Voice-activated interactive speech recognition device and method
First Claim
1. A method for implementing transient, voice-based activation in CPU-driven speech recognition equipment including a speech recognition CPU and a low power consuming input sound signal power detector, comprising the steps of:
- (A) placing the speech recognition CPU in a sleep mode wherein the speech recognition CPU is inactive but the input sound signal power detector is active;
(B) detecting whether a first sound continuously exceeds a predetermined volume for at least a predetermined time period;
(C) enabling the speech recognition CPU to determine whether the detected first sound contains at least one keyword recognized by the speech recognition CPU as an activation command, and performing one of the following steps, if it is detected that the first sound continuously exceeds the predetermined volume for at least the predetermined time period;
(1) activating the speech recognition CPU, if the detected first sound contains the at least one keyword recognized by the speech recognition CPU as an activation command, or(2) returning the speech recognition CPU to the sleep mode if the detected first sound fails to contain the at least one keyword recognized by the speech recognition CPU as an activation command.
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Abstract
Techniques for implementing adaptable voice activation operations for interactive speech recognition devices and instruments. Specifically, such speech recognition devices and instruments include an input sound signal power or volume detector in communication with a central CPU for bringing the CPU out of an initial sleep state upon detection of perceived voice exceeding a predetermined threshold volume level and is continuously perceived for at least a certain period of time. If both these conditions are satisfied, the CPU is transitioned into an active mode so that the perceived voice can be analyzed against a set of registered key words to determine if a "power on" command or similar instruction has been received. If so, the CPU maintains an active state in normal speech recognition processing ensues until a "power off" command is received. However, if the perceived and analyzed voice can not be recognized, it is deemed to be background noise and the minimum threshold is selectively updated to accommodate the volume level of the perceived but unrecognized voice. Other aspects include tailoring the volume level of the synthesized voice response according to the perceived volume level as detected by the input sound signal power detector, as well as modifying audible response volume in accordance with updated volume threshold levels.
302 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for implementing transient, voice-based activation in CPU-driven speech recognition equipment including a speech recognition CPU and a low power consuming input sound signal power detector, comprising the steps of:
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(A) placing the speech recognition CPU in a sleep mode wherein the speech recognition CPU is inactive but the input sound signal power detector is active; (B) detecting whether a first sound continuously exceeds a predetermined volume for at least a predetermined time period; (C) enabling the speech recognition CPU to determine whether the detected first sound contains at least one keyword recognized by the speech recognition CPU as an activation command, and performing one of the following steps, if it is detected that the first sound continuously exceeds the predetermined volume for at least the predetermined time period; (1) activating the speech recognition CPU, if the detected first sound contains the at least one keyword recognized by the speech recognition CPU as an activation command, or (2) returning the speech recognition CPU to the sleep mode if the detected first sound fails to contain the at least one keyword recognized by the speech recognition CPU as an activation command. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A voice-activated speech recognition apparatus, comprising:
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a sound signal input unit that receives a sound and translates the received sound into digital form; a speech recognition CPU having an active mode and a sleep mode, comprising; a sound signal analyzer in communication with said sound signal input unit to generate voice feature parameters for the received digitized input sound, when said speech recognition CPU is in the active mode; a phrase detector in communication with said sound signal analyzer to determine whether the feature parameters substantially match speech reference template information corresponding to pre-registered expressions and generate phrase detection data in response thereto, when said speech recognition CPU is in the active mode; and a speech comprehension interaction controller in communication with said phrase detector to recognize a meaning from the received digitized input sound based on the received phrase detection data and conversation content and to formulate an appropriate response corresponding to the recognized meaning, when said speech recognition CPU is in the active mode; and a low power consuming input sound signal power detector in communication with said sound signal input unit and said speech recognition CPU, wherein, when said speech recognition CPU is in the sleep mode, said input sound signal power detector remains active and determines whether the received input sound exceeds a threshold volume for at least a predetermined time period, and wherein said input signal power detector enables said speech recognition CPU, if the received input sound exceeds the threshold volume for at least the predetermined time period, to determine whether the received input sound contains at least one keyword recognized by said speech recognition CPU as an activation command, and cooperates in placing said speech recognition CPU in the active mode if said speech recognition CPU determines that the received input sound contains the at least one keyword that corresponds to an activation command. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification