Voice-controlled security system with proximity detector

• US 6,952,155 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2002
• Issued: 10/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tamiras Per Pte Ltd LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Richard B. Himmelstein
• Inventors: Himmelstein, Richard B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): BANGACHON, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US10/315,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20030122652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.52, 340/5.62, 340/5.2, 340/5.86, 340/5.64, 340/5.28, 340/426.1, 340/426, 340/543, 235/380, 235/384, 379/88.01, 379/88.02, 379/88.03, 379/88.04
• US Class Current: 340/5.52
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/257 Voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/24 the user being prompted to utter a password or a predefined phrase
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command

Abstract

A control system for permitting voice control of at least one device by at least one user includes a transponder which outputs an electronic signal which includes an identification code; an electronic receiver for receiving electronic signal and downconverting the received signal to output the identification code; a microphone for receiving an audible signal spoken by a user; a memory for storing at least one voiceprint and a command instruction for controlling at least one function of the device; and a microprocessor for determining whether the identification code is valid and for analyzing the audible signal to determine whether it matches the voiceprint stored in memory. The microprocessor executes the command instruction to control the function of the device if a match has been found.

Claims

1. A control system for permitting voice control of at least one device by at least a first user, the system comprising:

a transponder unit for outputting an electronic signal including an identification code;

an electronic receiver for receiving said electronic signal and downconverting said received signal to output said identification code;

a microphone for receiving a first audible signal spoken by said first user, said first audible signal being specific to said first user and corresponding to at least one function of said at least one device;

a memory for storing at least one voiceprint and a command instruction for controlling said at least one function of said at least one device; and

a microprocessor for determining whether said identification code is valid and, if said identification code is valid, for analyzing said first audible signal to determine whether it matches said at least one voiceprint stored in memory, and for executing said command instruction to control said at least one function of said at least one device if a match has been found.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein said electronic signal is an RF signal.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein said microphone is located on said transponder.

4. The control system of claim 1, further including a detection unit, for detecting the location of said first user.

5. The control system of claim 4, wherein said microprocessor executes said command instruction only after detecting the location of said first user.

6. The control system of claim 4, wherein said microprocessor executes said command instruction if it detects that said first user is in a first location, and does not execute said command instruction if it detects that said first user is in a second location.

7. The control system of claim 1, wherein said command instruction has a predetermined security level, and said microprocessor uses said security level during said analysis.

8. The control system of claim 7, wherein if said predetermined security level is high, said first audible signal must match said voiceprint to a high degree.

9. The control system of claim 1, wherein said first audible signal corresponds to a plurality of functions of said at least one device, and wherein said plurality of functions are selected by said first user.

10. The control system of claim 1, wherein said first audible signal corresponds to a plurality of functions of a plurality of devices.

11. The control system of claim 1, further comprising a speaker, and wherein said microprocessor provides an output signal to said speaker to audibly inform said first user of the status of the system.

12. The control system of claim 1, wherein said electronic signal includes a first password, and said microprocessor compares said first password to a second password stored in said memory.

13. The control system of claim 12, wherein said first password is encrypted and said microprocessor decrypts said first password.

14. The control system of claim 1, wherein said at least one device is a cell phone.

15. The control system of claim 1, wherein said at least one device is a computer.

16. The control system of claim 1, wherein said at least one device is an electronic lock.

17. The control system of claim 1, wherein said at least one device is a computer access to a website.

18. A control system for permitting voice control of at least one device by at least a first user, the system comprising:

a microphone for receiving a first audible signal spoken by said first user, said first audible signal being specific to said first user and corresponding to at least one function of said at least one device;

a radio transponder unit for receiving said first audible signal and for outputting an RF signal including an identification code and said first audible signal;

an electronic receiver for receiving said RF signal and downconverting said received signal to output said identification code and said first audible signal;

a memory for storing at least one voiceprint of said first user and an associated command instruction for controlling said at least one function of said at least one device; and

a microprocessor for determining whether said identification code is valid and, if said identification code is valid for analyzing said first audible signal to determine whether it matches said at least one voiceprint stored in said memory, and for executing said command instruction to control said at least one function of said at least one device if a match has been found.

19. A vehicle, comprising:

at least one device affecting the operation of said vehicle;

a control system for permitting voice control of said at least one device, said control system comprising;

a transponder unit for outputting a signal including an identification code;

a receiver for receiving said signal and downconverting said received signal to output said identification code;

a microphone for receiving a first audible signal spoken by a first user, said first audible signal being specific to said first user and corresponding to at least one function of said at least one device;

a memory for storing at least one voiceprint and a command instruction for controlling said at least one function of said at least one device; and

a microprocessor for determining whether said identification code is valid and, if said identification code is valid, for analyzing said first audible signal to determine whether it matches said at least one voiceprint stored in memory, and for executing said command instruction to control said at least one function of said at least one device if a match has been found.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, said control system further including a detection unit, for detecting the location of said first user.

21. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein said microprocessor executes said command only after detecting said first location of the user.

22. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein said microprocessor executes said command instruction if it detects that said first user is in a first location, and does not execute said command instruction if it detects that said first user in a second location.

23. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein said command instruction has a predetermined security level, and said microprocessor uses said security level during said analysis.

24. The vehicle of claim 23, wherein if said predetermined security level is high, said first audible signal must match said voiceprint to a high degree.

25. A process for operating a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

carrying by a first user a radio transponder unit into the vicinity of the vehicle, the radio transponder outputting a signal which includes an identification code recognizable by a receiver in the vehicle;

vocalizing by the first user a spoken signal into a microphone within the vehicle, the spoken signal being specific to the first user and operative with the identification code to control at least one function of at least one device associated with the operation of the said vehicle; and

operating the vehicle in a manner responsive to the at least one function of the at least one device.

26. A method for permitting voice control of at least one device by at least a first user, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an electronic signal including an identification code;

downconverting the received signal to output the identification code;

receiving a first audible signal spoken by the first user, the first audible signal being specific to the first user and corresponding to at least one function of the at least one device;

determining whether the identification code is valid;

if the identification code is valid, then analyzing the first audible signal to determine whether it matches at least one voiceprint stored in memory; and

if the first audible signal matches at least one voiceprint stored in memory, then executing a command instruction to control at least one function of at least one device.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the steps of:

detecting the location of the first user; and

executing the command instruction only after detecting the location of the user.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the executing step is performed only if the first user is in a first location, and not if the first user is in a second location.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising the steps of:

determining a predetermined security level;

if the predetermined security level is high, executing the command instruction if the first audible signal matches the voiceprint to a high degree; and

if the predetermined security level is low, executing the command instruction if the first audible signal matches the voiceprint to at least a low degree.