AUDIO ENABLED CONTROL MENU SYSTEM, METHOD AND DEVICE

• US 20100292990A1
• Filed: 04/22/2010
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Houghton Lee
• Original Assignee: Houghton Lee
• Inventors: SARGEANT, Gary, LEE, Houghton
• Granted Patent: US 8,588,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

An audio enabled control menu system, method and device is provided. Embodiments of the present invention include an encoder including an input device actuation of the encoder by an operator of the control menu device; memory including a menu structure and a plurality of audio segments stored in the memory; and a microcontroller in operable communication with the encoder and the memory, the microcontroller further configured to receive menu navigation input from the encoder and output one of the plurality of audio segments in response to the menu navigation input, the microcontroller further configured to execute predetermined control actions in response to the menu navigation input. Embodiments of the invention transmit menu options to an operator in an audio format such that the operator can browse and select menu options with one hand and does not need to look at a visually displayed menu.

Claims

1. An audio enabled control menu device comprising:

an encoder including an input device for actuation of the encoder by an operator of the control menu device;

memory including a menu structure and a plurality of audio segments stored in the memory; and

a microcontroller in operable communication with the encoder and the memory, the microcontroller further configured to receive menu navigation input from the encoder and output one of the plurality of audio segments in response to the menu navigation input, the microcontroller further configured to execute predetermined control actions in response to the menu navigation input.

2. The audio enabled control menu device of claim 1, further comprising an output device in operable communication with the microcontroller, wherein the plurality of audio segments are output through the output device to the operator in response to menu navigation input.

3. The audio enabled control menu device of claim 1, further comprising a voice chip in operable communication with the memory, wherein the voice chip includes multiple pre-recorded voice segments.

4. The audio enabled control menu device of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of audio segments is a voice prompt.

5. The audio enabled control menu device of claim 1, wherein the menu structure includes a plurality of menu options, and one or more of plurality of menu options has an associated predetermined control action, and wherein the microcontroller is further configured to execute the associated control action in response to a selection of one of the one or more of the plurality of options.

6. The audio enabled control menu device of claim 1, wherein the encoder is a rotary encoder and the input device is a knob connected to the rotary encoder, the rotary encoder configured to register a rotation of the knob and a press of the knob.

7. The audio enabled control menu device of claim 1, wherein the menu navigation input includes a select input, a browse input, and a back input.

8. The audio enabled control menu device of claim 7, wherein the menu structure is a predetermined decision tree, and the microcontroller is further configured to navigate the predetermined decision tree in response to the menu navigation input.

9. An audio enabled control menu device comprising:

an encoder including an input device for actuation by an operator of the control menu device, the input device coupled to the encoder, wherein the encoder is configured to register actuation of the input device;

memory including a menu structure stored in the memory and audio data stored in the memory, the menu structure including a predetermined decision tree including a plurality of options, and the audio data including a plurality of audio segments, and wherein the plurality of audio segments are associated with the plurality of options such that each of the plurality of options has an associated one of the plurality of audio segments;

an output device configured to output the plurality audio voice segments to the user; and

a microcontroller in operable communication with the encoder and the memory, the microcontroller further configured to receive menu navigation input from the encoder, the menu navigation input including a select input, a browse input, and a back input, the microcontroller further configured to navigate the menu structure in response to the menu navigation input, the microcontroller further configured to output the associated one of the plurality of audio segments in response to the menu navigation input

10. The audio enabled control menu device of claim 9, wherein one or more of the plurality of options has an associated control action, and wherein the microcontroller is further configured to execute the associated control action in response to a selection of one of the one or more of the plurality of options.

11. The audio enabled control menu device of claim 9, further comprising an output device, wherein the plurality of audio segments are output through the output device to the operator in response to menu navigation input.

12. The audio enabled control menu device of claim 9, wherein one or more of the plurality of audio segments is a voice prompt.

13. The audio enabled control menu device of claim 9, wherein the encoder is a rotary encoder having a shaft and the input device is a knob coupled to the shaft, and wherein a rotation of the knob is the browse input and a press of the knob is the select input.

14. The audio enabled control menu device of claim 9, wherein the encoder is a switch and the input device is a switch actuator.

15. A communications headset with audio enabled control menu selection, the communications headset comprising:

one or more headset earpieces;

a rotary encoder disposed within the one or more headset earpieces, the rotary encoder including a knob for actuation of the rotary encoder by a wearer of the communications headset;

memory disposed in the one or more headset earpieces, the memory including a menu structure and a plurality of audio segments stored in the memory; and

a microcontroller disposed in the one or more headset earpieces, the microcontroller in operable communication with the rotary encoder and the memory, the microcontroller further configured to receive menu navigation input from the rotary encoder and output one of the plurality of audio segments in response to the menu navigation input, the microcontroller further configured to execute predetermined control actions in response to the menu navigation input.

16. The communications headset of claim 15, further comprising one or more speakers in operable communication with the microcontroller, wherein the plurality of audio segments are output through the output device to the operator in response to menu navigation input, and wherein the one or more speakers are disposed in the one or more headset earpieces.

17. The communications headset of claim 15, further comprising a voice chip in operable communication with the memory, wherein the voice chip includes multiple pre-recorded voice segments.

18. The communications headset of claim 15, wherein the menu structure includes a plurality of menu options, and one or more of plurality of menu options has an associated predetermined control action, and wherein the microcontroller is further configured to execute the associated control action in response to a selection of one of the one or more of the plurality of options.

19. The communications headset of claim 15, wherein the rotary encoder is configured to register a rotation of the knob and a press of the knob, and the menu navigation input includes a select input, a browse input, and a back input, and wherein the rotation of the knob is the browse input and the press of the knob is a select input.

20. The communication headset of claim 15, wherein the menu structure is a predetermined decision tree, and the microcontroller is further configured to navigate the predetermined decision tree in response to the menu navigation input.