Electronic device, control method, and control program

• US 9,620,126 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2013
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Chiba, Atsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): AZAD, ABUL K
• Application Number:
  US14/424,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20150255071A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 704270-278
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/22 Interactive procedures; Man-machine interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/228 of application context
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/08 Mouthpieces; Microphones; Attachments therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's

Abstract

According to one of aspects, an electronic device includes a sound input module and a controller. The controller is configured to control a voice input through the sound input module to be activated when detecting occurrence of an event to be notified to a user.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a sound input module configured to input a voice input;

an illumination sensor;

a proximity sensor; and

a controller configured to control the voice input to an active state when detecting occurrence of an event to be notified to a user, wherein

the controller is configured to control the voice input to an inactive state based on a state of the electronic device determined through the illumination sensor or the proximity sensor, and

the controller is further configured to,

when detecting that a headset configured to input a voice input is connected to the electronic device,

control the voice input through the headset to an active state, regardless of the state of the electronic device determined through the illumination sensor or the proximity sensor.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is configured to control the voice input from the active state to the inactive state when a state with no voice input to the sound input module is continued for a given period of time.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is configured to maintain the voice input in the inactive state when detecting the occurrence of the event in a security lock state.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is configured to

perform a voice recognition processing on the voice input, and

perform a processing according to a result of the voice recognition processing.

5. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein

the controller is configured to notify the user of a content of the processing performed according to the result of the voice recognition processing.

6. A control method for controlling an electronic device with a sound input module configured to input a voice input, an illumination sensor, and a proximity sensor, the control method comprising:

detecting occurrence of an event to be notified to a user;

controlling the voice input to an active state when the occurrence of the event is detected;

controlling the voice input to an inactive state based on a state of the electronic device determined through the illumination sensor or the proximity sensor; and

when detecting that a headset configured to input a voice input is connected to the electronic device,

controlling the voice input through the headset to an active state, regardless of the state of the electronic device determined through the illumination sensor or the proximity sensor.

7. A non-transitory storage medium that stores a control program that causes, when executed by an electronic device with a sound input module configured to input a voice input, an illumination sensor, and a proximity sensor, the electronic device to execute:

detecting occurrence of an event to be notified to a user;

controlling the voice input to an active state when the occurrence of the event is detected;

controlling the voice input to an inactive state based on a state of the electronic device determined through the illumination sensor or the proximity sensor; and

when detecting that a headset configured to input a voice input is connected to the electronic device,

controlling the voice input through the headset to an active state, regardless of the state of the electronic device determined through the illumination sensor or the proximity sensor.