Apparatus and method for providing hands-free operation of a device

• US 7,027,842 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2002
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zhang, Lan, Page, Jr., Joseph E., Kreiner, Barrett M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vuong, Quochien B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAO, MINH D
• Application Number:
  US10/253,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20040058647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 455/569.1, 455/557, 455/575.2
• US Class Current: 455/569.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for providing hands-free operation of a device. A hands-free adapter is provided that communicates with a device and a headset. The hands-free adapter allows a user to use voice commands so that the user does not have to handle the device. The hands-free adapter receives voice commands from the headset and translates the voice commands to commands recognized by the device. The hands-free adapter also monitors the device to detect device events and provides notice of the events to the user via the headset.

Claims

1. A hands-free adapter, comprising:

a device interface for interfacing the hands-free adapter to a device;

a headset interface for interfacing the hands-free adapter to a hands-free headset;

a memory for storing a plurality of voice commands and corresponding device commands;

a digital signal processor for processing a voice command received from the hands-free headset, the voice command comprising a command to control a device and a command prefix, the command prefix preceding the command to control the device and providing an alert of the command to control the device subsequent to the command prefix; and

a processing unit for further processing the voice command, generating a device command that emulates a user'"'"'s interaction with the device, and providing the device command to the device interface, the processing unit further providing a voice messaging feature such that an incoming communication to a communications device is connected, an outgoing announcement is presented via the communications connection, and a message is saved to the memory of the hands-free adapter,

wherein the memory further stores a voice message command, a corresponding hands-free adapter command, and the outgoing announcement, wherein the digital signal processor further processes the voice message command received from the hands-free headset, and wherein the processing unit further processes the voice message command such that emulates the user'"'"'s interaction with the voice messaging feature.

2. A method for providing hands-free operation of a device, comprising:

monitoring a device interface for an event;

if the event is detected, then providing an event indicator to a hands-free headset;

receiving a voice command from the hands-free headset, the voice command comprising a command to control a device and a command prefix, the command prefix preceding the command to control the device and providing an alert of the command to control the device subsequent to the command prefix;

in response to the voice command, generating a device command that emulates a user'"'"'s interaction with the device;

providing the device command to the device;

receiving a voice message activation command from the hands-free headset;

in response to the voice message activation command, connecting an incoming communication to the device, presenting an outgoing message via the communications connection, and saving an incoming message;

receiving a voice message access command from the hands-free headset; and

in response to the voice message access command, accessing the incoming message and processing the incoming message to emulate a user'"'"'s instruction for a voice messaging feature.