprising a GUI/system configuration management module which provides a user with a graphical user interface for setting configuration of said platform.

6. The platform of claim 2, further comprising an open development environment module which provides a third party with an interface for extending said platform.

7. The platform of claim 2, wherein said device management module is configured to provide an interface for personalizing at least one of:

the at least one remote control device; and

the at least one controlled device.

8. A method of controlling a controlled device using speech, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing a radio frequency (RF) connection with a remote control device;

(b) receiving a speech command from said remote control device via the RF connection;

(c) converting the received speech command into a data command for the controlled device;

(d) generating corresponding instructions based on the data command; and

(e) sending the generated instructions to the controlled device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein step (a) comprises establishing the RF connection in accordance with the well-known BLUETOOTH™

wireless communications standard.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the additional steps of:

generating a data response from said controlled device;

converting the data response from said controlled device into a speech response; and

sending the speech response to said remote control device.