System, method and computer program product for adding voice activation and voice control to a media player

• US 20070011007A1
• Filed: 11/16/2005
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: Voice Demand Incorporated
• Inventors: Cantwell, Dermot, Greene, Mark, Hegarty, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,424,431 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/246
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/02 Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 9/02 using radio transmission; using near-field transmission

Abstract

A media player system, method and computer program product are provided. In use, an utterance is received. A command for a media player is then generated based on the utterance. Such command is utilized for providing wireless control of the media player.

Claims

1. A method, comprising,

receiving an utterance;

and

generating a command for a media player based on the utterance;

wherein the command provides wireless control of the media player.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the utterance is received via an assembly connected to the media player.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the assembly includes:

a voice activation module;

memory;

an FM transmitter;

a power unit; and

software capable of detecting the utterance, translating the utterance into computer code and transmitting the code to the media player.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the computer code controls a state of the media player.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein output of the media player is channeled through the assembly.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the output is FM modulated utilizing the FM transmitter of the assembly for reception by an FM receiver.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the power unit charges the media player.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the assembly is releasably connected to the media player.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the FM transmitter is capable of sweeping in a range of frequencies between 88 MHz and 108 MHz.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the assembly includes a visual indicator for indicating whether the media player is awaiting the receipt of the utterance.

11. The method of claim 1, and further comprising verifying the utterance.

12. The method of claim 11, and further comprising adjusting the received utterance if it is not verified.

13. The method of claim 1, and further comprising translating the utterance into computer code capable of being recognized by the media player.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the media player is selected from the group consisting of:

an iPod(R), a portable satellite radio player, and a cell phone.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the utterance is a programmed command that is registered by the media player.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the commands include at least one of play, pause, fast forward, rewind, on, off, shuffle, repeat, search, volume up, volume down, playlist, and next playlist.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the commands include play, pause, fast forward, rewind, on, off, shuffle, repeat, search, volume up, volume down, playlist, and next playlist.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the utterance is converted into an application specific voice tag and is subsequently compared to at least one voice tag from a library of voice tags located on the media player.

19. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium, comprising,

computer code for receiving an utterance;

and

computer code for generating a command for a media player based on the utterance;

wherein the command provides wireless control of the media player.

20. A sub-system, comprising,

an input device for receiving an utterance;

and

a processor in communication with the input, the processor adapted for generating a command for a media player based on the utterance;

wherein the command provides wireless control of the media player.

21. A system including the subsystem of claim 20, the system comprising a cellular phone including the media player.

22. A system including the subsystem of claim 20, wherein the input device includes a microphone integrated in a set of headphones.

23. A system including the subsystem of claim 20, wherein the input device includes a wireless device which is adapted for being positioned for voice control.