System and method for extracting a destination from voice data originating over a communication network

• US 8,452,533 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2010
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Pierfelice, Jeffrey Edward, Schmidt, Eric Randell
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US12/876,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20120059579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 701/427, 701/425, 701/443, 701/451, 701/487, 701/488, 455/412.1, 455/563, 379/88.1, 704/275, 704/231, 704/E15.04, 340/993, 340/991, 340/995.23
• US Class Current: 701/427
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3608 using speech input, e.g. using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence

Abstract

A navigation system for an automotive vehicle capable of communicating with a remote communication device includes a host communication device connected to the remote communication device over a communication network to transmit voice data. A hands free communication unit having a speaker and a microphone is configured to connect with the host communication device so as to communicate with the remote communication device through the speaker and microphone. The vehicle navigation system also includes a voice recognition engine in communication with the hands free communication unit through a voice data link. A route generation unit is connected to the hands free communication unit and the voice recognition engine. The hands free communication unit is capable of transmitting the voice data originating from the remote communication device to the voice recognition engine over the voice data link. The voice recognition engine processes the voice data to extract a destination which is transferred to the route generation unit to determine a navigation route.

Claims

1. A vehicle system in which voice data from a remote communication device disposed outside of the vehicle is transmitted to a host communication device, said vehicle system comprising:

a hands free communication unit configured to connect the host communication device so as to communicate with the remote communication device;

a route generation unit;

a voice recognition engine connected to said hands free communication unit through a voice data link;

a database having a plurality of destination names stored therein, each of said plurality of destination names having a telephone number and an address associated therewith; and

an input unit which receives an input to select a recognition mode, said recognition mode is one of a route recognition mode or a call recognition mode, and upon selection of one of said route recognition mode or said call recognition mode said hands free communication unit transmits an audio prompt to the remote communication device to signify the start of voice recognition;

said hands free communication unit transmits said voice data originating from said remote communication device to said voice recognition engine over said voice data link, and wherein said voice recognition engine processes said voice data to extract a destination, said route generation unit compares said extracted destination to said selected recognition mode to determine whether said selected recognition mode matches said extracted destination;

said voice recognition engine transmits said extracted destination to said hands free communication unit if said extracted destination is a call destination and said selected recognition mode is said call recognition mode to initiate a telephone call using said extracted destination;

said voice recognition engine transmits said extracted destination to said route generation unit if said extracted destination is a route destination and said selected recognition mode is said route recognition mode to initiate navigational assistance using said extracted destination;

said route generation unit associates said extracted destination with one of said addresses stored in said database to determine a route destination used by said route generation unit and said database to initiate navigational assistance using said route destination when said extracted destination does not match said selected recognition mode and when said recognition mode is said route recognition mode;

said route generation unit associates said extracted destination with one of said one of said telephone numbers stored in said database to determine a call destination used by said hands free communication unit to initiate a telephone call using said call destination when said extracted destination does not match said selected recognition mode and when said recognition mode is said call recognition mode.

2. The vehicle system of claim 1, wherein said recognition mode is selected by input from an occupant of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle system of claim 2, wherein said hand free communication unit includes a microphone, and wherein said input is voice data received by said microphone.

4. The vehicle system of claim 2, wherein said input is actuation of a button connected to said vehicle system.

5. A method of extracting a destination from voice data transmitted by a remote communication device disposed remote from an automotive vehicle to a host communication device disposed within the automotive vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a hands free communication unit having a speaker and a microphone, said hands free communication unit configured to connect the host communication device with said speaker and said microphone so as to communicate with the remote communication device;

providing a route generation unit;

providing a voice recognition engine connected to said hands free communication unit through a voice data link;

providing a database having a plurality of destination names stored therein, each of said plurality of destination names having a telephone number and an address associated therewith;

selecting a recognition mode, said recognition mode is one of a route recognition mode or a call recognition mode;

transmitting an audio prompt to the remote communication device to signify the start of voice recognition upon selection of said recognition mode;

transmitting the voice data originating from said remote communication device to said voice recognition engine over said voice data link;

processing the voice data by said voice recognition engine, and wherein said voice recognition engine to extract a destination;

comparing said extracted destination to said selected recognition mode to determine whether said selected recognition mode matches said extracted destination;

transmitting said extracted destination to said hands free communication unit if said extracted destination is a call destination and said selected recognition mode is said call recognition mode to initiate a telephone call using said extracted destination;

transmitting said extracted destination to said route generation unit if said extracted destination is a route destination and said selected recognition mode is said route recognition mode to initiate navigational assistance using said extracted destination;

associating said extracted destination with one of said addresses stored in said database to determine a route destination used by said route generation unit and said database to initiate navigational assistance using said route destination when said extracted destination does not match said selected recognition mode and when said recognition mode is said route recognition mode; and

associating said extracted destination with one of said telephone numbers stored in said database to determine a call destination used by said hands free communication unit to initiate a telephone call using said call destination when said extracted destination does not match said selected recognition mode and when said recognition mode is said call recognition mode.