Device for converting voice to numeral

• US 20060177017A1
• Filed: 01/26/2006
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Abeta, Takehiro
• Application Number:
  US11/340,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20060177017A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.10
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241

Abstract

A device for converting voices to numerals is applied to an on-board navigation system having a mobile phone operated hands-free. Voice signals inputted into the device are processed to specify a spelling of a word represented by the voice signals using a voice-spelling database stored in the device. A series of numerals (a telephone number) is specified from characters included in the specified spelling using a character-numeral database showing a correspondence between a group of a few characters and a one-digit numeral. The telephone number thus converted from the inputted voice signals is fed to the mobile phone to initiate a call.

Claims

1. A device for converting voices to numerals, comprising:

means for obtaining voice signals from utterance of a user;

a memory device for storing a voice-spelling database showing correspondence between the voice signals and a spelling of a word and a character-numeral database showing correspondence between a group of characters and a numeral; and

means for specifying a spelling of a word from the voice signals based on the voice-spelling database and for specifying a series of numerals from the specified spelling based on the character-numeral database.

2. The device for converting voices to numerals as in claim 1, further including means for initiating a telephone call using the series of numerals specified by the specifying means.

3. The device for converting voices to numerals as in claim 1, wherein:

the memory means further stores a voice-numeral database showing correspondence between the voice signals and numerals;

the specifying means first specify numerals from the voice signals based on the voice-numeral database, and then specifies a spelling of a word from the voice signals based on the voice-spelling database and a series of numerals from the specified spelling based on the character-numeral database, only when the specified numerals include a predetermined series of numerals.

4. The device for converting voices to numerals as in claim 3, wherein:

the predetermined series of numerals are prefix numerals indicating a free call telephone number.

5. A computer program, in which a spelling of a word is specified from voice signals taken from utterance of a user based on a voice-spelling database showing correspondence between voice signals and a spelling of a word, and in which a series of numerals is specified from the specified spelling based on a character-numeral database showing correspondence between a group of characters and a numeral.