Sound-activated system for remotely operating vehicular or other functions

• US 20040143437A1
• Filed: 01/06/2004
• Published: 07/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: JBS Technolgies, LLC (Access 2 Communications, LLC)
• Original Assignee: JBS Technolgies, LLC (Access 2 Communications, LLC)
• Inventors: Hanood, Scott T.
• Application Number:
  US10/752,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20040143437A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2009 Antitheft state indicator
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/209 Remote starting of engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/257 Voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue

Abstract

A hand-held sound-activated system for remotely activating the functions of a vehicle or other item is disclosed. The system provides for an apparatus, such as a key fob, that houses a sound recognition controller and a microphone capable of receiving, comparing, processing, and remotely transmitting a signal to activate a desired function. The apparatus contains a microphone activator, a sound digitizer for digitizing sounds such as passwords and commands into a digital code, a digital memory for storing the digital codes for valid and authorized sounds, a sound recognition comparator for comparing and determining the validity of a subsequently received sound with those stored in the memory unit, and a transmitter for transmitting a signal to the vehicle or building to activate the desired and authorized function. Indicators of successful operation, such as LEDs, may also be included.

Claims

1. An apparatus for remotely transmitting command signals comprising:

a microphone;

a microphone activator operatively connected to the microphone;

a sound digitizer for digitizing sounds received by the microphone into a digitized code;

a memory unit capable of receiving and storing the digitized codes from the sound digitizer;

a sound recognition comparator for comparing and determining the validity of subsequently received sound digitized codes with those stored in the memory unit; and

a transmitter operatively connected to the sound recognition comparator whereby, upon identification of a valid sound, a signal corresponding to the digitized code is transmitted.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the microphone activator is a switch.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the microphone activator is a sound.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is housed in a key fob.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sounds are vocalized words.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sound recognition comparator further comprises an indicator for indicating the validity of the sounds.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the indicator is an LED.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the indicator is a sound.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the indicator is a vibration.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sound recognition comparator must identify both a valid password sound and a valid command sound before the transmitter transmits a signal.

11. An apparatus for remotely transmitting command signals comprising:

a means for receiving a sound input;

a means for activating the means for receiving a sound input operatively connected thereto;

a means for digitizing the sound input into a digitized code;

a means for receiving and storing the digitized codes from the means for digitizing the sound inputs;

a means for comparing and determining the validity of the subsequently received sound input digitized codes with those stored in the means for receiving and storing the digitized codes; and

a means for transmitting a signal corresponding to a subsequently received, valid digitized code.

12. A method for remotely transmitting command signals comprising:

activating a microphone for receiving sound;

inputting sound into the microphone;

digitizing the sound received by the microphone into a digitized code;

storing the digitized code for valid sounds received by the microphone;

comparing and validating the digitized code of sounds subsequently received by the microphone with the digitized code of valid sounds; and

transmitting a signal corresponding to the digitized code of valid sound.