System, method and computer program product for adding voice activation and voice control to a media player

• US 7,567,907 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2008
• Issued: 07/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stragent, LLC (Oso IP, LLC)
• Inventors: Cantwell, Dermot, Greene, Mark, Hegarty, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Lerner; Martin
• Application Number:
  US12/123,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20080221888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 704/251, 704/270, 704/275
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/02 Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 9/02 using radio transmission; using near-field transmission

Abstract

A media player system, method and computer program product are provided. In use, an utterance is received. A command for a media player is then generated based on the utterance. Such command is utilized for providing wireless control of the media player.

Claims

1. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium, comprising:

computer code for identifying an utterance intended to control a media player with music stored thereon;

computer code for generating a corresponding command for the media player based on the utterance, the corresponding command selected from a command set including at least one command that is a play command, a pause command, a shuffle command, an artist command, a song command, or a playlist command;

the corresponding command being translated into a code that is;

FF 55 04 02 00 00 80 7A or FF 55 04 02 00 00 40 BA; and

computer code for providing a button release command for the media player;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that the corresponding command provides wireless control of the media player;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that the corresponding command is sent as a bit stream with each of a plurality of bits sent every 55 uSecs.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising computer code for controlling an assembly.

3. The computer program product of claim 2, wherein the assembly is connectable to the media player and further connectable to an automobile for receiving power therefrom.

4. The computer program product of claim 2, wherein the assembly includes memory, a power source for charging the media player, a speaker, and a microphone.

5. The computer program product of claim 2, further comprising computer code for identifying a trigger signal, and, after the identification of the trigger signal, identifying the utterance which is received utilizing a microphone of the assembly.

6. The computer program product of claim 2, further comprising computer code for verifying the utterance utilizing a speaker of the assembly.

7. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising computer code for initializing a plurality of program variables, the program variables including artists, songs, and playlists.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the program variables are initialized with at least one of input and output.

9. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the program variables are released.

10. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising computer code for identifying a trigger signal.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the trigger signal is audible.

12. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the trigger signal includes an audible trigger word.

13. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the computer program product is operable such that if a timeout has occurred, the identification of the trigger signal is repeated.

14. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that it is determined whether a timeout has occurred before the utterance is identified.

15. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising computer code for, after verification of the utterance, generating the corresponding command for the media player based on the utterance.

16. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that it is determined whether the utterance is verified.

17. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that it is determined whether the utterance is verified, based on whether the utterance is programmed.

18. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that it is determined whether the utterance is verified, based on whether the utterance is registered.

19. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that if the utterance is not verified, the corresponding command is not generated.

20. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that if the utterance is not verified, the utterance is outputted via a speaker.

21. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that a user is allowed to accept or reject the utterance, which is outputted via a speaker.

22. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the corresponding command is application-specific.

23. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that it is determined whether the corresponding command is a sleep command.

24. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the media player is powered down, if it is determined the corresponding command is a sleep command.

25. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the media player includes an iPod(R).

26. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the command set includes a search command.

27. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the utterance is compared against a library of words.

28. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the library of words includes an artist name and a voice tag.

29. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the library of words includes an artist name and an application specific voice tag.

30. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the corresponding command is generated in response to identifying a match between the utterance and a library of words.

31. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the command set includes the playlist command.

32. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the corresponding commands is translated into the code including at least two of:

FF 55 04 02 00 00 80 7A, FF 55 03 02 00 01 FA, or FF 55 04 02 00 00 40 BA.

33. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the code is FF 55 03 02 00 01 FA.

34. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the corresponding command is sent as the bit stream with each of the plurality of bits sent with the code repetition rate of 66.

35. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the utterance is converted into an application specific voice tag.

