Speech recognition technique based on local interrupt detection

• US 6,963,759 B1
• Filed: 10/05/1999
• Issued: 11/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: fastmobile Incorporated (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Gerson, Ira A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): SOBUTKA, PHILIP
• Application Number:
  US09/412,699
• Time in Patent Office: 2,226 Days
• Field of Search: 455/563, 455/556, 455/557, 455/575, 455/414, 4555711-5719, 4554141-4144, 379/88.01, 379/88.03, 379/88.04, 704/275
• US Class Current: 455/563
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/228 of application context
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

In a wireless communication system, local detection of an interrupt indicator during a voice communication between a user of a subscriber unit and another person is provided. Responsive to the interrupt indicator, a portion of a speech recognition element is activated to begin processing voice-based commands. The speech recognition element can be implemented at least in part within an infrastructure, such as in a client-server speech recognition arrangement. The interrupt indicator may be provided using an input device forming a part of the subscriber unit, or through the use of a local speech recognizer within the subscriber unit. By locally detecting interrupt indicators at the subscriber unit, the present invention more readily enables the use of electronic assistants and similar services in wireless communication environments.

Claims

1. In a subscriber unit capable of wireless communication with an infrastructure thereby providing voice communications between a user of the subscriber unit and another person via the infrastructure, the infrastructure comprising a speech recognition server, a method comprising steps of:

engaging in a voice communication between the user of the subscriber unit and the other person via the infrastructure;

locally monitoring the voice communication, using a local speech recognizer included in the subscriber unit, for at least one predetermined utterance;

providing an interrupt indicator upon recognizing the at least one predetermined utterance with the local speech recognizer; and

activating during the voice communication, in response to the presence of the interrupt indicator, a portion of a speech recognition element included in the subscriber unit to begin processing voice-based commands, wherein the speech recognition element is implemented at least in part within the infrastructure.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of:

activating an input device forming a part of the subscriber unit to provide the interrupt indicator as an alternative to using the local speech recognizer.

3. The method claim 2, wherein the step of activating the input device comprises a step of activating any of a button, a selector and a menu-driven input device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of activating the portion of the speech recognition element comprises a step of:

activating a speech recognition client implemented within the subscriber unit,

wherein the speech recognition client and the speech recognition server cooperate to provide the speech recognition element.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising a step of:

providing, by the speech recognition client, parameterized speech information to the speech recognition server.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of:

providing, to the user, an indication that the portion of the speech recognition element has been activated.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of:

providing, to the speech recognition server, an indication that the portion of the speech recognition element has been activated.

8. A subscriber unit that wirelessly communicates with an infrastructure, the subscriber unit comprising:

a local speech recognizer for detecting at least one predetermined utterance during a voice communication between the subscriber unit and another person via the infrastructure, the local speech recognizer providing an interrupt indicator upon detecting the at least one predetermined utterance; and

a portion of a speech recognition element that takes as input the presence of the interrupt indicator and, being activated by the presence of the interrupt indicator, begins processing voice-based commands during the voice communication, wherein the speech recognition element is implemented at least in part within the infrastructure.

9. The subscriber unit of claim 8, further comprising:

an input device that alternatively provides the interrupt indicator when activated.

10. The subscriber unit of claim 9, wherein the input device comprises any of a button, a selector and a menu-driven input device.

11. The subscriber unit of claim 8, wherein the portion of the speech recognition element comprises a speech recognition client, and wherein the speech recognition client and a speech recognition server implemented within the infrastructure cooperate to provide the speech recognition element.

12. The subscriber unit of claim 8, further comprising:

an annunciator, responsive to the interrupt indicator, for indicating that the portion of the speech recognition element has been activated.

13. The subscriber unit of claim 8, further comprising:

a wireless transceiver that transmits, to the infrastructure, parameterized speech information provided by the portion of the speech recognition element.

14. The subscriber unit of claim 13, wherein the wireless transceiver transmits an indication, to the infrastructure, that the portion of the speech recognition element has been activated.

15. A wireless communication system comprising at least one subscriber unit in wireless communication with an infrastructure, the wireless communication system comprising:

within each of the at least one subscriber unit;

a local speech recognizer for detecting at least one predetermined utterance during a voice communication between the subscriber unit and another person via the infrastructure, the local speech recognizer providing an interrupt indicator upon detecting the at least one predetermined utterance; and

a speech recognition client that takes as input the presence of the interrupt indicator and, being activated by the presence of the interrupt indicator, begins processing voice-based commands during the voice communication; and

within the infrastructure;

a speech recognition server that cooperates with the speech recognition client to provide a speech recognition element.

16. The wireless communication system of claim 15, wherein the at least one subscriber unit comprises a radio telephone.

17. The wireless communication system of claim 15, wherein the at least one subscriber unit comprises an in-vehicle wireless communication device.

18. In a speech recognition server forming a part of an infrastructure and a part of a speech recognition element, the infrastructure in wireless communication with at least one subscriber unit, a method comprising steps of:

receiving, from a subscriber unit of the at least one subscriber unit, speech information from a speech recognition client of the subscriber unit that is provided in response to local recognition, at the subscriber unit, of presence of an interrupt indicator during a voice conversation with another person, the interrupt indicator being provided by a local speech recognizer included in the subscriber unit; and

performing speech recognition processing based on the speech information during the voice conversation.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising steps of:

receiving, from the subscriber unit, an indication that a portion of the speech recognition element has been activated; and

initiating speech recognition processing based on the indication.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the interrupt indicator is recognized by locally monitoring, using the local speech recognizer, the voice communication for at least one predetermined utterance.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising a step of:

processing the speech information to provide parameterized speech information, wherein the speech recognition processing is based on the parameterized speech information.

22. A speech recognition server for use in an infrastructure that is in wireless communication with at least one subscriber unit, the speech recognition server comprising:

a receiver that takes as input speech information received from a speech recognition client included in the at least one subscriber unit in response to local recognition, at the at least one subscriber unit, of presence of an interrupt indicator during a voice communication with another person, the interrupt indicator being provided by a local speech recognizer included in the at least one subscriber unit; and

a speech recognition analyzer that performs speech recognition processing based on the speech information during the voice communication.

23. The speech recognition server of claim 22, wherein the receiver further operates to receive, from the at least one subscriber unit, an indication that a portion of a speech recognition element has activated, and wherein the indication initiates speech recognition processing.

24. The speech recognition server of claim 22, wherein the interrupt indicator is provided by locally recognizing, at the at least one subscriber unit, at least one predetermined utterance in the voice communication.

25. The speech recognition server of claim 22, wherein the speech recognition analyzer processes the speech information to provide parameterized speech information and the speech recognition processing is based on the parameterized speech information.