SOUND OUTPUT SYSTEM OR INTERNET APPLIANCE THAT SUPPORTS VOICE ACTIVATED COMMANDS, AND THAT PLAYS AUDIO DATA RECEIVED FROM A SERVICE OVER A NETWORK

• US 20170228202A1
• Filed: 04/21/2017
• Published: 08/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flexiworld Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Flexiworld Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Liu, Christina Ying, Chang, William Ho
• Granted Patent: US 10,140,072 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• 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 3/1203 Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1208 resulting in improved quality of the output result, e.g. print layout, colours, workflows, print preview
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/122 with regard to computing resources, e.g. memory, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1226 Discovery of devices having required properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1228 Printing driverless or using generic drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1229 Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1236 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1238 Secure printing, e.g. user identification, user rights for device usage, unallowed content, blanking portions or fields of a page, releasing held jobs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1245 by conversion to intermediate or common format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1247 by conversion to printer ready format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1253 Configuration of print job parameters, e.g. using UI at the client
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1258 by updating job settings at the printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/128 Direct printing, e.g. sending document file, using memory stick, printing from a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1284 Local printer device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1286 via local network
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 : in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 : Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 : Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 : Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 : Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/02 : using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/181 : Receiving print data characterized by its formatting, e.g. particular page description languages
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1836 : Rasterization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 : specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 : Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/30 : Distributed recognition, e.g. in client-server systems, for mobile phones or network applications
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 : Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 : Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 : with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00283 : with a television apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 : with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00403 : Voice input means, e.g. voice commands
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 : the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00488 : providing an audible output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00854 : Recognising an unauthorised user or user-associated action
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00938 : Software related arrangements, e.g. loading applications program loading in general G06F9/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32534 : details of interfacing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32582 : Output interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4413 : involving the use of passwords, ID codes or the like, e.g. PIN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/442 : using a biometric data reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 : Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0041 : Point to point H04N2201/0039 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0053 : Optical, e.g. using an infrared link
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 : By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 : Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 : Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 : Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 : using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

An output system, such as a wireless speaker or an Internet appliance, that supports voice activated commands is herein disclosed and enabled. The output system is wirelessly connectable to a service operated over a network (e.g., Internet) for receiving output data from the service. The setup of the output system includes: (1) wirelessly discovering the output system using a smart phone, (2) establishing a wireless communication link between the smart phone and the output system (e.g., via Bluetooth); (4) provide information, such as security and/or authentication information, from the smart phone to the output system via the wireless communication link. Thereafter, the output system, using the information received from the smart phone, establishes a wireless local area network connection and also connects itself to the service over the network. The output system is operable to receive voice activated commands from the user when connected to the service.

Claims

1. A sound output system that is wirelessly connectable to a service operated over a network for receiving audio output data from the service for outputting or playing the received audio output data at the sound output system, the sound output system includes:

a voice activated command interface for interacting with a user,

memory storing software,

one or more processors,

an output device that includes at least one speaker,

a microphone, and

wireless communication circuitry for wireless communication;

wherein, when the one or more processors execute at least part of the software at the sound output system, the sound output system;

(1) wirelessly receives, using the wireless communication circuitry of the sound output system and from a portable wireless device, security information for the sound output system to establish a wireless local area network connection, the security information includes one or more of a name, a password, an ID number, a PIN, an IP address, or a security key, individually or in any combination, and the portable wireless device is a distinct device from the sound output system;

(2) establishes, using the wireless communication circuitry at the sound output system, the wireless local area network connection employing, at least in part, the security information received from the portable wireless device in (1);

(3) receives, via the microphone at the sound output system and using the voice activated command interface, a voice activated command from the user, the receiving of the voice activated command is subsequent to having established the wireless local area network connection in (2);

(4) sends, using the wireless communication circuitry and via the wireless local area network connection established in (2), an audio digital content object to one or more servers over a network for processing at least part of the audio digital content object, the sending of the audio digital content object is in response to having received the voice activated command from the user in (3), and the audio digital content object having a relationship, at least in part, to the voice activated command received in (3);

(5) receives, using the wireless communication circuitry and from the one or more servers over the network in (4), audio output data, the audio output data includes audio data or sound data for output or playing at the sound output system, and the receiving of the audio output data is in response to having wirelessly sent the audio digital content object to the one or more servers over the network in (4), and the audio output data having a relationship, at least in part, to the audio digital content object sent to the one or more servers in (4); and

(6) outputs or plays, using the at least one speaker of the output device included in the output system, the audio output data received from the one or more servers in (5).

