Information access and device control using mobile phones and audio in the home environment
First Claim
1. A home automation system comprising:
- a plurality of control devices associated with a plurality of corresponding physical locations and a plurality of corresponding household devices, wherein the plurality of control devices each comprise a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, a microphone coupled to the processor, a household device connection coupled to the processor, and a network transceiver coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to be configured to;
receive a voice command from a user through the microphone;
determine a physical location of the user relative to the plurality of corresponding physical locations;
perform voice recognition on the voice command;
determine a first control signal in response to the voice recognition and the physical location;
transmit the first control signal using the network transceiver to one or more other control devices in the plurality of control devices over a network communication medium;
receive a second control signal using the network transceiver from one or more other control devices in the plurality of control devices over the network communication medium; and
perform an action in response to the second control signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward systems, methods and devices for improving information access to and device control in a home automation environment. Functionality of multiple household device, such as lights, sound, entertainment, HVAC, and communication devices can be activated via voice commands. The voice commands are detected by a nearby control device and relayed via a network communication medium to another control device to which the desired device or system that the user wants to operate is connected. Each control device, disposed throughout the home, can detect a voice command intended for another control box and household device and relay the voice command to the intended control box. In such systems, a user can initiate a telephone call by saying a voice command to a local control box that will forward on the control signal to a mobile phone connected to another control box.
46 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A home automation system comprising:
a plurality of control devices associated with a plurality of corresponding physical locations and a plurality of corresponding household devices, wherein the plurality of control devices each comprise a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, a microphone coupled to the processor, a household device connection coupled to the processor, and a network transceiver coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to be configured to; receive a voice command from a user through the microphone; determine a physical location of the user relative to the plurality of corresponding physical locations; perform voice recognition on the voice command; determine a first control signal in response to the voice recognition and the physical location; transmit the first control signal using the network transceiver to one or more other control devices in the plurality of control devices over a network communication medium; receive a second control signal using the network transceiver from one or more other control devices in the plurality of control devices over the network communication medium; and perform an action in response to the second control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method comprising:
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receiving, in a first control device comprising a microphone, a household device connection, and a network transceiver, voice commands from a user through the microphone, wherein the first control device is associated with a plurality of other control devices; determining, in the first control device, a physical location of the user; performing, in the first control device, voice recognition on the voice command; recognizing, in the first control device, a voice pattern associated with the user from the voice command; determining, in the first control device, a first control signal in response to the voice recognition, the physical location and the voice pattern; and transmitting the first control signal using the network transceiver from the first control device to one or more of the plurality of other control devices over a network communication medium; receiving, in the first control device, other control signals using the network transceiver from one or more of the plurality of other control devices over the network communication medium; and performing, in the first control device, an action using the household device connection in response to the received other control signals. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A control device comprising:
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a microprocessor; a memory coupled to the processor; a microphone coupled to the processor; a household device connection coupled to the processor; and a network transceiver coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to be configured to; receive a voice command from a user through the microphone, determine a physical location of the user; perform voice recognition on the voice command; determine a first control signal in response to the voice recognition and the physical location; transmit the first control signal using the network transceiver to one or more other control devices in a plurality of other control devices over a network communication medium; receive a second control signal using the network transceiver from one or more other control devices in the plurality of other control devices over the network communication medium; and perform an action in response to the second control signal. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification