Monitoring system with speech recognition

• US 20060285651A1
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Tice, Lee D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,881,939 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/007 with remote control systems remote control in general G08C

Abstract

A system for monitoring conditions associated with an individual in a region includes at least one speech input transducer and speech processing software coupled thereto. Results of the speech processing can initiate communications with a displaced communications device such as a telephone or a computer to provide a source of feedback.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one sensor of a physiological condition of an individual;

an audio input transducer; and

control circuitry coupled to the sensor and the transducer, the control circuitry has a communications port, the control circuitry responds to speech received from the transducer and carries out a speech recognition process thereon, and in accordance with the results thereof, initiates communications with a displaced location via the communications port.

2. A system as in claim 1 which includes an audio output transducer coupled to the control circuitry, the control circuitry provides at least one speech output to the audio output transducer.

3. A system as in claim 2 which includes software to carry out the speech recognition process.

4. A system as in claim 3 where the control circuitry provides one of a plurality of speech outputs to the audio output transducer.

5. A system as in claim 4 where the software selects at least one of the speech outputs in response to results of the speech recognition process.

6. A system as in claim 4 where the control circuitry couples speech signals from the audio input transducer to the port for communications to the displaced location.

7. A system as in claim 6 where at least some communications received from the displaced location via the port are coupled by the control circuitry to the audio output transducer.

8. A system as in claim 1 where the control circuitry evaluates, at least in part, outputs from the at least one sensor.

9. A system as in claim 7 where the control circuitry evaluates, at least in part, outputs from the at least one sensor.

10. A system as in claim 1 which includes a sensor compensation function.

11. A monitoring system comprising:

at least a first sensor for monitoring a physiological condition of a person and associated sensor interface circuitry;

at least one acoustical input transducer for monitoring acoustical signals and associated transducer interface circuitry;

a device that receives at least first sensor data and which receives data from the at least one transducer and respective interface circuitry, to carry out at least a speech recognition function, and responsive thereto, to initiate communications with a displaced unit.

12. A system as in claim 11 where the speech recognition function includes recognizing at least one of spoken words or sounds indicative of a condition needing attention.

13. A system as in claim 12 including a plurality of acoustic output transducers to provide output audio information to a person regarding the recognition of a message by the speech recognition function.

14. A system as in claim 11 which includes circuitry to transfer to the remote unit at least in part a recording of speech of a person indicating or describing an ongoing condition.

15. A system as in claim 11 where the speech recognition function recognizes members of a plurality of condition describing words.

16. A system as in claim 11 where the remote unit comprises a bi-directional verbal communications device.

17. A system as in claim 11 which also includes an intercom system.

18. A system as in claim 11 which also includes a video system.

19. A system as in claim 11 which includes at least one audible output transducer.

20. A system as in claim 19 wherein the device, in combination with the audible output transducer, provide local audible feedback.

21. A system as in claim 20 which includes a plurality of acoustical input transducers coupled to the device.

22. A system as in claim 21 where at least some of the input transducers have associated therewith a respective audible output transducer.

23. A system as in claim 21 where the input transducers are coupled to the device by one of a wired, or a wireless link.

24. A system as in claim 21 where the device includes a programmable processor and associated voice recognition software.

25. A system as in claim 13 which includes control software to provide the output audio information.

26. A system as in claim 25 where the device includes a programmable processor and associated voice recognition software.

27. A system as in claim 11 which includes a plurality of acoustic input transducers.

28. A system as in claim 27 which includes circuitry to compensate at least some of the acoustic input transducers.

29. A system as in claim 25 which includes a digital signal processor coupled to the control software.

30. A system as in claim 26 which includes software to pre-store background sound indicia.

31. A system as in claim 30 which includes software to remove background sounds from received audio.

32. A system as in claim 27 which includes circuitry to compensate at least some of the acoustic input transducers to reduce interference noise signals not associated with selected speech.

33. A system as in claim 32 where signals from at least some of the acoustic input transducers associated with the interference noise signals are coupled to the circuitry to compensate.