Methods and apparatus for remotely processing locally generated commands to control a local device

• US 7,529,677 B1
• Filed: 01/21/2005
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exelis Incorporated (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wittenberg, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Qi
• Application Number:
  US11/038,426
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 704/275, 704/270, 704/270.1, 704/273
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/30 Distributed recognition, e.g. in client-server systems, for mobile phones or network applications

Abstract

A technique for remotely processing a local audio command to control a local device includes: receiving at a local site an acoustic signal and generating a corresponding audio signal; transmitting the audio signal to a remote site; performing speech recognition processing on the audio signal at the remote site to determine whether the audio signal includes a command; performing voice recognition processing on the audio signal at the remote site to determine whether the audio signal has been supplied by an authorized user; generating a command signal in response to the audio signal including a command and being supplied by an authorized user; and transmitting the command signal to a device at the local site to effect a change in a state of the local device.

Claims

1. A method for remotely processing a locally-generated voice command to control a local device, the method comprising:

(a) receiving at a local site an acoustic signal and generating an audio signal from the acoustic signal;

(b) transmitting the audio signal to a remote site;

(c) performing speech recognition processing on the audio signal at the remote site to identify a voice command from the audio signal;

(d) performing voice recognition processing on the audio signal at the remote site to determine whether the audio signal has been supplied by an authorized user;

(e) generating a command signal in response to identifying a voice command from an authorized user; and

(f) transmitting the command signal to the local device at the local site to effect a change in a state of the local device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a service provider provides a service to a customer located at the local site, the method further comprising:

(g) receiving, at a service provider site, the audio signal transmitted from the local site;

(h) re-transmitting the audio signal from the service provider site to the remote site;

(i) receiving, at the service provider site, the command signal transmitted from the remote site; and

(j) re-transmitting the command signal from the service provider site to the local site.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a service provider provides a service to a customer located at the local site, wherein the service includes (a)-(f).

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the service provider provides a premises security service or a vehicle security service or both.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the service provider provides a network security service for a communication or computer network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the local device receives the acoustic signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a device separate from the local device receives the acoustic signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the local device is a communication device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein in the local device is a component of a security system for a premises or a vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) includes generating a digital audio signal from the acoustic signal.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) includes transmitting the audio signal by at least one of:

a wireless link, a wire link, and an optical link.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio signal and the command signal are transmitted over a common, two-way communication link.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio signal and the command signal are transmitted on different communication links.

14. An apparatus for remotely processing a voice command generated at a local site to control a local device at the local site, comprising:

a receiver located at a remote site that is remote from the local site, wherein the receiver is configured to receive an audio signal originating from the local site;

a speech recognition processor located at the remote site, the speech recognition processor being configured to identify a voice command from the audio signal;

a voice recognition processor located at the remote site, the voice recognition processor being configure to determine whether the audio signal has been supplied by an authorized user, wherein the apparatus generates a command signal in response to identifying a voice command from an authorized user; and

a transmitter located at the remote site, the transmitter transmitting the command signal to the local device at the local site to effect a change in a state of the local device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a service provider provides a service to a customer located at the local site, wherein the audio signal is supplied to the apparatus via the service provider.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus supports a security system and the command signal controls a component of the security system at the locate site.

17. A system for remotely processing a locally-generated voice command to control a local device, comprising:

a local command processor configured to receive at a local site an acoustic signal, the local command processor generating an audio signal from the acoustic signal and transmitting the audio signal to a remote site;

a remote processor located at the remote site, the remote processor performing speech recognition processing on the audio signal to identify a voice command and performing voice recognition processing on the audio signal to determine whether the audio signal has been supplied by an authorized user, wherein the remote processor generates a command signal in response to identifying a voice command from an authorized user and transmits the command signal to the local site; and

a local device located at the local site and configured to receive the command signal, wherein the local device changes a state of the local device in response to the command signal.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein a service provider provides a service to a customer located at the local site, wherein the audio signal is transmitted from the local site to a service provider site and re-transmitted from the service provider site to the remote site, and wherein the command signal is transmitted from the remote site to the service provider site and re-transmitted from the service provider site to the local site.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein in the local device is a component of a security system for a premises or a vehicle.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein in the local device is a component of a security system for a computer network or communication network.

21. The system claim 17, wherein the local device comprises the local command processor.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the local device and the local command processor are separate devices.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the local device is a communication device.

24. A system for remotely processing a locally-generated voice command to control a local device, comprising:

means for generating an audio signal from an acoustic signal received at a local site;

means for transmitting the audio signal to a remote site;

means for performing speech recognition processing on the audio signal at the remote site to identify a voice command;

means for performing voice recognition processing on the audio signal at the remote site to determine whether the audio signal has been supplied by an authorized user;

means for generating a command signal in response to identifying a voice command from an authorized user;

means for transmitting the command signal to the local site; and

means for changing a state of the local device in response to receiving the command signal at the local site.