METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20040102977A1
• Filed: 11/22/2002
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Metzler, Benjamin T., Trantow, Wayne D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,889,188 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for controlling an electronic device connected to a network are provided. The methods and apparatus described herein convert a text based device list and/or a text based function list into text based voice prompt scripts. The voice prompt scripts are then read to a user via a text-to-speech engine. The user responds with a voice command for a device. The voice command is converted to text by a voice recognition engine. This text is then used to send a command to the electronic device via the network.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting the electronic device being plugged into a network;

transmitting a capabilities query to the electronic device in response to detecting the electronic device being plugged into the network;

receiving a capabilities response from the electronic device;

generating a voice prompt script based on the capabilities response;

reading the voice prompt script to a user via a text-to-speech engine;

receiving a user response via a voice recognition engine;

generating a device action command based on the user response; and

transmitting the device action command to the electronic device.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising receiving a device response message from the electronic device in response to transmitting the device action command to the electronic device.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising receiving a device list.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein receiving a user response comprises receiving at least one argument.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein detecting the electronic device comprises detecting a Universal Plug and Play device being plugged into a network.

6. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein transmitting a capabilities query comprises transmitting a Universal Plug and Play device query and receiving a capabilities response comprises receiving a Universal Plug and Play response.

7. A method as defined in claim 6, further comprising receiving an argument list.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein generating a voice prompt script comprises combining a canned voice script with at least a portion of the capabilities response from the electronic device.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising receiving a request from the user to read the voice prompt script, wherein reading the voice prompt script is in response to receiving the request from the user.

10. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein receiving a request from the user to read the voice prompt script comprises receiving data indicative of the user selecting a button.

11. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein receiving a request from the user to read the voice prompt script comprises receiving data indicative of a voice command to read the voice prompt script.

12. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein transmitting the device action command to the electronic device comprises transmitting a command described in Extensible Markup Language (XML) to an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

13. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein generating a device action command comprises generating a music playback command for a networked stereo based on the user response received via the voice recognition system.

14. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein generating a device action command comprises generating a channel change command for a networked television based on the user response received via the voice recognition system.

15. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein generating a device action command comprises generating a volume change command.

16. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein generating a device action command comprises generating a photo retrieve command for a networked digital camera based on the user response received via the voice recognition system.

17. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein generating a device action command comprises generating a print command for a networked printer based on the user response received via the voice recognition system.

18. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein receiving a user response comprises receiving a voice command via a wireless telephone.

19. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein receiving a user response comprises receiving a voice command via the Internet.

20. An apparatus to control an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a network interface operatively coupled to the processor; and

a memory device operatively coupled to the processor, the memory device storing instructions to cause the processor to;

transmit a capabilities query to the electronic device;

receive a capabilities response from the electronic device;

generate a voice prompt script based on the capabilities response;

read the voice prompt script to a user via a text-to-speech engine;

receive a user response via a voice recognition engine;

generate a device action command based on the user response; and

transmit the device action command to the electronic device.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the instructions are structured to cause the processor to detect the electronic device being plugged into a network.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the instructions structured to cause the processor to transmit a capabilities query to the electronic device are further structured to cause the processor to transmit the capabilities query in response to detecting the electronic device being plugged into a network.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 20, further comprising the electronic device.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein the electronic device comprises a Universal Plug and Play device.

25. An apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the instructions are structured to cause the processor to combine a canned voice script with at least a portion of the capabilities response to generate at least a portion of the voice prompt script.

26. An apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the instructions are structured to cause the processor to transmit an Extensible Markup Language (XML) command to an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

27. An apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the instructions cause the processor to generate at least one of (i) a music selection command for a networked stereo, (ii) a channel selection command for a networked television, and (iii) a photo selection command for a networked digital camera.

28. A machine readable medium storing instructions structured to cause a machine to:

detect the electronic device being plugged into a network;

transmit a capabilities query to the electronic device in response to detecting the electronic device being plugged into the network;

receive a capabilities response from the electronic device;

generate a voice prompt script based on the capabilities response;

read the voice prompt script to a user via a text-to-speech engine;

receive a user response via a voice recognition engine;

generate a device action command based on the user response; and

transmit the device action command to the electronic device.

29. A machine readable medium as defined in claim 28, wherein the instructions are structured to cause the machine to combine a canned voice script with at least a portion of the capabilities response to generate at least a portion of the voice prompt script.

30. A machine readable medium as defined in claim 28, wherein the instructions are structured to cause the machine to transmit a command described in Extensible Markup Language (XML) to an Internet Protocol (IP) address.