Voice and motion activated telephone

• US 20040066918A1
• Filed: 10/06/2003
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Henry Sifuentes
• Original Assignee: Henry Sifuentes
• Inventors: Sifuentes, Henry
• Granted Patent: US 7,116,763 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.01
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/02 Constructional features of telephone sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means voice activated dialling H04M1/271; voice recognition algorithms G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15

Abstract

A method and system for communicating without use of manual contact with a communications unit. The user approaches a communications system and can activate a communications unit by a proximity/motion detector and/or a voice activation device. The person can generate audio signals, such as by voice command, to activate the unit and establish contact. Body movements can also be used to connect to a specific location and/or control the communications mode, such as private, semi-private or conference call mode.

Claims

1. A method for a first person communicating with a second person at a distance without using physical contact to activate a communications unit, comprising the steps of:

a first person approaching a two way communications system having a coupled computer with at least a first person monitoring device comprising a proximity/motion detector and a voice-activation device contained in a communications unit;

activating the communications unit by the first person coming within detectable range of the proximity/motion detector within the communications system;

initializing the communications unit by at least one of the steps of inserting currency into a currency receptacle and inserting an encoded card into a card reader; and

generating a signal for connecting to a second person at a distance at a desired communications location thereby causing the voice activation device and the computer to connect the communications unit to the desired communications location enabling voice communication between the first person and the-second person at a distance.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the stage of generating a signal comprises generating an audio signal.

3. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein the audio signal comprises a user speaking at least one of a word, a letter, a number and combination thereof.

4. The method as defined in claim 3 wherein the audio signal comprises a user speaking a name.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the proximity/motion detector is at least one of an infrared detector and an RF detector.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 with the communications unit further including a video unit for displaying in at least two dimensions at least one of the first person, the second person and the location of the first person or the second person.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step for controlling a mode of communication, wherein the mode is selected from a group consisting of private, semi-private, conferencing, maintaining a connection and disconnecting.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step for controlling volume of voice transmission through voice commands by the person to the communications unit.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step for controlling volume of voice transmission through body movements.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein an established communications is automatically terminated after a preprogrammed period of time if no activity is received by the voice activation device.

10. A method for a first person communicating with a second person at a distance without using physical contact to activate a communications unit, comprising the steps of:

a first person approaching a two way communications system having a coupled computer with at least a first person monitoring device comprising a proximity/motion detector and a voice-activation device contained in a communications unit;

activating the communications unit by the first person coming within detectable range of the proximity/motion detector within the two way communications system;

generating an audio signal for connecting to a second person at a distance at a desired communications location thereby causing the voice activation device and the computer to connect the communications unit to the desired communications location enabling voice communication between the first person and the second person at a distance; and

using the system in a hazardous environment where the person is encumbered.

11. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein the audio signal comprises the first person speaking at least one of a word, a letter, a number and combinations thereof.

13. A method for communicating with a second person at another location without using manual contact to activate communication by a communications unit, comprising the steps of:

a first person activating the communications unit by generating a particular audio sound;

initializing the communications unit by at least one of the steps of inserting currency into a currency receptacle and inserting an encoded card into a card reader; and

generating an audio signal, for communications to a second person at another location, into an audio receiver within the communications unit, thereby causing the voice activation device to connect to the desired another location.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the proximity/motion detector is an infrared detector.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the proximity/motion detector is an RF detector.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising a step for controlling a mode of conversation, wherein the mode is selected from a group consisting of private, semiprivate, conferencing, maintaining a connection and disconnecting.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising a step for controlling volume of voice transmission through voice commands by the person to the communications unit.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising a step for controlling volume of voice transmission through body movements.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein an established communication is automatically terminated after a preprogrammed period of time if no audio activity is sensed by the unit.

20. The method of claim 13 further including the step of adjusting the volume level output by a speaker responsive to background noise level.