User speech interfaces for interactive media guidance applications

• US 8,433,571 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2012
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: UV Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Reichardt, M. Scott, Berezowski, David M., Ellis, Michael D., DeWeese, Toby
• Primary Examiner(s): Abebe, Danield D
• Application Number:
  US13/353,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20120260294A1
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 704/246, 704/275, 348/14.03
• US Class Current: 704/246
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/30 Distributed recognition, e.g. in client-server systems, for mobile phones or network applications
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/02 Preprocessing operations, e.g. segment selection; Pattern representation or modelling, e.g. based on linear discriminant analysis [LDA] or principal components; Feature selection or extraction
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/227 of the speaker; Human-factor methodology
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4394 involving operations for analysing the audio stream, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in audio streams arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8047 using transform coding

Abstract

A user speech interface for interactive media guidance applications, such as television program guides, guides for audio services, guides for video-on-demand (VOD) Services, guides for personal video recorders (PVRs), or other suitable guidance applications is provided. Voice commands may be received from a user and guidance activities may be performed in response to the voice commands.

Claims

1. A system for providing a customized voice control media interface, comprising:

a server having control circuitry configured to;

receive a voice command entered by a user at a first device, wherein the voice command comprises a media control request;

identify the user based on data stored in memory at the server associating the user with the first device;

generate a customized feature based on the identified user; and

provide the customized feature and the media control requested by the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the media control request comprises a request to record media content; and

the customized feature comprises recording the media content to a file associated with the identified user.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the media control request comprises a request to play media content; and

the customized feature comprises presenting media content from a media content source associated with the identified user.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the customized feature comprises a targeted advertisement selected based on the identified user.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the server is further configured to select the targeted advertisement based at least in part on past voice commands entered by the identified user.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the customized feature is a favorites list that comprises preferred media content or media sources associated with the identified user.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a display and speaker configured to provide media content to the user.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the media control request includes a request for information identifying media content that is available on the first device; and

the first device is configured to provide the requested information.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first device is configured to lower or mute volume of the speaker while the requested information is provided.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second device configured to perform the media control requested by the user.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the second device comprises memory, and the requested media control is recording media content in the memory of the second device.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the first device is further configured to receive a voice command indication from the user prior to the user entering the voice command.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein receiving the voice command indication comprises detecting a press and release of a button on the first device prior to the user entering the voice command.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the second device comprises a display configured to provide media content to the user.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first device is configured to provide control of the media content provided on the second device to the user.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first device is configured to display identification information for media content displayed on the second device.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the first device is configured to provide guide screens for the media content available to be displayed on the second device.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a microphone that receives the voice command, and the data stored in memory at the server associates the user with the microphone.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the server provides a media application implemented on the first device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein a first portion of the media application is implemented on the first device, and a second portion of the media application is implemented on a second device.

21. A method of providing a customized voice control media interface, comprising:

receiving a voice command entered by a user at a first device, wherein the voice command comprises a media control request;

identifying the user based on data stored in memory at the server associating the user with the first device;

generating a customized featured based on the identified user; and

providing the customized feature and the media control requested by the user.