Selective Transmission of Voice Data

• US 20120166184A1
• Filed: 12/23/2010
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Locker, Howard, Cromer, Daryl, Kelso, Scott Edwards, Stewart, Aaron Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,953,643 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/201
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue

Abstract

Systems and methods that provide for voice command devices that receive sound but do not transfer the voice data beyond the system unless certain voice-filtering criteria have been met are described herein. In addition, embodiments provide devices that support voice command operation while external voice data transmission is in mute operation mode. As such, devices according to embodiments may process voice data locally responsive to the voice data matching voice-filtering criteria. Furthermore, systems and methods are described herein involving voice command devices that capture sound and analyze it in real-time on a word-by-word basis and decide whether to handle the voice data locally, transmit it externally, or both.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

a system memory operatively coupled to the one or more processors;

wherein, responsive to execution of computer readable program code accessible to the one or more processors, the one or more processors are configured to;

receive voice data obtained by a sound receiver; and

analyze the voice data to determine whether the voice data corresponds with one or more local voice criteria;

wherein responsive to the voice data corresponding to the one or more local voice criteria;

the voice data is handled locally; and

the voice data is not transmitted externally.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein responsive to the voice data not corresponding to the one or more local voice criteria the voice data is transmitted externally.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more local voice criteria comprise a predetermined set of words.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more local voice criteria comprise a pitch of the voice data.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more local voice criteria comprise one or more non-conversational pauses in the voice data.

6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a voice data buffer configured to buffer received voice data prior to analysis.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising one or more system voice commands configured to invoke system functions.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein handling the voice data locally comprises processing the voice data as the one or more system voice commands.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a mute control configured to enable a mute operation mode;

wherein responsive to the mute operation mode being enabled;

the voice data is handled locally; and

the voice data is not transmitted externally.

10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display screen configured to display feedback about the voice data;

wherein feedback is selected from the group consisting of;

whether the sound receiver is receiving voice data, whether the voice data is being handled locally or transmitted externally, and whether one or more voice commands have been activated.

11. A method comprising:

receiving voice data at a sound receiver; and

analyzing voice data to determine whether the voice data corresponds with one or more local voice criteria;

wherein responsive to the voice data corresponding to the one or more local voice criteria;

the voice data is handled locally; and

the voice data is not transmitted externally.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein responsive to the voice data not corresponding to the one or more local voice criteria the voice data is transmitted externally.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the one or more local voice criteria comprise a predetermined set of words.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the one or more local voice criteria comprise a pitch of the voice data.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the one or more local voice criteria comprise one or more non-conversational pauses in the voice data.

16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising a voice data buffer configured to buffer received voice data prior to analysis.

17. The method according to claim 11, further comprising one or more system voice commands configured to invoke system functions.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein handling the voice data locally comprises processing the voice data as the one or more system voice commands.

19. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

a mute control configured to enable a mute operation mode;

wherein responsive to the mute operation mode being enabled;

the voice data is handled locally; and

the voice data is not transmitted externally.

20. A computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage device having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising;

computer readable program code configured to receive voice data at a sound receiver; and

computer readable program code configured to analyze voice data to determine whether the voice data corresponds with one or more local voice criteria;

computer readable program code configured to wherein responsive to the voice data corresponding to the one or more local voice criteria;

the voice data is handled locally; and

the voice data is not transmitted externally.