Wearable computer system and modes of operating the system

• US 7,035,091 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2002
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture Global Services GmbH (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Richter, Owen E., Le, Dana, Hughes, Lucian P.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANG, YEAN HSI
• Application Number:
  US10/087,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20030161097A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,517 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679, 361/681, 361683-686, 704200-275
• US Class Current: 361/679.03
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone

Abstract

A wearable computer system has a user interface with at least an audio-only mode of operating, and that is natural in appearance and facilitates natural interactions with the system and the user'"'"'s surroundings. The wearable computer system may retrieve information from the user'"'"'s voice or surroundings using a passive user interface. The audio-only user interface for the wearable computer system may include two audio receivers and a single output device, such as a speaker, that provides audio data directly to the user. The two audio receivers may be miniature microphones that collaborate to input audio signals from the user'"'"'s surroundings while also accurately inputting voice commands from the user. Additionally, the user may enter natural voice commands to the wearable computer system in a manner that blends in with the natural phrases and terminology spoken by the user.

Claims

1. A wearable computer system comprising:

a computer unit wearable by a user; and

a human-machine interface having an audio-only mode of operation and no visual mode of operation, wherein the human-machine interface serves as the only interface for the user when the computer unit is worn by the user, the user interface comprising;

an audio receiver wearable by the user and connectable to the computer unit such that the audio receiver receives voice signals from the user and provides the voice signals to the computer unit for processing; and

a speaker adapted to be worn by the user and connectable to the computer unit such that the computer unit sends audio signals to the speaker to provide output to the user.

2. The wearable computer system of claim 1, further comprising an earpiece adapted to be worn in an ear of the user, wherein the audio receiver and the speaker are housed in the earpiece.

3. The wearable computer system of claim 1, further comprising an audio filter that filters audio signals received by the audio receiver that do not originate with the user.

4. The wearable computer system of claim 3, wherein the human-machine interface further comprises a second audio receiver adapted to be worn by the user and connectable to the computer unit such that the second audio receiver inputs audio signals from user'"'"'s surroundings.

5. The wearable computer system of claim 4, wherein the computer unit comprises:

a processor that processes computer instructions; and

computer memory having computer instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the second audio receiver to be activated to receive audio signals when the computer unit receives a voice command from the first audio receiver.

6. The wearable computer system of claim 5, wherein the voice command that is received by the computer unit is a natural voice command spoken by the user that blends with the natural phrases and terminology commonly spoken by the user.

7. The wearable computer system of claim 1, further comprising an image recorder adapted to be worn by the user and connectable to the computer unit such that the image recorder may capture an image and forward the image to the computer unit for storage.

8. The wearable computer system of claim 1, wherein the computer unit includes a GPS sensor to input location information to the computer unit.

9. A wearable computer system comprising:

a computer unit wearable by a user; and

a human-machine interface having an audio-only mode of operation and no visual mode of operation, wherein the human-machine interface serves as the only interface for the user when the computer unit is worn by the user, the human-machine interface comprising;

a first audio receiver adapted to be worn by the user and connectable to the computer unit such that the first audio receiver receives voice signals from the user and provides the voice signals to the computer unit for processing; and

a second audio receiver adapted to be worn by the user and connectable to the computer unit such that the second audio receiver inputs audio signals from user'"'"'s surroundings to the computer unit;

wherein audio signals received by the first audio receiver that do not originate with the user are filtered with an audio filter.

10. The wearable computer system of claim 9, wherein the human-machine interface further comprises a speaker adapted to be worn by the user and connectable to the computer unit such that the computer unit sends audio signals to the speaker to provide output to the user.

11. The wearable computer system of claim 10, further comprising an earpiece adapted to be worn in an ear of the user, wherein the first audio receiver and the speaker are housed in the earpiece.

12. The wearable computer system of claim 10, wherein the computer unit comprises:

a processor that processes computer instructions; and

computer memory having computer instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the second audio receiver to be activated to receive audio signals when the computer unit receives a voice command from the first audio receiver.

13. The wearable computer system of claim 12, wherein the voice command that is received by the computer unit is a natural voice command spoken by the user that blends with the natural phrases and terminology commonly spoken by the user.

14. The wearable computer system of claim 9, further comprising an image recorder adapted to be worn by the user and connectable to the computer unit such that the image recorder may capture an image and forward the image to the computer unit for storage.

15. The wearable computer system of claim 9, wherein the computer unit includes a GPS sensor to input location information to the computer unit.

16. A method of operating a wearable computer system comprising a computer unit wearable by a user, and a human-machine interface with an audio-only mode of operation and no visual mode of operation, wherein the human-machine interface serves as the only interface for the user when the computer unit is worn by the user, the method comprising:

continuously storing in a scrolling buffer audio information received by a microphone that receives ambient audio information at the user'"'"'s location; and

upon receiving a predetermined voice command from the user, storing in memory audio information present in the buffer for some period of time in relation to the time the audio command was received, so that the audio information stored in memory may be retrieved at a later time.

17. The method of operating a wearable computer system of claim 16, wherein the audio information stored in memory for later retrieval is received during a predetermined period of time immediately preceding receipt of the predetermined voice command.

18. The method of operating a wearable computer system of claim 16, wherein the audio information stored in memory for later retrieval is received during a predetermined period of time immediately after receipt of the predetermined voice command.

19. The method of operating a wearable computer system of claim 16, wherein the audio information stored in memory for later retrieval is received during a predetermined period of time including time occurring both before and after receipt of the predetermined voice command.

20. The method of operating a wearable computer system of claim 16, wherein the predetermined voice command is a natural voice command.

21. The method of operating the wearable computer system of claim 16, wherein the predetermined voice command is set up by the user.