Apparatus and method for providing hands-free operation of a device

• US 20060135214A1
• Filed: 02/14/2006
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zhang, Lan, Page, Joseph E. Jr., Kreiner, Barrett M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,542,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/569.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means voice activated dialling H04M1/271; voice recognition algorithms G10L15/00

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for providing hands-free operation of a device. A hands-free adapter is provided that communicates with a device and a headset. The hands-free adapter allows a user to use voice commands so that the user does not have to handle the device. The hands-free adapter receives voice commands from the headset and translates the voice commands to commands recognized by the device. The hands-free adapter also monitors the device to detect device events and provides notice of the events to the user via the headset.

Claims

1. A method for providing hands-free operation of a mobile telephone, comprising:

monitoring a headset interface for a voice command;

in response to detecting the voice command, generating a device command that emulates a user'"'"'s interaction with the mobile telephone;

providing the device command to the mobile telephone via a feature connector interface; and

providing incoming audio available via the feature connector interface to the hands-free headset.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring the feature connector interface for an event;

in response to detecting the event, generating an event indicator; and

providing the event indicator to the user via the headset interface.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the event indicator is a recorded message.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the event indicator is overlaid on the incoming audio from the mobile telephone.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the event indicator is a tone.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the voice command includes a command prefix.

7. A hands-free adapter, comprising:

a device interface for interfacing the hands-free adapter to a device;

a headset interface for interfacing the hands-free adapter to a hands-free headset;

a memory for storing a plurality of voice commands and corresponding device commands;

a digital signal processor for processing a voice command received from the hands-free headset; and

a processing unit for further processing the voice command, generating a device command that emulates a user'"'"'s interaction with the device, and providing the device command to the device interface.

8. The hands-free adapter of claim 7, wherein the device interface interfaces the hands-free adapter to a mobile telephone via a feature connector.

9. The hands-free adapter of claim 7, wherein the headset interface is a wireless interface.

10. The hands-free adapter of claim 7, wherein the memory stores a command prefix.

11. The hand-free adapter of claim 7, wherein the memory stores an identifier and corresponding contact information.

12. The hands-free adapter of claim 11, wherein the contact information is a telephone number.

13. The hands-free adapter of claim 11, wherein the contact information is an electronic address.

14. The hands-free adapter of claim 7, further comprising:

a computer interface for interfacing the hands-free adapter to a computer.

15. A method for providing hands-free operation of a device, comprising:

monitoring a device interface for an event;

if the event is detected, then providing an event indicator to a hands-free headset;

receiving a voice command from the hands-free headset;

in response to the voice command, generating a device command that emulates a user'"'"'s interaction with the device; and

providing the device command to the device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving a voice command from the hands-free headset includes receiving a command prefix.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving non-command audio from the hands-free headset; and

providing the non-command audio to the device via the device interface.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving incoming audio from the device; and

providing the incoming audio to the hands-free headset.