Speech recognition method and apparatus with voice commands and associated keystrokes

• US 5,893,064 A
• Filed: 05/14/1997
• Issued: 04/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: K2 Interactive, LLC
• Original Assignee: K2 Interactive, LLC
• Inventors: Maltby, Phil, Kudirka, Thomas, Kudirka, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Hudspeth, David R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Storm, Donald L.
• Application Number:
  US08/856,380
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 704/275, 704/270, 704/251, 704/243, 704/231, 273/148 B, 345/172, 345/168, 364/709.09, 364/709.1, 364/709.11, 364/709.13, 364/709.14
• US Class Current: 704/270.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command

Abstract

Speech recognition is provided which is operable with a host computer having a keyboard. An electrical circuit inclusive of the speech recognition is incorporation into the host computer. A first electrical connector communicates between the electrical circuit and the computer and a second electrical connector communicates between the electrical circuit and the keyboard. A microphone inputs voice commands to the electrical circuit and a software application installed in the host computer configures and trains the voice commands with corresponding key-press information. A microcontroller controls the transmission of the voice commands to the host computer while the electrical circuit includes a switch for allowing the microcontroller to send the key-press information to the host computer via the first electrical connector such that the key-press information is communicated separately from the voice commands communicated to the host computer. In a preferred embodiment, another electrical connector is provided for communicating between the electrical circuit and another port of the computer. The foregoing is also applicable to an internal circuit board installed into the computer. In still another embodiment, the key-press entry is communicated separately from pre-loaded commands sent from the computer.

Claims

1. A speech recognition apparatus operable with a host computer having a keyboard comprising:

a) an electrical circuit means, having speech recognition means, incorporated into the host computer;

b) a first electrical connecting means for communicating between the electrical circuit means and the computer;

c) a second electrical connecting means for communicating between the electrical circuit means and the keyboard;

d) a microphone for inputting voice commands to said electrical circuit means;

e) a software application for installing in the host computer for configurating and training the voice commands with corresponding key-press information;

f) a microcontroller for controlling transmission of the voice commands to the host computer; and

g) the electrical circuit means further including a switch means for allowing the microcontroller to send the key-press information to the host computer via said first electrical connecting means such that said key-press information is communicated by separate means from said voice commands communicated to said host computer.

2. The speech recognition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrical circuit means is an ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) plug-in circuit board.

3. The speech recognition apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first electrical connecting means for communicating between the electrical circuit means and the computer is a keyboard patch cable.

4. The speech recognition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second electrical connecting means for communicating between the electrical circuit means and the keyboard is a keyboard cable.

5. The speech recognition apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the switch means is an analog switch.

6. The speech recognition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said microphone is a noise cancellation microphone which substantially cancels background noise from speech received by said noise cancellation microphone.

7. A speech recognition apparatus operable with a host computer having two ports, with a keyboard comprising:

a) an electrical circuit means, having speech recognition means, external to the host computer;

b) a first electrical connecting means for communicating between the electrical circuit means and the first port of the computer;

c) a second electrical connecting means, separate from said first electrical connecting means, for communicating between the electrical circuit means and the second port of the computer;

d) a third electrical connecting means for communicating between the electrical circuit means and the keyboard;

e) a microphone for inputting voice commands to said electrical circuit means;

f) a software application for installing in the host computer for configuring and training the voice commands with corresponding key-press information;

g) the electrical circuit means further including a microcontroller for controlling transmission of the voice commands to the host computer via said first electrical connecting means; and

h) the electrical circuit means further including a means for allowing the microcontroller to send the key-press information to the host computer via said second electrical connecting means such that said key-press information is communicated by separate means from said voice commands to said host computer.

8. The speech recognition apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the electrical circuit means is a (COM)(communications) port interface.

9. The speech recognition apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the electrical circuit means is a Parallel port interface.

10. The speech recognition apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the electrical circuit means is a Universal Serial Bus (USB).

11. The speech recognition apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first electrical connecting means for communicating between the electrical circuit means and the first port of the computer is a null modem.

12. The speech recognition apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second electrical connecting means for communicating between the electrical circuit means and the second port of the computer is a serial keyboard cable.

13. The speech recognition apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the third electrical connecting means for communicating between the electrical circuit means and the keyboard is a keyboard cable.

14. The speech recognition apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said microphone is a noise cancellation microphone which substantially cancels background noise from speech received by said noise cancellation microphone.

15. The speech recognition apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first electrical connecting means is an RS-232 (serial) port.

16. The speech recognition apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first electrical connecting means is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port.

17. The speech recognition apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first electrical connecting means is a communication (COM) port.

18. The speech recognition apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first electrical connecting means is a parallel port.

19. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a joystick which incorporates said electrical circuit means.

20. A speech recognition system for computer applications, having a host computer with a keyboard comprising:

a) means for installing an electrical circuit board into the computer;

b) first means for communicating between the electrical circuit board and the computer;

c) second means for communicating between the electrical circuit board and the keyboard;

d) means for training said electrical circuit board to recognize a user'"'"'s voice commands;

e) means for installing a software application into the host computer with pre-loaded key-press information and for configuring and training said electrical circuit board to associate the pre-loaded key-press information with the user'"'"'s voice commands;

f) means for assigning a corresponding key-press entry to the user'"'"'s trained commands; and

g) switch means for connecting and for disconnecting the keyboard from the electrical circuit board for sending the key-press entry to the host computer via said first means such that said key-press information is communicated by separate means from said user'"'"'s voice commands sent to/from said computer.

21. A method for programming a speech recognition system to recognize a user'"'"'s own verbal commands for use in computer games, comprising the steps of:

a) installing a industry standard architecture (ISA) plug-in circuit board into the computer having at least three ports;

b) connecting a computer to one port, a keyboard to the second port, and a microphone headset to the third port;

c) installing a software application into the host computer with pre-loaded commands and having the ability to configure and train the pre-loaded commands with the user'"'"'s own voice by assigning a corresponding key-press entry to the user'"'"'s trained commands for storing in a computer file and for transmission to the plug-in circuit board; and

d) providing switch means to connect and disconnect the keyboard from the electrical circuit board for sending the key-press entry to the host computer via communication means such that said key-press entry is communicated by separate means from said pre-loaded commands sent from said computer.