Method and system for improving responsiveness of a voice recognition system

• US 9,538,114 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Han, John M., Zarney, Vlad, Kolegayev, Vladislav, Chen, Becky P.
• Primary Examiner(s): ORTIZ SANCHEZ, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US13/832,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20140244270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 704/270, 704/270.1, 704/275, 704/251, 704/231, 327/0, 327/01, 327/5, 325/1, 323/1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3325 Reformulation based on results of preceding query
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3329 Natural language query formulation or dialogue systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/632 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90332 Natural language query formulation or dialogue systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/40 Processing or translation of natural language natural language analysis G06F40/20; semantic analysis G06F40/30
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/31 Voice input
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/063 Training
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/30 Distributed recognition, e.g. in client-server systems, for mobile phones or network applications
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/0638 Interactive procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• 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 21/42209 : for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4222 : Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 : Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 : Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 : Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4394 : involving operations for analysing the audio stream, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in audio streams arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4398 : involving reformatting operations of audio signals details of audio signal transcoding G10L19/173
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4415 : using biometric characteristics of the user, e.g. by voice recognition or fingerprint scanning cryptography using biological data H04L9/3231; authentication in networks using biometric H04L63/0861
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4583 : Automatically resolving scheduling conflicts, e.g. when a recording by reservation has been programmed for two programs in the same time slot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 : for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 : for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 : for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/475 : End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 : for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 : for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 : involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 : involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82

Abstract

A system includes a voice converter converting a first voice command into a first electrical command and a command library having library contents. A language responsiveness module (LRM) stores the first electrical command in a temporary set when a first control command cannot be determined from the library contents. A voice prompt module receives a second voice command when the first control command cannot be determined from the library contents. The voice converter converts a second voice command into a second electrical command corresponding to the second voice command. The LRM compares the second electrical command to the command library. The LRM determines a second control command corresponding to the second electrical command in response to comparing the second voice command to the command library and stores the first voice command in the command library after determining the control command corresponding to the second voice command.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first voice command at a first device and forming a first electrical voice command;

comparing the first electrical voice command to commands in a command library in the first device or head end;

when a first control command corresponding to the first electrical voice command cannot be determined, storing the first electrical voice command in a temporary set of the first device or head end;

prompting a second voice command from the first device;

receiving a second voice command at the first device and forming a second electrical voice command;

comparing the second electrical voice command to the command library at the first device or head end;

determining a second control command corresponding to the second electrical voice command in response to comparing the second voice command to the command library in the first device or head end;

determining whether a base action of the second control command is valid for a current context;

storing the first electrical voice command in the command library as a synonymous command for the base action of the second control command after determining the base action of the second control command corresponding to the second electrical voice command is valid for the current context;

receiving a third voice command at the first device; and

performing the base action at a second device different than the first device or head end when the third voice command corresponding to the first voice command or the second voice command is received at the first device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving a first voice command comprises receiving a first voice command at a mobile device.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein comparing the first voice command to the command library comprises comparing the first voice command to the command library and a set of states of the mobile device and wherein comparing the second voice command to the command library comprises comparing the second voice command to the command library and the set of states of the mobile device.

4. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein comparing the first voice command comprises converting the first voice command into a first text command at a language processing module located remotely from the mobile device and comparing the first text command with the command library and wherein comparing the second voice command comprises converting the second voice command into a second text command at the language processing module and comparing the second text command with the command library.

5. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein comparing the first voice command comprises converting the first voice command into a first text command at a language processing module located remotely from the mobile device and comparing the first text command with the command library at a language responsiveness module remotely located from the language processing module and the mobile device and wherein comparing the second voice command comprises converting the second voice command into a second text command at the language processing module and comparing the second text command with the command library at the language responsiveness module.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein comparing the first voice command comprises converting the first voice command into a first text command and comparing the first text command with the command library and wherein comparing the second voice command comprises converting the second voice command into a second text command and comparing the second text command with the command library.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein comparing the first voice command comprises converting the first voice command into a first text command at a language processing module and comparing the first text command with the command library at a language processing module and wherein comparing the second voice command comprises converting the second voice command into a second text command at the language processing module and comparing the second text command with the command library.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein comparing the first voice command to the command library comprises comparing the first voice command to a base library and a variable command library and wherein comparing the second voice command to the command library comprises comparing the second voice command to the base library and the variable command library.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein storing the first voice command comprises storing the first voice command in the variable command library.

10. The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising removing the first voice command from the command library after a predetermined non-use time.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein prior to prompting the second voice command, generating a rejection signal.

12. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising controlling a function of a user receiving device in response to a third voice command corresponding to the first voice command.

13. A system comprising:

a voice converter of a first device converting a first voice command into a first electrical command corresponding to the first voice command;

a command library of the first device or head end having library contents;

a language responsiveness module of the first device or head end storing the first electrical command in a temporary set when a first control command cannot be determined from the library contents; and

a voice prompt module of the first device prompting a second voice command and receiving the second voice command when the first control command cannot be determined from the library contents;

said voice converter of the first device converting a second voice command into a second electrical command corresponding to the second voice command;

said language responsiveness module of the first device or head end comparing the second electrical command corresponding to the second voice command to the command library, said language responsiveness module determining a second control command corresponding to the second electrical command in response to comparing the second voice command to the command library, said language responsiveness module determining whether a base action of the second control command is valid for a current context, and said language responsiveness module storing the first voice command in the command library as a synonymous command to the base action of the second control command after determining the second control command corresponding to the second voice command is valid for the current context;

said first device receiving a third voice command corresponding to the first voice command or the second voice command;

a second device performing the base action in response to the third voice command.

14. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein the voice converter and the language responsiveness module are disposed in a mobile device.

15. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein the language responsiveness module compares the first voice command and the second voice command to the command library and a set of states of the mobile device.

16. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein command library comprises the base library and a variable command library.

17. The system as recited in claim 16 wherein the language responsiveness module stores the first command in the variable command library after determining the control command corresponding to the second voice command.

18. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein the language responsiveness module removes the first voice command from the command library after a predetermined non-use time.

19. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein the language responsiveness module receives a rejection signal prior to prompting the second voice command.

20. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the language responsiveness module controls a function of a user receiving device in response to a third voice command corresponding to the first voice command.