Centralized voice recognition unit for wireless control of personal mobile electronic devices

• US 20070060118A1
• Filed: 09/13/2005
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Guyette, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,418,281 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means voice activated dialling H04M1/271; voice recognition algorithms G10L15/00

Abstract

Described are a method and system for controlling the operation of personal mobile electronic devices disposed about a user. Each device is adapted to receive command according to a common wireless protocol. A voice signal is generated in response to a voice command spoken by the user. Command data are generated for one of the devices in response to the voice signal. The command data are transmitted through a wireless link to the respective device to control an operation of the device. There is no need for each device to have independent voice recognition capability. Instead, the burden of voice recognition is managed by the wearable command module that communicates with all the controlled devices through wireless links.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the operation of a plurality of personal mobile electronic devices disposed proximate to a user, each of the personal mobile electronic devices adapted to receive commands in accordance with a wireless protocol, the system comprising:

a microphone to generate a voice signal responsive to a voice command spoken by the user; and

a wearable command module comprising;

a voice recognition unit in communication with the microphone, the voice recognition unit generating command data for one of the personal mobile electronic devices in response to the voice signal; and

a wireless data transmitter in electrical communication with the voice recognition unit and transmitting the command data encoded in accordance with the wireless protocol, the encoded command data controlling an operation of one of the personal mobile electronic devices.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the voice command comprises a device name assigned to the one of the personal mobile electronic devices.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the wearable command module is integrated in one of the personal mobile electronic devices.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the microphone is in communication with the voice recognition unit through a wireless link.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the microphone is in communication with the voice recognition module through an electrically conductive path.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the microphone is integral with the wearable command module.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a device status indicator to indicate to the user a status of the one of the personal mobile electronic devices.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the device status indicator comprises a speaker.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the device status indicator comprises an optical source.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the device status indicator comprises an optical display.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the personal mobile electronic devices is addressable by a name and the encoded command data comprises the programmed name of the personal mobile device being controlled.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one of the personal mobile electronic devices.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising a wireless data receiver in electrical communication with the voice recognition unit and configured to receive status and feedback data encoded in accordance with the wireless protocol.

14. A method for controlling the operation of a plurality of personal mobile electronic devices disposed proximate to a user, each of the personal mobile electronic devices adapted to receive commands in accordance with a wireless protocol, the method comprising:

generating a voice signal responsive to a voice command spoken by the user;

generating command data for one of the personal mobile electronic devices in response to the voice signal; and

transmitting the command data in accordance with the wireless protocol to control an operation of the one of the personal mobile electronic devices.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising receiving status data in accordance with the wireless protocol.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising transmitting a reply signal to indicate to the user a device status of the one of the personal mobile electronic devices.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising generating and audible indication of the device status.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising generating a visible indication of the device status.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the voice command comprises a device name assigned to the one of the personal mobile electronic devices.