Method and apparatus for voice control of a television control device

• US 20030167171A1
• Filed: 01/07/2003
• Published: 09/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Promptu Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Promptu Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Foster, Mark J., Calderone, Theodore, Kistler, James Jay, Printz, Harry William
• Granted Patent: US 7,260,538 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/270
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/31 Voice input
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/30 Distributed recognition, e.g. in client-server systems, for mobile phones or network applications
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2025/783 based on threshold decision
• 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 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• 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 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device

Abstract

A method and apparatus is disclosed for remotely processing voice commands for controlling a television. A voice command is uttered by a user into a microphone contained in a remote control. The voice command is digitized, modulated, compressed, and wirelessly transmitted to a wireless receiver connected to a set-top box. The voice command is then transmitted to a cable head-end unit for voice and word recognition processing. Once the command function is determined, the function is transmitted back to the set-top box where the set-top box performs the command. The microphone is activated and deactivated by pressing and releasing a push-to-talk (PTT) switch. The PTT activates other functions by being turned, double-clicked and toggled up and down, left and right.

Claims

1. A method for providing voice recognition processing at a cable television head-end unit for a plurality of voice controlled television cable set-top boxes in a cable television network, comprising the steps of:

monitoring said network for the occurrence of a voice command from any one of said cable set-top boxes;

indicating a transmission beginning for said voice command by activation of an activation method;

receiving said voice command through a microphone associated with a remote control;

transmitting said voice command to a cable set-top box;

transmitting said voice command from said cable set-top box to a cable head-end unit;

processing said voice command at said head-end unit;

indicating a transmission end for said voice command by activation of an deactivation method;

transmitting said voice command from said remote control to a cable set-top box;

transmitting said voice command from said cable set-top box to a cable head-end unit;

processing said voice command at said head-end unit;

deriving a command function corresponding to said voice command;

transmitting said command function to said cable set-top box; and

performing said command function at said cable set-top box.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said remote control is voice activated, said voice activation comprising any of:

amplitude detection and word detection.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said remote control comprises a wireless transmitter comprising any of:

infrared, ultrasonic, radio frequency transmission, burst transmission, a multiplexed signal, a transmission device that conforms to a Bluetooth Specification, and an infrared repeater.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said wireless transmission from said remote control is divided between a remote control keypad output transmitter and a second transmitter.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said divided wireless transmission comprises any of:

each transmission having the same frequency and different phases, each having a different frequency, each having different header and footer information, and one transmitter transmitting a sub-audible signal while another transmits transmitting said voice command.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said voice command is converted into cepstrals at locations comprising any of:

said remote control, said cable set-top box, and a wireless transmission receiver that receives said transmission from said remote control.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein non-repudiation measures are performed, said non-repudiation measures comprising any of:

deriving a low bit rate codec of said voice command, determining the source of said voice command, analyzing said voice command for the identity of the user, and requiring the input of a code.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the deactivation of a push-to-talk switch function is delayed for a period of time after said push-to-talk switch has been deactivated.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said command function is derived by methods comprising any of:

word recognition and semantic analysis.

2. A method for providing voice recognition processing at a cable television head-end unit for a plurality of television controllers in a cable television network, comprising the steps of:

monitoring said network for the occurrence of a voice command from any one of said controllers;

indicating a transmission beginning for said voice command by any one of activation or deactivation of a push-to-talk switch associated with a television remote control;

receiving said voice command through a microphone associated with said remote;

transmitting said voice command from said remote to said controller;

transmitting said voice command from said controller to a cable headed means;

processing said voice command by a computer means at said head-end means;

indicating a transmission for said voice command by ant one of activation or deactivation of said push-to-talk switch;

deriving a command function corresponding to said voice command;

transmitting said command function to said controller; and

performing said command function by said controller.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein activation of said push-to-talk switch comprise any of:

pressing said push-to-talk switch, double pressing said push-to-talk switch, turning said push-to-talk switch clockwise and/or counterclockwise, and toggling said push-to-talk switch.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the functions of said push-to-talk switch comprise any of:

activating said microphone, deactivating said microphone, activating a help menu, deactivating a help menu, activating a telephone, deactivating said telephone, adjusting the gain on said microphone, muting said microphone and performing a shift function.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein a wireless receiver receives said voice command from said remote control and transmits said voice command to any of:

said set-top box and said head-end unit.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said receiver transmits to said set-top box through any of:

a serial port and a modem port.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein said voice command is modulated before being received by said cable head-end unit, said modulation comprising any of:

amplitude modulation, frequency modulation, pulse-position modulation (PPM), and pulse code modulation (PCM).

