Operation control apparatus and method in multi-voice recognition system

• US 8,595,008 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2009
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Cho, Chung Bum
• Primary Examiner(s): Harper, Vincent P
• Application Number:
  US12/559,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20100286983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,534 Days
• Field of Search: 704/246, 704/231, 704/233, 704/275
• US Class Current: 704/246
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0373 Voice control in general G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/32 Multiple recognisers used in sequence or in parallel; Score combination systems therefor, e.g. voting systems

Abstract

An operation control apparatus and method of controlling a plurality of operationally connected voice recognition-enabled systems, each having reciprocal control operational states corresponding to an enabled/disabled state.

Claims

1. An operation control apparatus in a multi-voice recognition system, the operation control apparatus comprising:

a plurality of operatively connected voice recognition systems, each including

a voice recognition module configured to recognize voice,

a first user input unit configured to set a voice recognition function, or set a short key for realizing a specific preset function, and

a second user input unit configured to input a user operation command to the voice recognition system,

wherein, when a first of the plurality of voice recognition systems is in an enabled state, the first system is configured to be disabled and a second of the plurality of voice recognition systems is configured to be enabled based on a user command.

2. The operation control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each first user input unit comprises:

at least one button or touch unit configured to set an operation state of the corresponding voice recognition system.

3. The operation control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each second user input unit comprises:

a microphone configured to input a user operation command to the corresponding voice recognition system.

4. The operation control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each voice recognition system comprises:

a voice recognition module configured to recognize a user operation command that is inputted through the corresponding second user input unit;

a controller configured to control an overall system operation,

wherein the controller is further configured to control a change to a disabled state, or maintain an enabled system, based on

information that is inputted through the corresponding first user input unit, and

a user command inputted through the corresponding second user input unit and that enables another of the plurality of voice recognition systems when an operation of a currently-enabled system is completed and when a function requested by a user is to be realized in the another of the plurality of voice recognition systems on the basis of the information that is inputted through the first user input unit;

a memory configured to store a function, including a main function or a main function and a plurality of corresponding sub-functions that are supportable in each of the voice recognition systems;

a display configured to output the function that is stored in the memory; and

an interface configured to reciprocally enable/disable operation state settings between the corresponding voice recognition system and the another of the plurality of voice recognition systems.

5. The operation control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of operation functions that are stored in a first of the plurality of voice recognition systems and a plurality of operation functions that are stored in a second of the plurality of voice recognition systems are classified and stored based on

(1) whether operations of the corresponding voice recognition system are realized by a short key,

(2) whether a user command is directly realized in the corresponding voice recognition system,

(3) whether the user operation command is realized over another network, or

(4) at least one of a plurality of preset operational factors.

6. The operation control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the preset operational factors comprise at least one of:

a frequency of an operation function, a time when the operation function is registered, and a time when the operation function is used.

7. The operation control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the voice recognition systems further comprises:

a memory configured to store a corresponding function including a short key corresponding to a an operation medium, wherein the operation medium comprises one of a telephone and a personal media player (PMP).

8. The operation control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first user input unit of one of the plurality of voice recognition systems is configured to be set as a short key for directly realizing a specific function.

9. The operation control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the short key is configured to enable the corresponding voice recognition system.

10. A reciprocal operation method for a plurality of voice recognition systems, each including a voice recognition module for recognizing voice, each storing at least one of a plurality of functions to be performed, the reciprocal operation method comprising:

enabling a first voice recognition system according to an input of preset information;

receiving a function operation command through an input unit;

determining if an operation corresponding to the function operation command is supportable by the enabled first voice recognition system;

one of realizing the operation, outputting a command re-input request, and outputting a message that indicates that the operation is not supported by the enabled first voice recognition system; and

disabling the first voice recognition system, and enabling a second voice recognition system, in accordance with a command to transfer voice recognition operation control from the first voice recognition system, when the operation corresponding to the function operation command is completed.

11. The reciprocal operation method according to claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a message commanding a transfer of operation control from the first voice recognition system to a second voice recognition system, in response to one of the re-input request or the message that indicates that the commanded function is not supported by the enabled first voice recognition system.

12. The reciprocal operation method according to claim 10, further comprising:

displaying a plurality of functions which are supportable in the enabled first voice recognition system.

13. The reciprocal operation method according to claim 10, wherein:

the first voice recognition system stores a preset main function irrespective of a system user, and

a second voice recognition system stores a sub function, corresponding to the preset main function, that is set by the system user, the sub function including a hot key or another subordinate function.

14. The reciprocal operation method according to claim 10, wherein:

the first voice recognition system stores a function that is directly realizable in the plurality of voice recognition systems, and

a second voice recognition system stores a function that is realizable via an external network.

15. A reciprocal operation method for a plurality of voice recognition systems, each including a voice recognition module for recognizing voice, each storing at least one of a plurality of functions to be performed, the reciprocal operation method comprising:

enabling a first voice recognition system, and performing a function of the first voice recognition system, according to input of preset information;

receiving a command that corresponds to a function of a second voice recognition system;

disabling the first voice recognition system, enabling the second voice recognition system, and performing the function of the second voice recognition system;

determining if a new operation is supportable in the second voice recognition system, when a corresponding function operation command is inputted through an input unit; and

one of realizing the new operation, outputting a command re-input request, and outputting a message that indicates that the new operation is not supported by the enabled second voice recognition system.

16. A reciprocal operation method in a plurality of voice recognition systems, each including a voice recognition module for recognizing voice, each storing at least one of a plurality of functions to be performed, the reciprocal operation method comprising:

enabling a first voice recognition system, according to an input of preset information;

receiving a function operation command through an input unit;

determining whether an operation corresponding to the function operation command is supportable by the first voice recognition system; and

disabling the first voice recognition system, and enabling a second voice recognition system if the operation corresponding to the function operation command is not supportable by the first voice recognition system.

17. The reciprocal operation method according to claim 16, further comprising:

when the second system is enabled, inputting a second unction operation command, and determining if a new operation corresponding to the second function operation command is supportable; and

one of realizing the new operation, outputting a command re-input request, and outputting a message that indicates that the new operation is not supported by the enabled second voice recognition system.

18. A reciprocal operation method in a plurality of voice recognition systems, each including a voice recognition module for recognizing voice, each storing one of a plurality of functions to be performed, the reciprocal operation method comprising:

enabling a first of the plurality of voice recognition systems, and performing an operation via a short key; and

disabling the enabled first voice recognition system, and enabling one of a second or third of the plurality of voice recognition systems in response to a command to transfer voice recognition operation control from the first voice recognition system after the operation is realized.

19. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of operatively connected voice recognition systems, each including

a voice recognition module configured to recognize voice,

a first user input unit configured to set a voice recognition function, or set a short key for realizing a specific preset function, and

a second user input unit configured to input a user operation command to the voice recognition system,

wherein a first voice recognition system is configured to be enabled according to an input of preset information, to receive a function operation command through a corresponding input unit, determine if an operation corresponding to the function operation command is supportable by the enabled first voice recognition system, and one of realize the operation, output a command re-input request, and output a message that indicates that the operation is not supported by the enabled first voice recognition system, and

wherein the first voice recognition system is configured to be disabled, and a second voice recognition system is configured to be enabled, in accordance with a command to transfer voice recognition operation control from the first voice recognition system, when the operation corresponding to the function operation command is completed.