HANDLING A VOICE COMMUNICATION REQUEST

• US 20120220347A1
• Filed: 02/28/2011
• Published: 08/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Davidson, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 8,868,136 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/041 Encoding the ringing signal, i.e. providing distinctive or selective ringing capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means voice activated dialling H04M1/271; voice recognition algorithms G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42051 where the notification is included in the ringing tone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42204 Arrangements at the exchange for service or number selection by voice at the terminal H04M1/27

Abstract

Apparatus comprises at least one processor and at least one memory, the at least one memory having stored therein computer-readable instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor: to detect the presence of a first identifier in an audio data portion received from a microphone; to identify a remote device based on the first identifier; to cause an audio data item to be transmitted to the remote device, the audio data item being for use by the remote device to alert a user of the device to the presence of an incoming voice communication request; and to cause a voice communication request to be transmitted to the remote device.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory, the at least one memory having stored therein computer-readable instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor:

to detect the presence of a first identifier in an audio data portion received from a microphone;

to identify a remote device based on the first identifier;

to cause an audio data item to be transmitted to the remote device, the audio data item being for use by the remote device to alert a user of the device to the presence of an incoming voice communication request; and

to cause a voice communication request to be transmitted to the remote device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the audio data item includes at least part of the audio data portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the audio data portion is a portion of an audio data stream and wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor:

to analyse the audio data portion to detect the presence of the first identifier in response receiving a signal indicative of a user input.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the user input is a voice input.

5. A system comprising:

the apparatus of claim 1; and

the remote device, the remote device comprising at least one processor and at least one memory, the at least one memory having stored therein computer-readable instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor;

to cause an audible representation of the audio data item to be provided to a user of the remote device, via a loudspeaker associated with the remote device, thereby to alert the user of the remote device to the existence of the voice communication request.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the computer-readable instructions stored in the at least one memory of the remote device, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor:

to receive an indication of receipt of the audio data item at the remote device;

to receive an indication of receipt of the voice communication request at the remote device;

to determine if the apparatus is known to the remote device;

to cause the audible representation of the audio data item to be provided to the user of the remote device if the apparatus is known to the remote device; and

to alert a user of the remote device to the existence of the voice communication request using a pre-stored data item if the apparatus is not known to the remote device.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the computer-readable instructions stored in the at least one memory of the remote device, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor:

to be responsive to receipt, from the user of the remote device, of a voice command to allow a voice communication channel to be established between the remote device and the apparatus.

8. Apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory, the at least one memory having stored therein computer-readable instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor:

to receive an indication of receipt of an audio data item from a remote device;

to receive an indication of receipt of a voice communication request from the remote device; and

to cause an audible representation of the audio data item to be provided to a user of the apparatus, via a loudspeaker associated with the apparatus, thereby to alert a user of the apparatus to the existence of the voice communication request.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor:

to determine if the remote device is known to the apparatus;

to cause the audible representation of the audio data item to be provided to the user of the apparatus, if the remote device is known to the apparatus; and

to cause the user of the apparatus to be alerted to the existence of the voice communication request using a pre-stored data item if the remote device is not known to the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor:

to be responsive to receipt, from the user, of a voice command to allow a voice communication channel to be established between the remote device and the apparatus.

11. A method comprising:

detecting the presence of a first identifier in an audio data portion received from a microphone;

identifying a remote device based on the first identifier;

causing an audio data item to be transmitted to the remote device, the audio data item being for use by the remote device to alert a user of the device to the presence of an incoming voice communication request; and

causing a voice communication request to be transmitted to the remote device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the audio data item includes at least part of the audio data portion.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the audio data portion is a portion of an audio data stream and wherein the method comprises:

analysing the audio data portion to detect the presence of the first identifier in response to receiving a signal indicative of a user input.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the user input is a voice input.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving an indication of receipt of the audio data item at the remote device;

receiving an indication of receipt of the voice communication request at the remote device; and

causing an audible representation of the audio data item to be provided to a user of the remote device, via a loudspeaker associated with the remote device, thereby to alert the user of the remote device to the existence of the voice communication request.

16. The method of claim 15 comprising:

determining if apparatus from which the audio data item and voice communication request were received is known to the remote device;

if the apparatus is known to the remote device, causing the audible representation of the audio data item to be provided to the user of the remote device; and

if the apparatus is not known to the remote device, causing a user of the remote device to be alerted to the existence of the voice communication request using a pre-stored data item.

17. The method of claim 15, comprising:

responding to receipt, from the user of the remote device, of a voice command by allowing a voice communication channel to be established between the remote device and the apparatus from which the audio data item and voice communication request were received.

18. A method comprising:

receiving an indication of receipt of an audio data item from a remote device;

receiving an indication of receipt of a voice communication request from the remote device; and

causing an audible representation of the audio data item to be provided to a user, via a loudspeaker, thereby to alert the user to the existence of the voice communication request.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising:

determining if the remote device is recognised;

if the remote device is recognised, causing the audible representation of the audio data item to be provided to the user; and

if the remote device is not recognised, causing the user to be alerted to the existence of the voice communication request using a pre-stored data item.

20. The method of claim 18 comprising:

responding to receipt from the user of a voice command to allow a voice communication channel to be established with the remote device.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein computer-readable code, which, when executed by computing apparatus, causes the computing apparatus:

to detect the presence of a first identifier in an audio data portion received from a microphone;

to identify a remote device based on the first identifier;

to cause an audio data item to be transmitted to the remote device, the audio data item being for use by the remote device to alert a user of the device to the presence of an incoming voice communication request; and

to cause a voice communication request to be transmitted to the remote device.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein computer-readable code, which, when executed by computing apparatus, causes the computing apparatus:

to receive an indication of receipt of an audio data item from a remote device;

to receive an indication of receipt of a voice communication request from the remote device; and

to cause an audible representation of the audio data item to be provided to a user of the apparatus, via a loudspeaker associated with the apparatus, thereby to alert a user of the apparatus to the existence of the voice communication request.

23-29. -29. (canceled)