Wearable computer system and modes of operating the system

• US 20060187628A1
• Filed: 03/03/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture Global Services GmbH (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Richter, Owen E., Le, Dana, Hughes, Lucian P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,562,020 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone

Abstract

A wearable computer system has a user interface with at least an audio-only mode of operating, and that is natural in appearance and facilitates natural interactions with the system and the user'"'"'s surroundings. The wearable computer system may retrieve information from the user'"'"'s voice or surroundings using a passive user interface. The audio-only user interface for the wearable computer system may include two audio receivers and a single output device, such as a speaker, that provides audio data directly to the user. The two audio receivers may be miniature microphones that collaborate to input audio signals from the user'"'"'s surroundings while also accurately inputting voice commands from the user. Additionally, the user may enter natural voice commands to the wearable computer system in a manner that blends in with the natural phrases and terminology spoken by the user.

Claims

1-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A wearable computer system comprising:

an audio receiver, wearable by a user, that receives audio signals from the user and produces a corresponding electrical signal; and

a computer unit that comprises;

circuitry that receives and digitizes the electrical signal corresponding to the received audio signal;

a processor; and

computer memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, perform the following operations;

processes the digitized signals and recognizes spoken words therein;

determines whether the recognized spoken words constitute a predetermined natural voice command that blends with the natural phrases and terminology commonly spoken by the user; and

responds to the predetermined natural voice commands from the user by prompting the processor to execute a predetermined function.

19. The wearable computer system of claim 18, further comprising a speaker adapted to be worn by the user and connectable to the computer unit, the speaker provides data output to the user, wherein data output directly to the user consists of audio.

20. The wearable computer system of claim 19, further comprising an earpiece adapted to be worn by the user, wherein the audio receiver and speaker are housed in the earpiece.

21. The wearable computer system of claim 18, further comprising an audio filter that filters audio signals received by the audio receiver that do not originate with the user.

22. The wearable computer system of claim 21, further comprising a second audio receiver that is adapted to be worn by the user and connectable to the computer unit, wherein the second audio receiver inputs audio signals from user'"'"'s surroundings.

23. A method of operating a wearable computer system comprising a computer unit wearable by a user, and a user interface with at least an audio-only mode of operation, the method comprising:

continuously storing in a scrolling buffer audio information received by a microphone that receives ambient audio information at the user'"'"'s location; and

upon receiving an predetermined voice command from the user, storing in memory audio information present in the buffer for some period of time in relation to the time the voice command was received, so that the audio information stored in memory may be retrieved at a later time.

24. The method of operating a wearable computer system of claim 23, wherein the audio information stored in memory for later retrieval is received during a predetermined period of time immediately preceding receipt of the predetermined voice command.

25. The method of operating a wearable computer system of claim 23, wherein the audio information stored in memory for later retrieval is received during a predetermined period of time immediately after receipt of the predetermined voice command.

26. The method of operating a wearable computer system of claim 23, wherein the audio information stored in memory for later retrieval is received during a predetermined period of time including time occurring both before and after receipt of the predetermined voice command.

27. The method of operating a wearable computer system of claim 23, wherein the predetermined voice command is a natural voice command.

28. The method of operating the wearable computer system of claim 23, wherein the predetermined voice command is set up by the user.

29. A wearable computer system comprising:

a computer unit wearable by a user; and

first and second audio receivers each wearable by the user and connectable to the computer unit such that the first audio receiver receives voice signals from the user and provides the voice signals to the computer unit for processing, and the second audio receiver receives ambient audio signals from the user'"'"'s surroundings and provides the ambient audio signals to the computer unit for processing;

the computer unit further comprising;

a scrolling buffer in which ambient audio information received during a preceding predetermined period of time is stored;

memory; and

circuitry that, upon receiving a predetermined voice command from the user, stores in the memory audio information present in the buffer for some period of time in relation to the time the voice command was received, so that the audio information stored in memory may be retrieved at a later time.

30. The wearable computer system of claim 29, wherein the audio information stored in memory for later retrieval is received during a predetermined period of time immediately preceding receipt of the predetermined voice command.

31. The wearable computer system of claim 29, wherein the audio information stored in memory for later retrieval is received during a predetermined period of time immediately after receipt of the predetermined voice command.

32. The wearable computer system of claim 29, wherein the audio information stored in memory for later retrieval is received during a predetermined period of time including time occurring both before and after receipt of the predetermined voice command.

33. The wearable computer system of claim 29, wherein the predetermined voice command is a natural voice command.

34. The wearable computer system of claim 29, wherein the predetermined voice command is set up by the user.