Centralized voice recognition unit for wireless control of personal mobile electronic devices

• US 7,418,281 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2005
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Guyette, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost; William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ewart; James D
• Application Number:
  US11/225,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20070060118A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/404.1, 455/563, 455/569.1, 455/575.2, 455/575.6, 345/8, 345/157, 345/158, 345/169, 345/173, 345/156
• US Class Current: 455/575.6
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means

Abstract

Described are a method and system for controlling the operation of personal mobile electronic devices disposed about a user. Each device is adapted to receive command according to a common wireless protocol. A voice signal is generated in response to a voice command spoken by the user. Command data are generated for one of the devices in response to the voice signal. The command data are transmitted through a wireless link to the respective device to control an operation of the device. There is no need for each device to have independent voice recognition capability. Instead, the burden of voice recognition is managed by the wearable command module that communicates with all the controlled devices through wireless links.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the operation of a plurality of personal mobile electronic devices disposed proximate to a user, each of the personal mobile electronic devices being capable of operating with a control module and each of the personal mobile electronic devices being capable of operating independent of the control module, and each of the personal mobile electronic devices being adapted to receive commands in accordance with a command set, the method comprising:

generating a voice signal responsive to a voice command spoken by the user;

generating command data for one of the personal mobile electronic devices according to a wireless protocol in response to the voice signal and a respective one of the command sets; and

transmitting the command data in accordance with the wireless protocol to control an operation of the one of the personal mobile electronic devices.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving status data in accordance with the wireless protocol.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting a reply signal to indicate to the user a device status of the one of the personal mobile electronic devices.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising generating an audible indication of the device status.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising generating a visible indication of the device status.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the voice command comprises a device name assigned to the one of the personal mobile electronic devices.