Command prefix for voice commands

• US 9,432,495 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2015
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Moore, Darryl Cynthia
• Primary Examiner(s): Elahee, Md S
• Application Number:
  US14/833,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20150365510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 373 Days
• Field of Search: 379/40, 379/67.1, 379/76, 379/85, 379 8801- 8804, 379/88.18, 379 8821- 8825, 379/167.08, 379/234, 379/263, 455/419, 455/557, 455/569.1, 455/575.2, 455/412.1, 455/413, 704/246
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/22 Interactive procedures; Man-machine interfaces
• 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: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72484 wherein functions are triggered by incoming communication events
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 : including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/58 : including a multilanguage function
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 : with voice recognition means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 : Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products describe hands-free operation of automotive features. A user defines a command prefix that is recognized as preceding one or more voice commands. When the user speaks the command prefix, a processor identifies the spoken command prefix and treats a next spoken word as one of the voice commands. The voice command may then be executed for control.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a processor operating in a vehicle, an audio signal generated from speech spoken by a user;

recognizing, by the processor, a portion of the audio signal that corresponds to a command prefix, the command prefix representing a spoken word that indicates a next spoken word is a voice command;

identifying, by the processor, another portion of the audio signal corresponding to the next spoken word after the command prefix;

recognizing, by the processor, the next spoken word based on the another portion of the audio signal;

comparing, by the processor, the next spoken word to electronic associations between commands and words including the next spoken word;

recognizing, by the processor, the voice command of the commands that is electronically associated with the next spoken word; and

executing, by the processor, the command in response to the speech spoken by the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising answering a call in response to the speech spoken by the user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a text message in response to the speech spoken by the user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a message to a recipient in response to the speech spoken by the user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a message to a recipient identified by the next spoken word.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating a call in response to the speech spoken by the user.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing a directory in response to the speech spoken by the user.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving a stored voice greeting in response to the speech spoken by the user.

9. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

receiving an audio signal generated from speech spoken by a user;

recognizing a portion of the audio signal that corresponds to a command prefix, the command prefix representing a spoken word that indicates a next spoken work is a voice command;

identifying another portion of the audio signal corresponding to the next spoken word after the command prefix;

recognizing the next spoken word based on the another portion of the audio signal;

comparing the next spoken word to electronic associations between vehicular commands and words including the next spoken word;

recognizing a vehicular command of the vehicular commands that is electronically associated with the next spoken word; and

executing the vehicular command in response to the speech spoken by the user.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise answering a call in response to the speech spoken by the user.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise generating a user interface that displays the vehicular command.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise answering a call in response to the next spoken word.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise generating a text message in response to the speech spoken by the user.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise generating a message to a recipient in response to the speech spoken by the user.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise generating a message to a recipient identified by the speech spoken by the user.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise initiating a call in response to the speech spoken by the user.

17. A memory device storing instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving an audio signal generated by a microphone from speech spoken by a user;

recognizing a portion of the audio signal that corresponds to a command prefix, the command prefix representing a spoken word that indicates a next spoken word is a voice command;

identifying another portion of the audio signal corresponding to the next spoken word after the command prefix;

recognizing the next spoken word based on the another portion of the audio signal;

comparing the next spoken word to electronic associations between vehicular commands associated with a vehicle and words including the next spoken word;

retrieving a vehicular command of the vehicular commands that is electronically associated with the next spoken word; and

executing the vehicular command in response to the speech spoken by the user.

18. The memory device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise answering a call in response to the speech spoken by the user.

19. The memory device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise generating a text message in response to the speech spoken by the user.

20. The memory device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise generating a message to a recipient in response to the speech spoken by the user.