Call re-directed based on voice command

• US 20080165937A1
• Filed: 01/04/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Moore, Darryl
• Granted Patent: US 8,731,146 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.04
• 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 speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• 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 telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/58 : including a multilanguage function
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 : with voice recognition means voice activated dialling H04M1/271; voice recognition algorithms G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 : Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

In exemplary embodiments, a universal messaging adapter provides hands-free operation of a communications device. The adapter communicates with the communications device, and in some embodiments, with a peripheral device such as another communications device, a headset, and other devices. The universal messaging adapter allows a user to use voice commands so that the user does not have to handle the communications device. The universal messaging adapter receives voice commands from a user interface and translates the voice commands to commands recognized by the communications device. The universal messaging adapter also monitors the communications device to detect communications device events and provides notice of the events to the user. Still further, the universal messaging adapter presents customized voice messaging tools that enable a portable voice messaging service that the user may use with a plurality of communications devices.

Claims

1. A universal messaging adapter, comprising:

a user interface for interfacing the universal messaging adapter to a communications device;

a memory for storing a voice command and an associated communications device command, the voice command comprising a command to control the communications device and a command prefix, the command prefix preceding the command to control the communications device and providing an alert of the voice command subsequent to the command prefix; and

a digital signal processor for processing the voice command received from the universal messaging adapter, for accessing a corresponding communications device command that emulates a user'"'"'s interaction with the communications device, and for communicating the communications device command to the communications device.

2. The universal messaging adapter of claim 1, the communications device comprising at least one of a cellular phone, a voice-over internet protocol phone, a telephone, and a wireless phone.

3. The universal messaging adapter of claim 1, the communications device comprising at least one of a computer, a digital music communications device, a digital recording communications device, a personal digital assistant, an interactive television, and a digital signal processor.

4. The universal messaging adapter of claim 1, the processor further for providing a voice messaging feature such that an incoming communication to the communications device is connected to the universal messaging adapter to establish a communications connection.

5. The universal messaging adapter of claim 4, the memory further for storing a customized outgoing message associated with the voice command.

6. The universal messaging adapter of claim 5, the processor further for communicating the customized outgoing message over the communications connection.

7. The universal messaging adapter of claim 6, the processor further for receiving an incoming communications message and storing the incoming communications message to the memory of the universal messaging adapter.

8. The universal messaging adapter of claim 7, the voice command further comprising a voice message control command and a corresponding universal messaging adapter command.

9. The universal messaging adapter of claim 8, the processor further for processing the voice message command and accessing the corresponding universal messaging adapter command that emulates a user'"'"'s interaction with the universal messaging adapter for a voice messaging feature.

10. The universal messaging adapter of claim 8, the processor further for executing the voice messaging feature.

11. A method for providing hands-free operation of a communications device, comprising:

monitoring a user interface of a universal messaging adapter for a voice command, the voice command comprising a command to control the communications device and a command prefix, the command prefix preceding the command to control the communications device and providing an alert of the command to control the communications device subsequent to the command prefix;

in response to detecting the voice command, generating a communications device command that emulates a user'"'"'s interaction with the communications device, the communications device command further comprising a customized outgoing message associated with the voice command;

communicating the communications device command to the communications device via a device interface; and

communicating the customized outgoing message via a communications connection of the communications device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

establishing a communications connection between the universal messaging adapter and the communications device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the communications connection comprises a video communications connection.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the communications connection comprises a data communications connection.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the communications connection comprises an audio communications connection.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

monitoring the communications device for an event of interest via the user interface, the event of interest comprising at least one of a status of the communications device, a functionality of the communications device, and a capability of the communications device;

in response to detecting the event, generating an event indicator; and

presenting the event indicator to the universal messaging adapter,

wherein the event indicator comprises one of a recorded message, an alert of an incoming communication to the communications device, a notification of an off-hook connection of the communications device, a notification of an on-hook connection of the communications device, and an alert of an outgoing communication from the communications device.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

detecting a portion of the voice command from the user interface, the portion comprising the command to control the communications device;

associating at least one communications device command with the portion of the voice command;

presenting a notification via the universal messaging adapter that a portion of the voice command has been detected and the at least one communications device command is associated with the portion of the voice command;

querying for a selection of the at least one communications device command; and

if a response to the query selects an associated communications device command, then communicating the communications device command to the communications device via the device interface.

18. A storage medium on which is encoded instructions for performing the following:

monitoring a user interface of a universal messaging adapter for a voice command, the voice command comprising a command to control the communications device and a command prefix, the command prefix preceding the command to control the communications device and providing an alert of the command to control the communications device subsequent to the command prefix;

in response to detecting the voice command, generating a communications device command that emulates a user'"'"'s interaction with the communications device, the communications device command further comprising a customized outgoing message associated with the voice command;

communicating the communications device command to the communications device via a device interface; and

communicating the customized outgoing message via a communications connection of the communications device.

19. The storage medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions for performing the following:

establishing a communications connection between the universal messaging adapter and the communications device, the communications connection comprising one of a data communications connection, an audio communications connection, and a video communications connection.

20. The storage medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions for performing the following:

monitoring the communications device for an event of interest via the user interface, the event of interest comprising at least one of a status of the communications device, a functionality of the communications device, and a capability of the communications device;

in response to detecting the event, generating an event indicator; and

presenting the event indicator to the universal messaging adapter,

wherein the event indicator comprises one of a recorded message, an alert of an incoming communication to the communications device, a notification of an off-hook connection of the communications device, a notification of an on-hook connection of the communications device, and an alert of an outgoing communication from the communications device.