Voice-controlled navigation device requiring voice or manual user affirmation of recognized destination setting before execution

• US 7,392,194 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2003
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Tanaka, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): {hacek over (S)}mits; Talivaldis Ivars
• Application Number:
  US10/602,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20040006479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,826 Days
• Field of Search: 704/275, 701/201
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0373 Voice control in general G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command

Abstract

A voice control system is directed to a car navigation device that includes: a display unit; a microphone; a speech recognition unit for recognizing, as a command, a speech uttered by a user; and a navigation ECU to which the voice recognition unit outputs the command. When the user inputs the speech, auxiliary switches are shown on the display unit. When the user selects one of the auxiliary switches, respective functions that correspond to the auxiliary switches are executed. The functions include displaying a voice command list or guidance for voice input on the displaying unit or outputting, to the navigation ECU, a result of determination whether a certain function, such as setting of a destination, should be allowed to be executed, the user first being required to affirm or negate the recognized destination setting by voice or auxiliary switch.

Claims

1. A voice control system for an in-vehicle navigation device, the system including:

a voice inputting unit configured to input a speech uttered by a user through voice input;

a display unit configured to display a switch for a switch operation; and

a controlling unit configured to recognize the inputted speech to thereby execute a function according to a speech content corresponding to the recognized speech, the controlling unit identifying to the user a content of a destination setting that is subsequently executed, and requiring the user to make an instruction for a determination of whether to affirm or negate the destination setting before the destination setting is executed, the instruction for the determination of the destination setting being able to be made by both the switching operation and via the voice input,

the controlling unit comprising;

a display-controlling unit for displaying, when the user utters the speech, an auxiliary switch that executes an auxiliary function for the voice input manipulation; and

an executing unit for executing, when the auxiliary switch is selected, the auxiliary function.

2. The voice control system according to claim 1,

wherein the controlling unit notifies, to the user, the content of the destination setting through instructing the display-controlling unit to display the content of the destination setting on the display unit.

3. The voice control system according to claim 1,

wherein the display unit includes a screen and a detecting unit for detecting, on the screen, an area that the user touches, and

wherein, when the user touches a predetermined area corresponding to either the first switch or the second switch that is displayed on the screen of the display unit, the executing unit determines that either the first switch or the second switch is selected.

4. A voice input method in a voice control system for an input navigation device, the control system that includes a display unit, voice inputting means for inputting a speech uttered by a user, and controlling means for recognizing, as a speech content, the inputted speech and thereby executing a function according to the speech content, the method comprising:

notifying the user of a content of a destination setting;

displaying on the display unit, simultaneously with the notifying, (i) a first switch for the user to make a first instruction to affirm the destination setting and (ii) a second switch for the user to make a second instruction to negate the destination setting;

requiring the user to provide an instruction to either affirm or negate the destination setting before the destination setting is executed, the instruction to either affirm or negate the designation setting being able to be made by both voice input and a switch operation using the first and second switches; and

providing, when either the first switch or the second switch is selected by the user, an instruction according to the corresponding first or second switch.

5. The voice input method of claim 4, wherein the displaying on the displaying unit of the first switch and the second switch is accomplished by displaying an assist window within a main display, the assist window including the first switch and the second switch.