Method for training a consumer-oriented application device by speech items, whilst reporting progress by an animated character with various maturity statuses each associated to a respective training level, and a device arranged for supporting such method

• US 7,707,033 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2002
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Geurts, Lucas Jacobus Franciscus
• Primary Examiner(s): Vincent; David R
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, DAVID H
• Application Number:
  US10/480,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20040167782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,870 Days
• Field of Search: 706/48, 715/706, 715/727, 715/728, 715/859, 715/861
• US Class Current: 704/241
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/063 Training
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/225 Feedback of the input speech

Abstract

Training a consumer-oriented application device is based on a plurality of user-presented speech items. A progress measure is reported regarding a training status reached for a particular user person. In particular, the training status is visually represented by an animated character creature which has a plurality of training status representative maturity statuses that are each associated to a corresponding training level.

Claims

1. A method for training a consumer-oriented application device, based on a plurality of user-presented speech items, whilst having the device reporting on a progress measure regarding a training level that has been reached for a particular user person,

said method being characterized by visually representing on a display said training level by an animated character creature which has a plurality of status representative maturity statuses that are each associated to a respective user training level.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said creature represents a living being.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said creature represents an animal.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said animal is a dog.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said creature has at least three statuses.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said statuses comprise both size and attitude aspects of said creature.

7. A methods as claimed in claim 1, wherein said statuses comprise dynamic aspects of said creature.

8. A consumer-oriented application device, said device comprising:

a receiver which receives one of a plurality of user-presented speech items;

a processor programmed with voice recognition software and voice recognition training software which trains a user to use the voice recognition software to achieve a plurality of user training levels;

a visual display which visually represents the training level of the user by displaying an animated character creature that has a plurality of maturity statuses, each of the maturity statuses being associated to a corresponding one of the plurality of training levels.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the plurality of training levels each correspond to a respective set of voice commands that the processor has been trained to recognize and respond to by executing a corresponding control function of the device.

10. A method for training a consumer oriented-application device to recognize speech of a user, comprising:

with a display device, requesting the user to input at least one of a number of speech items to train the user;

storing each user input speech item onto a storage medium readable by the consumer oriented-application device in a memory;

on the display device, displaying a progress measure based on a training level achieved by the user, the training level being determined by at least one of a sophistication or number of user input speech items stored; and

wherein the progress measure is represented by an animated creature character having a plurality of maturity statuses, each maturity status being associated with the progress measure.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the consumer oriented-application device recognizes speech from a plurality of users, the method further including:

identifying the user by voice recognition.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein each speech item is associated to a command for controlling a consumer oriented device, the method further including:

controlling a functionality of the consumer oriented-application device in accordance with the command associated with a user input speech item.

13. The method according to claim 10, further including:

in response to successful completing of a training level, changing an attitude aspect of the animated creature to express approval.

14. The method according to claim 10, further including:

in response to unsuccessful completing of a training level, changing an attitude aspect of the animated creature to express disapproval.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein as the user'"'"'s training level improves, an age maturity of the animated creature increases.

16. The method according to claim 10, further including:

determining if an input speech item is inconclusive; and

requesting the user to input the inconclusive speech item again.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the animated creature character has at least three maturity statuses.

18. A voice controlled consumer device comprising:

a speech channel which receives user-presented speech items;

a computer readable memory;

a video display;

a processor programmed to perform voice recognition and training including;

during training;

requesting the user to input speech items, storing the speech items on the computer readable memory,

determining a training level of the user from the input speech items,

controlling the video display to display an animated creature with a maturity status corresponding to the determined training level,

after training;

controlling functionality of the consumer device in response to the received speech items.

19. The voice controlled consumer device according to claim 18, wherein a plurality of training levels exists, each training level being associated to a respective set of operative commands that are presented to control the functionality of the consumer oriented-application device.

20. The voice controlled consumer device according to claim 18, wherein the processor is programmed to:

in response to successfully completing of a training level, changing an attitude aspect of the animated creature to express approval; and

in response to unsuccessfully completing of a training level, changing an attitude aspect of the animated creature to express disapproval.