OUT-OF-BAND VOICE COMMUNICATION WITH INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE SERVICES DURING GAMEPLAY

• US 20100144439A1
• Filed: 12/05/2008
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Springer, Morgan, Watanabe, Yuzo
• Granted Patent: US 8,177,643 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video

Abstract

Technologies are described herein for providing out-of-band communication with interactive voice response services during gameplay. While executing a game program, a game console determines that a user wishes to issue a voice command through a headset or other audio input/output device connected to the console. The game console switches the communication channel for the audio input/output device from the game program to a voice recognition engine without interrupting the execution of the game program on the console. The voice command is then forwarded from the audio input/output device to the voice recognition engine.

Claims

1. A method for providing out-of-band voice communication with external services during gameplay on a game console, the method comprising:

detecting at the game console a signal from a user indicating the user wishes to issue a voice command;

upon detecting the signal, switching via a switching mechanism in the game console a connection of an audio input/output (“

I/O”

) device connected to the game console from an in-band game communication channel to an out-of-band communication channel established with a voice recognition engine; and

forwarding the voice command from the audio I/O device to the voice recognition engine via the out-of-band communication channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the elements of detecting, switching, and forwarding are performed without interrupting an execution of a game program on the game console.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal indicating the user wishes to issue a voice command comprises a button press of one or more buttons on a game controller attached to the game console.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio I/O device comprises a headset connected to the game console.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the voice recognition engine comprises a software module executing on the game console.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the voice recognition engine comprises an external computer connected to the game console via a network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the voice command comprises establishing a telephone connection between the audio I/O device attached to the game console and a telephone device located on a network via the out-of-band communication channel.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the voice command comprises establishing a connection between the audio I/O device attached to the game console and a voice portal service located on a network via the out-of-band communication channel.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the voice command comprises establishing a connection between the audio I/O device attached to the game console and an interactive voice response system located on a network via the out-of-band communication channel.

10. A computer readable storage medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

detect a signal indicating a user of the computer wishes to issue a voice command;

upon detecting the signal, switch a connection of an audio input/output (“

I/O”

) device connected to the computer from an in-band game communication channel to an out-of-band communication channel established with a voice recognition engine; and

forward the voice command from the audio I/O device to the voice recognition engine (126) via the out-of-band communication channel.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the computer performs the elements of detecting, switching, and forwarding without interrupting a game program executing on the computer.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the signal indicating the user wishes to issue a voice command comprises a button press of one or more buttons on a game controller attached to the computer.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the audio I/O device comprises a headset connected to the computer.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the voice command comprises establishing a telephone connection between the audio I/O device attached to the computer and a telephone device located on a network via the out-of-band communication channel.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the voice command comprises establishing a connection between the audio I/O device attached to the computer and one of a voice portal service and an interactive voice response system located on a network via the out-of-band communication channel.

16. A system for providing out-of-band voice communication with external services during gameplay, the system comprising:

a game console having an attached audio input/output (“

I/O”

) device and a switching mechanism, the game console operative to

detect a signal indicating a user of the game console wishes to issue a voice command;

upon detecting the signal, utilize the switching mechanism to switch a connection of the audio I/O device from an in-band game communication channel to an out-of-band communication channel established with a voice recognition engine;

forward the voice command from the audio I/O device to the voice recognition engine via the out-of-band communication channel for processing of the voice command by the voice recognition engine; and

upon completion of the processing of the voice command, utilizing the switching mechanism to switch the connection of the audio I/O device from the out-of-band communication channel to the in-band game communication channel.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the game console is operative to detect the signal and switch the connection without interrupting a game program executing on the game console.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the signal indicating the user wishes to issue a voice command comprises a button press of one or more buttons on a game controller attached to the game console.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the voice recognition engine comprises a software module executing on the game console.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the voice recognition engine comprises an external computer connected to the game console via a network.