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said modulation is performed at locations comprising any of:

said remote control, said cable set-top box, and a wireless transmission receiver that receives said transmission from said remote control.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein information is added to said voice command, said information contained in locations comprising any of:

header data, footer data, and a sub-audible signal.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said information comprises any of:

source of said voice command, identity of a user, on air signal, off air signal, beginning of a voice command, and end of a voice command.

18. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

transmitting said command function to said remote control.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said command function controls functions within said remote control, comprising any of:

adjusting the gain control of said microphone and muting said microphone.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

transmitting said command function from said remote control to a device capable of receiving, and being controlled by, wireless command functions.

22. An apparatus for providing voice recognition processing at a cable television head-end unit for a plurality of voice controlled television cable set-top boxes in a cable television network, comprising:

means for monitoring said network for the occurrence of a voice command from any one of said cable set-top boxes;

a multi-function push-to-talk switch associated with a television remote control for indicating a transmission beginning for said voice command by the activation of one activation method of said push-to-talk switch and indicating a transmission end by one deactivation method of said push-to-talk switch;

a microphone coupled to said remote control for receiving said voice command;

a cable set-top box for receiving said voice command from said remote control and transmitting said voice command to a cable head-end unit; and

a head-end unit for processing said voice command, deriving a command function corresponding to said voice command, and transmitting said command function to said cable set-top box, wherein said command function is performed by said cable set-top box.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said activation method of said push-to-talk switch comprise any of:

pressing said push-to-talk switch, double pressing said push-to-talk switch, turning said push-to-talk switch clockwise and counterclockwise, and toggling said push-to-talk switch.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the functions of said push-to-talk switch comprise any of:

activating said microphone, deactivating said microphone, activating a help menu, deactivating a help menu, activating a telephone, deactivating said telephone, adjusting the gain on said microphone, muting said microphone, and performing a shift function.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein a wireless receiver receives said voice command from said remote control and transmits said voice command to any of:

said set-top box and said head-end unit.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said receiver transmits to said set-top box through any of:

a serial port and a modem port.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said remote control is voice activated, said voice activation comprising any of:

amplitude detection and word detection.

29. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said remote control comprises a wireless transmitter comprising any of:

infrared, ultrasonic, radio frequency transmission, burst transmission, a multiplexed signal, a transmission device that conforms to a Bluetooth Specification, and an infrared repeater.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein wireless transmission from said remote control is divided between a remote control keypad output transmitter and a second transmitter.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said divided wireless transmission has characteristics comprising any of:

each transmission having the same frequency and different phases, each having a different frequency, each having different header and footer information, and one transmitter transmitting a sub-audible signal while the other transmitter transmitting said voice command.

32. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said voice command is modulated before being received by said cable head-end unit, said modulation comprising any of:

amplitude modulation, frequency modulation, pulse-position modulation (PPM),and pulse code modulation (PCM).

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said modulation is performed at locations comprising any of:

said remote control, said cable set-top box and a wireless transmission receiver that receives said transmission from said remote control.

34. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein information is added to said voice command, said information contained in locations comprising any of:

header data, footer data and a sub-audible signal.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said information comprises any of:

source of said voice command, identity of a user, on air signal, off air signal, beginning of a voice command, and end of a voice command.

36. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said voice command is converted into cepstrals at locations comprising any of:

said remote control, said cable set-top box, and a wireless transmission receiver that receives said transmission from said remote control.

37. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein non-repudiation measures are performed, said non-repudiation measures comprising any of:

deriving a low bit rate codec of said voice command, determining the source of said voice command, analyzing said voice command for the identity of the user, and requiring the input of a code.

38. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the deactivation of a push-to-talk switch function is delayed for a period of time after said push-to-talk switch has been deactivated.

39. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising:

means for transmitting said command function to said remote control.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein said command function controls functions within said remote control, comprising any of:

adjusting the gain control of said microphone and muting said microphone.

41. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising:

means for transmitting said command function from said remote control to a device capable of receiving, and being controlled by, wireless command functions.

42. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said command function is derived by methods comprising any of:

word recognition and semantic analysis.

23. An apparatus for providing voice recognition processing at a cable television head-end unit for a plurality of television controllers in a cable television network, comprising:

means for monitoring said network for the occurrence of a voice command from any one of said controllers;

means for indicating a transmission beginning for said voice command by the activation of one activation means of a push-to-talk switch coupled to a television remote control;

means for receiving said voice command through a microphone associated with said remote;

means for indicating said transmission end for said voice command by the activation of one deactivation means of said push-to-talk switch;

means for transmitting said voice command from said remote to said controller;

means for transmitting said voice command from said controller to a cable head-end means;

means for processing said voice command by a computer means at said head-end means;

means for deriving a command function corresponding to said voice command;

means for transmitting said command function to said controller; and

means for enabling said command function by said controller.