2. The sound output system according to claim 1, wherein the sound output system does not include a conventional personal computer or a desktop personal computer or laptop computer, and wherein the sound output system is embodied as a wireless speaker system or as an information apparatus that is an Internet appliance, individually or in any combination.

3. The sound output system according to claim 2, wherein the sound output system further includes an interface with at least a button, wherein, when the one or more processors execute at least part of the software at the sound output system, the sound output system:

(a) receives, via the interface of the sound output system, an indication from the user to operate the sound output system; and

(b) subsequent to having received the indication from the user in (a), facilitates, via the wireless communication circuitry, a wireless device discovery operation, the wireless device discovery operation is for the portable wireless device to wirelessly discover the sound output system.

4. The sound output system according to claim 3, wherein, when the one or more processors execute at least part of the software at the sound output system, the sound output system:

(c) transmits at least one of attribute information or identification information related to the sound output system to the portable wireless device that has wirelessly discovered the sound output system in (b); and

(d) subsequent to having transmitted the at least one of attribute information or identification information in (c), establishes, using the wireless communication circuitry, a wireless communication link between the sound output system and the portable wireless device,

wherein the receiving of the security information from the portable wireless device in (1) is received via the wireless communication link established in (d), and

wherein the wireless communication circuitry further supports at least part of a protocol within IEEE 802.11 standards or Bluetooth specifications for establishing the wireless communication link between the sound output system and the portable wireless device in (d).

5. The sound output system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication circuitry includes one or more chips or chipsets for wireless communication that supports at least part of a protocol within IEEE 802.11 standards for wireless local area network communication.

6. The sound output system according to claim 5, wherein the one or more servers over the network in (4) are operated, at least partly, by a digital content service, the digital content service for providing digital content to users who have signed up or subscribed to the service, and wherein the audio output data for outputting or playing at the sound output system includes audio digital content received from the digital content service, operated, at least partly, over the Internet.

7. The sound output system according to claim 5, wherein, when the one or more processors execute at least part of the software at the sound output system and subsequent to establishing the wireless local area network connection in (2), the sound output system:

(i) downloads, using the wireless communication circuitry and via the wireless local area network connection established in (2), application software or software components or data from the one or more servers over the network, the application software or software components or data for upgrading, updating, or modifying features and capabilities of the sound output system; and

(ii) installs, using the one or more processors at the sound output system, the application software or software components or data downloaded in (i),

wherein the sending of the audio digital content object to the one or more servers in (4) and the receiving of the audio output data from the one or more servers in (5) are both facilitated, at least in part, using the application software or software components or data downloaded in (i) and installed in (ii).

8. An output system method for setting up an output system to receive voice activated commands from a user, the output system includes:

an output device that includes one or more speakers,

a microphone,

a voice activated command interface for interacting with a user, and

wireless communication circuitry for wireless communication, the output system method, comprising;

(1) establishing, using the wireless communication circuitry at the output system, a wireless communication link between the output system and a portable wireless device, the portable wireless device is a distinct device from the output system, and the portable wireless device is at least one of a smart phone or an information pad;

(2) receiving, using the wireless communication circuitry and via the established wireless communication link in (1), information from the portable wireless device related to establishing a wireless local area network connection;

(3) establishing, using the wireless communication circuitry at the output system, the wireless local area network connection employing, at least in part, the information received from the portable wireless device in (2);