36. A method comprising:

receiving an utterance intended to control a media player with music stored thereon;

generating a corresponding command for the media player based on the utterance, the corresponding command being a part of a command set including at least one command that is a play command, a pause command, a shuffle command, an artist command, a song command, or a playlist command;

the corresponding command being translated into a code that is;

FF 55 04 02 00 00 80 7A or FF 55 04 02 00 00 40 BA; and

generating a button release command for the media player;

wherein the corresponding command provides wireless control of the media player;

wherein the corresponding command is sent as a bit stream with each of a plurality of bits sent every 55 uSecs.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising controlling an assembly.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the assembly is further connectable to the media player.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the assembly includes memory, a power source for charging the media player, a speaker, and a microphone.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising identifying a trigger signal, and, after the identification of the trigger signal, identifying the utterance which is received utilizing a microphone of the assembly.

41. The method of claim 37, further comprising verifying the utterance utilizing a speaker of the assembly.

42. The method of claim 36, further comprising initializing a plurality of program variables, the program variables including artists, songs, and playlists.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the program variables are initialized with at least one of input and output.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the program variables are released.

45. The method of claim 36, further comprising identifying a trigger signal.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the trigger signal is audible.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the trigger signal includes an audible trigger word.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein if a timeout has occurred, the identification of the trigger signal is repeated.

49. The method of claim 36, wherein it is determined whether a timeout has occurred before the utterance is identified.

50. The method of claim 36, further comprising, after verification of the utterance, generating the corresponding command for the media player based on the utterance.

51. The method of claim 36, wherein it is determined whether the utterance is verified.

52. The method of claim 36, wherein it is determined whether the utterance is verified, based on whether the utterance is programmed.

53. The method of claim 36, wherein it is determined whether the utterance is verified, based on whether the utterance is registered.

54. The method of claim 36, wherein if the utterance is not verified, the corresponding command is not generated.

55. The method of claim 36, wherein if the utterance is not verified, the utterance is outputted via a speaker.

56. The method of claim 36, wherein a user is allowed to accept or reject the utterance, which is outputted via a speaker.

57. The method of claim 36, wherein the corresponding command is application-specific.

58. The method of claim 36, wherein it is determined whether the corresponding command is a sleep command.

59. The method of claim 36, wherein the media player is powered down, if it is determined the corresponding command is a sleep command.

60. The method of claim 36, wherein the media player includes an iPod(R).

61. The method of claim 36, wherein the command set includes a search command.

62. The method of claim 36, wherein the utterance is compared against a library of words.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the library of words includes an artist name and a voice tag.

64. The method of claim 62, wherein the library of words includes an artist name and an application specific voice tag.

65. The method of claim 36, wherein the corresponding command is generated in response to identifying a match between the utterance and a library of words.

66. The method of claim 36, wherein the command set includes the shuffle command.

67. The method of claim 36, wherein a plurality of the corresponding commands is translated into the code including at least two of:

FF 55 04 02 00 00 80 7A, FF 55 03 02 00 01 FA, or FF 55 04 02 00 00 40 BA.

68. The method of claim 36, wherein the corresponding command is translated into the code that is FF 55 03 02 00 01 FA.

69. The method of claim 36, wherein the corresponding command is sent as the bit stream with each of the plurality of bits sent with the code repetition rate of 66.

70. The method of claim 36, wherein the utterance is converted into an application specific voice tag.

71. A subsystem, comprising:

means for controlling a media player with music stored thereon;

means for identifying an utterance intended to control the media player;

means for generating a corresponding command for the media player based on the utterance, the corresponding command selected from a command set including at least one of a play command, a pause command, a shuffle command, an artist command, a song command, or a playlist command;

the corresponding command being translated into a code including at least one of;

FF 55 04 02 00 00 80 7A or FF 55 04 02 00 00 40 BA; and

means for sending a button release command to the media player;

wherein the subsystem is operable such that the corresponding command provides wireless control of the media player;

wherein the subsystem is operable such that the corresponding command is sent as a bit stream with each of a plurality of bits sent every 55 uSecs.