LOW POWER VOICE TRIGGER FOR FINDING MOBILE DEVICES

• US 20150070184A1
• Filed: 09/11/2013
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Dadu, Saurabh, Kar, Swarnendu, Krishnamurthy, Lakshiman, Vogel, Brian, Bossart, Pierre-Louis, Peebler, Bryan
• Granted Patent: US 9,582,983 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/692
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Systems and methods may provide for monitoring an input audio signal from an onboard microphone of a mobile device while a host processor of the mobile device is in a standby mode. Additionally, a predetermined audio pattern may be identified in the input audio signal and a device location session may be triggered with respect to the mobile device based on the predetermined audio pattern. In one example, an output audio signal is generated during the device location session.

Claims

1-25. -25. (canceled)

26. An apparatus to locate a wireless device, comprising:

a monitor module to monitor an input audio signal from an onboard microphone of the mobile device while a host processor of the mobile device is in a standby mode;

a language module to identify a predetermined audio pattern in the input audio signal; and

a trigger module to trigger a device location session with respect to the mobile device based on the predetermined audio pattern.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, further including an audio module to generate an output audio signal during the device location session.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, further including a verification module to verify a source of the predetermined audio pattern prior to generation of the output audio signal.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the trigger module is to initiate an activation of the host processor and use software running on the host processor to generate an output audio signal during the device location session.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, further including an audio route manager to determine that a wireless audio accessory is connected to the mobile device and route the output audio signal to an onboard speaker of the mobile device if the activation of the host processor was based on the predetermined audio pattern.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the audio route manager is to check a voice trigger activity flag to determine whether the activation of the host processor was based on the predetermined audio pattern.

32. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the trigger module is to trigger the device location session further based on context data from one or more sensors on the mobile device.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the trigger module is to trigger the device location session in response to the predetermined audio pattern if the context data indicates that the mobile device has been either unused or stationary for a predetermined period of time.

34. A method of locating a mobile device, comprising:

monitoring an input audio signal from an onboard microphone of the mobile device while a host processor of the mobile device is in a standby mode;

identifying a predetermined audio pattern in the input audio signal; and

triggering a device location session with respect to the mobile device based on the predetermined audio pattern.

35. The method of claim 34, further including generating an output audio signal during the device location session.

36. The method of claim 35, further including verifying a source of the predetermined audio pattern prior to generation of the output audio signal.

37. The method of claim 34, further including:

initiating an activation of the host processor; and

using software running on the host processor to generate an output audio signal during the device location session.

38. The method of claim 37, further including:

determining that a wireless audio accessory is connected to the mobile device; and

routing the output audio signal to an onboard speaker of the mobile device if the activation of the host processor was based on the predetermined audio pattern.

39. The method of claim 38, further including checking a voice trigger activity flag to determine whether the activation of the host processor was based on the predetermined audio pattern.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein the device location session is triggered further based on context data from one or more sensors on the mobile device.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the device location session is triggered in response to the predetermined audio pattern if the context data indicates that the mobile device has been either unused or stationary for a predetermined period of time.

42. At least one computer readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions which, if executed by a mobile device, cause the mobile device to:

monitor an input audio signal from an onboard microphone of the mobile device while a host processor of the mobile device is in a standby mode;

identify a predetermined audio pattern in the input audio signal; and

trigger a device location session with respect to the mobile device based on the predetermined audio pattern.

43. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 42, wherein the instructions, if executed, cause the mobile device to generate an output audio signal during the device location session.

44. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein the instructions, if executed, cause the mobile device to verify a source of the predetermined audio pattern prior to generation of the output audio signal.

45. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 42, wherein the instructions, if executed, cause the mobile device to:

initiate an activation of the host processor; and

use software running on the host processor to generate an output audio signal during the device location session.

46. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 45, wherein the instructions, if executed, cause the mobile device to:

determine that a wireless audio accessory is connected to the mobile device; and

route the output audio signal to an onboard speaker of the mobile device if the activation of the host processor was based on the predetermined audio pattern.

47. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 46, wherein the instructions, if executed, cause the mobile device to check a voice trigger activity flag to determine whether the activation of the host processor was based on the predetermined audio pattern.

48. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 42, wherein the device location session is to be triggered further based on context data from one or more sensors on the mobile device.

49. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 48, wherein the device location session is to be triggered in response to the predetermined audio pattern if the context data indicates that the mobile device has been either unused or stationary for a predetermined period of time.