(4) accessing, using the wireless communication circuitry and via the established wireless local area network in (3), one or more servers over a network, the one or more servers operated, at least in part, by a service operated, at least partly, over the Internet, the service for providing output data to the output system for output at the output system;

(5) receiving, via the microphone, a voice activated command from the user, the receiving of the voice activated command is subsequent to having accessed the one or more servers in (4);

(6) receiving, using the wireless communication circuitry, audio output data from the one or more servers accessed in (4), the receiving of the audio output data from the one or more servers is in response to having received the voice activated command from the user in (5); and

(7) outputting or playing, using the one or more speakers included in the output system, at least part of the audio output data received from the one or more servers in (6), the audio output data is related to digital content that includes audio data or voice data, individually or in any combination.

9. The output system method according to claim 8, wherein the output system is embodied as a speaker or an Internet appliance, individually or in any combination, and

wherein the output system does not include a conventional personal computer or a desktop personal computer or a laptop computer.

10. The output system method according to claim 9, wherein the wireless communication circuitry includes one or more chips or chipsets for wireless communication that supports at least a protocol within IEEE 802.11 standards for establishing the wireless local area network communication in (3), and at least one chip or chipset of the one or more chips or chipsets further supports at least a protocol within Bluetooth specifications for establishing the wireless communication link in (1).

11. The output system method according to claim 10, wherein the one or more servers are operated, at least partly, by a digital content service, the digital content service for providing digital content to users who have signed up or subscribed to the service, and the method further comprising:

receiving from the portable wireless device, using the wireless communication circuitry and via the established wireless communication link in (1), login information or subscription information or authentication information for accessing the digital content service, wherein the accessing of the one or more servers in (4) employs, at least in part, the login information or subscription information or the authentication information received from the portable wireless device, and wherein the authentication information includes one or more of a user name, a password, an ID number, an address, a security key, a biometric, a fingerprint, or a voice, individually or in any combination.

12. The output system method of claim 10, wherein subsequent to receiving the voice activated commands from the user in (5), the method further comprises:

(i) sending, using the wireless communication circuitry, an audio digital content object to one or more servers over a network in response to the voice activated command received in (5), the audio digital content object having a relationship, at least in part, to the voice activated command received in (5);

(ii) receiving, using the wireless communication circuitry and from the one or more servers over the network, audio output data for outputting at the output system, the audio output data being in response to the sending of the audio digital content object to the one or more servers in (i); and

(iii) outputting or playing, using the one or more speakers included in the output system, the audio output data received in (ii), the audio output data includes audio digital content or voice digital content.

13. The output system method according to claim 10, wherein the output system further includes an interface with at least a button, and, prior to establishing a wireless communication link with the portable wireless device in (1), the method further comprises:

(a) receiving, via the interface of the output system, an indication from the user for operating the output system, and, subsequent to receiving the indication from the user, the method further comprises;

(b) facilitating, using the wireless communication circuitry, a wireless device discovery operation, the wireless device discovery operation for the portable wireless device to wirelessly discover the output system or for the output system to wirelessly discover the portable wireless device;

(c) transmitting, using the wireless communication circuitry, at least one of attribute information or identification information related to the output system to the portable wireless device for the user of the portable wireless device to identify the output system for service; and

(d) receiving, using the wireless communication circuitry at the output system, a service request from the portable wireless device based on having transmitted the at least one of attribute information or identification information in (c), and wherein the establishing of the wireless communication link between the output system and the portable wireless device in (1) is subsequent to having the service request in (d).

14. The output system method according to claim 8, wherein the wireless communication circuitry includes one or more chips or chipsets for wireless communication that support at least a protocol within IEEE 802.11 standards or Bluetooth specifications for establishing the wireless communication link in (1), and wherein the wireless communication link established in (1) is a direct short range wireless communication between the output system and the portable wireless device.

