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

• US 20070135187A1
• Filed: 12/15/2006
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kreiner, Barrett, Page, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,899,500 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means voice activated dialling H04M1/271; voice recognition algorithms G10L15/00

Abstract

In exemplary embodiments, a hands-free adapter provides hands-free operation of a device. The adapter communicates with the device, and in some embodiments, with 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.

Claims

1. 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, each of the voice commands comprising a command to control the device and a command prefix, the command prefix preceding the command to control the device and providing an alert of the voice command subsequent to the command prefix; and

a digital signal processor for processing a voice command received from the hands-free headset, for accessing a corresponding device command that emulates a user'"'"'s interaction with the device, and for communicating the device command to the device interface.

2. The hands-free adapter of claim 1, the device comprising a communications device.

3. The hands-free adapter of claim 1, the communications device comprising at least one of a cellular phone, a voice-over internet protocol phone, a telephone, and a wireless phone.

4. The hands-free adapter of claim 1, the device comprising at least one of a computer, a digital music device, a digital recording device, a personal digital assistant, an interactive television, and a digital signal processor.

5. The hands-free adapter of claim 1, the processor further for providing a voice messaging feature such that an incoming communication to the device is connected to the hands-free headset to establish a communications connection.

6. The hands-free adapter of claim 5, the processor further for communicating an outgoing announcement via the communications connection.

7. The hands-free adapter of claim 6, the processor further for storing a message to the memory of the hands-free adapter.

8. The hands-free adapter of claim 7, the memory further for storing a voice message command, a corresponding hands-free adapter command, and the outgoing announcement.

9. The hands-free adapter of claim 8, the processor further for processing the voice message command to emulate the user'"'"'s interaction with a voice messaging feature.

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

monitoring for a voice command at a hands-free adapter, the voice command comprising a command to control the device and a command prefix, the command prefix preceding the command to control the device and providing an alert of the command to control the device subsequent to the command prefix;

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

communicating the device command to the device via a device interface.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

establishing a communications connection between the hands-free adapter and the device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the communications connection comprises a video communications connection.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the communications connection comprises a data communications connection.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the communications connection comprises an audio communications connection.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

monitoring the device for an event of interest via the device interface, the event of interest comprising at least one of a status of the device, a functionality of the device, and a capability of the device;

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

providing the event indicator to the hands-free adapter,

wherein the event indicator comprises a recorded message for presentation to the device, an alert of an incoming communication to the device, a notification of an off-hook connection of the device, a notification of an on-hook connection of the device, an alert of an outgoing communication from the device, and a notification of the device command generated in response to detecting the voice command.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

detecting a portion of the voice command, the portion comprising the command to control the device;

associating at least one device command with the portion of the voice command;

presenting a notification via the hands-free adapter that a portion of the voice command has been detected and the at least one device commands associated with the portion of the voice command;

querying for a selection of the at least one device command; and

if a response to the query selects an associated device command, then communicating the device command to the device via the device interface.

17. A storage medium on which is encoded instructions for performing the following:

monitoring for a voice command at a hands-free adapter, the voice command comprising a command to control the device and a command prefix, the command prefix preceding the command to control the device and providing an alert of the command to control the device subsequent to the command prefix;

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

communicating the device command to the device via a device interface.

18. The storage medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions for performing the following:

establishing a communications connection between the hands-free adapter and the device, the communications connection comprising one of a data communications connection, an audio communications connection, and a video communications connection.

19. The storage medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions for performing the following:

monitoring the device for an event of interest via the device interface, the event of interest comprising at least one of a status of the device, a functionality of the device, and a capability of the device;

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

providing the event indicator to the hands-free adapter,

wherein the event indicator comprises a recorded message for presentation to the device, an alert of an incoming communication to the device, a notification of an off-hook connection of the device, a notification of an on-hook connection of the device, an alert of an outgoing communication from the device, and a notification of the device command generated in response to detecting the voice command.

20. The storage medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions for performing the following:

detecting a portion of the voice command, the portion comprising the command to control the device;

associating at least one device command with the portion of the voice command;

presenting a notification via the hands-free adapter that a portion of the voice command has been detected and the at least one device commands associated with the portion of the voice command;

querying for a selection of the at least one device command; and

if a response to the query selects an associated device command, then communicating the device command to the device via the device interface.