Electronic apparatus and method of controlling electronic apparatus

• US 9,148,688 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2014
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Han, Sang-jin, Kwon, Yong-hwan, Kim, Jung-geun
• Primary Examiner(s): AZAD, ABUL K
• Application Number:
  US14/247,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20140223477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 704/275, 715715-732
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2015/225 Feedback of the input speech
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/228 of application context
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/06 Transformation of speech into a non-audible representation, e.g. speech visualisation or speech processing for tactile aids G10L15/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications

Abstract

An electronic apparatus and a method of controlling the electronic apparatus are provided. The method includes: receiving a voice command; and if the voice command is a first voice start command, changing a mode of the electronic apparatus to a first voice task mode in which the electronic apparatus is controlled according to further voice input, and if the voice command is a second voice start command, changing the mode of the electronic apparatus to a second voice task mode in which the electronic apparatus is controlled according to the further voice input received via an external apparatus which operates with the electronic apparatus. Therefore, providing efficiency and flexibility in controlling the electronic apparatus by using a microphone of the electronic apparatus or a microphone of the external apparatus.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

if the voice start command is a user voice command received via the microphone of the electronic apparatus, executing a first voice input mode for receiving a first voice input via a microphone of an electronic apparatus; and

if the voice start command is a user input received via a preset button on the remote controller, executing a second voice input mode for receiving a second voice input via a microphone of a remote controller,

wherein the first voice input is a first set of voice items available for voice commands, and

where the second voice input is a second set of voice items available for voice commands.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a first icon during the first voice input mode, on a display unit of the electronic apparatus to indicate that the voice input is to be received via the microphone of the electronic apparatus; and

displaying a second icon, different from the first icon, on the display unit during the second voice input mode, to indicate that the voice input is to be received via the microphone of the remote controller.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

displaying a first set of voice items which guide a user with inputting voice commands during the first voice input mode; and

displaying a second set of voice items which guide the user with inputting voice commands during the second voice input mode,

wherein the first set of voice items include at least one voice item that is included in the second set of voice items, and

the first set of voice items include at least one voice item that is not included in the second set of voice items.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, during the first voice input mode, the first icon and the first set of voice items are displayed in a menu section over a broadcast image, and

during the second voice input mode, the second icon and the second set of voice items are displayed in the menu section over the broadcast image.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

displaying one of a plurality of predefined feedback messages when a first voice recognition error occurs during any one of the voice input modes; and

displaying another one of the plurality of predefined feedback messages when a second voice recognition error occurs during any one of the voice input modes.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the display feedback messages are randomly selected from the plurality of predefined feedback messages.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the electronic apparatus comprises a television apparatus, and the voice input comprises a verbal instruction uttered by a user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus comprises a television apparatus, and the voice input comprises a verbal instruction uttered by a user.

9. A system comprising:

an electronic apparatus having a display unit and a microphone; and

a remote controller including a microphone,

wherein the electronic apparatus is configured to execute a first voice input mode by receiving a voice input via the microphone of the electronic and a second voice input mode by receiving a voice input via the microphone of the remote controller,

wherein, if the voice start command is a user voice command received via the microphone of the electronic apparatus, the electronic apparatus is configured to execute the first voice input mode;

wherein, if the voice start command is a user input received via a preset button on the remote controller, the electronic apparatus is configured to execute the second voice input mode,

wherein, in the first voice input mode, a first set of voice items are available for voice commands, and

wherein, in the second voice input mode, a second set of voice items are available for voice command.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the electronic apparatus is configured to display on the display unit a first icon during the first voice input mode, to indicate that the voice input is to be received via the microphone of the electronic apparatus, and a second icon, different from the first icon, during the second voice input mode, to indicate that the voice input is to be received via the microphone of the remote controller.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the electronic apparatus is configured to display on the display unit a first set of voice items which guide a user with inputting voice commands during the first voice input mode;

and

the electronic apparatus is configured to display on the display unit a second set of voice items which guide the user with inputting voice commands during the second voice input mode,

wherein the first set of voice items include at least one voice item that is included in the second set of voice items, and

the first set of voice items include at least one voice item that is not included in the second set of voice items.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein, during the first voice input mode, the first icon and the first set of voice items are displayed in a menu section over a broadcast image, and

during the second voice input mode, the second icon and the second set of voice items are displayed in the menu section over the broadcast image.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the electronic apparatus is configured to display on the display unit one of a plurality of predefined feedback messages when a first voice recognition error occurs during any one of the voice input modes;

and

the electronic apparatus is configured to display on the display unit another one of the plurality of predefined feedback messages when a second voice recognition error occurs during any one of the voice input modes.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the display feedback messages are randomly selected from the plurality of predefined feedback messages.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the voice start command is received to manually select one of the first voice input mode and the second voice input mode.