15. An output system for receiving voice activated commands from a user, comprising:

an interface with at least a button operable to (1) receive an indication from the user for operating the output system;

wireless communication circuitry configured to;

(2) facilitate a wireless device discovery operation subsequent to receiving the indication from the user in (1), the wireless device discovery operation for the portable wireless device to wirelessly discover the output system or for the output system to wirelessly discover the portable wireless device, the portable wireless device is a distinct device from the output system, and the wireless device discovery operation based, at least in part, on short range local wireless communication between the portable communication device and the output system,

(3) establish a wireless communication link between the output system and the portable wireless device, the establishing of the wireless communication link is subsequent to the wireless discovery operation in (2) either by the output system discovering the portable wireless device or by the portable wireless device discovering the output system, and the portable wireless device is at least one of a smart phone or an information pad having a touch sensitive screen interface,

(4) receive, via the established wireless communication link in (3), information from the portable wireless device related to connecting to one or more servers over a network, the one or more servers operated, at least in part, by a service operated over the network for providing at least audio output data to the output system, and

(5) connect to the one or more servers over the network employing, at least in part, the information received from the portable wireless device in (4);

a microphone operable to (6) receive a voice activated command from the user, the receiving of the voice activated command is after connecting the output system to the one or more servers in (5); and

an output device that includes one or more speakers operable to (7) output or play sound to the user in response to receiving the voice activated command in (6), the sound outputted or played to the user, by the one or more speakers, is related, at least in part, to audio output data received from the one or more servers in (4).

16. The output system according to claim 15, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is further configured to:

(a) receive, via the established wireless communication link in (3), security information from the portable wireless device, the security information related to establishing a wireless local area network connection, and the security information includes one or more of a name, a password, an ID number, a PIN, an IP address, or a security key, individually or in any combination; and

(b) establish the wireless local area network connection employing, at least in part, the information received from the portable wireless device in (4),

wherein connecting to the one or more servers over the network in (5) is connected via the wireless local area network established in (b), and

wherein the information received in (4) for connecting to the one or more servers includes one or more of login information, subscription information, user interface information, or authentication information, individually or in any combination.

17. The output system according to claim 15, wherein the one or more servers is operated by a service provided, at least partly, over the Internet, and the wireless communication circuitry is further configured to receive audio output data from the one or more servers connected in (5), and wherein the sound outputted or played in (7) is related, at least in part, to the audio output data received from the one or more servers.

18. The output system according to claim 17, wherein the wireless communication circuitry includes one or more chips or chipsets for wireless communication that supports at least a protocol within IEEE 802.11 standards for establishing the wireless local area network connection in (b), and at least one chip or chipset of the one or more chips or chipsets further supports at least a protocol within Bluetooth specifications or within IEEE 802.11 standards for establishing the wireless communication link in (3).

19. The output system according to claim 18, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is further configured to:

(i) wirelessly send an audio digital content object to the one or more servers over the network, the audio digital content object including audio data or voice data, and the sending of the audio digital content object is in response to having received the voice activated commands from the user in (6),

(ii) wirelessly receive from the one or more servers over the network in (5), audio output data, the audio output data includes audio data or sound data for output or playing at the sound output system, and the receiving of the audio output data is in response to having wirelessly sent the audio digital content object to the one or more servers over the network in (i), and

wherein the output device that includes the one or more speakers is further configured to output or play at least part of the audio output data received in (ii).

20. The output system according to claim 18, wherein the output system is embodied as a speaker or an Internet appliance, individually or in any combination, and wherein the output system does not include a conventional personal computer or a desktop personal computer or a laptop computer;

and wherein the wireless communication circuitry is further configured to;

(i) transmit at least one of attribute information or identification information related to the output system to the portable wireless device for the user of the portable wireless device to identify the output system for service; and

(ii) receive, using the wireless communication circuitry at the output system, a service request from the portable wireless device based on having transmitted the at least one of attribute information or identification information in (i), and

wherein the establishing of the wireless communication link between the output system and the portable wireless device in (3) is subsequent to having received the service request.