System, method and computer program product for adding voice activation and voice control to a media player

• US 7,424,431 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2005
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stragent, LLC (Oso IP, LLC)
• Inventors: Cantwell, Dermot, Greene, Mark, Hegarty, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Lerner; Martin
• Application Number:
  US11/281,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20070011007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 704/270, 704/270.1, 704/275, 381/3, 381/122
• US Class Current: 704/270
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/02 Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 9/02 using radio transmission; using near-field transmission

Abstract

A media player system, method and computer program product are provided. In use, an utterance is received. A command for a media player is then generated based on the utterance. Such command is utilized for providing wireless control of the media player.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an automobile;

an assembly coupled to the automobile for receiving power therefrom and further connectable to a media player with music stored thereon, the assembly including a voice activation module, memory, a power unit for charging the media player, a speaker, and a microphone;

said memory including a computer readable medium comprising;

computer code for initializing a plurality of program variables stored in the memory of the assembly, the program variables including artists, songs, and playlists;

computer code for receiving a trigger signal;

computer code for, after the receipt of the trigger signal, receiving an utterance utilizing the microphone of the assembly;

computer code for verifying the utterance utilizing the speaker of the assembly;

computer code for, after the verification of the utterance, generating a corresponding command for the media player based on the utterance, the corresponding command selected from a command set including a play command, a pause command, a shuffle command, a playlist command, an artist command, and a song command; and

computer code for channeling output of the media player via the assembly;

wherein the corresponding command provides wireless control of the media player;

wherein the corresponding command is sent as a bit stream with each of a plurality of bits sent every 55 uSecs.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the assembly includes:

an FM transmitter; and

software capable of detecting the utterance, translating the utterance into computer code and transmitting the code to the media player.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the computer code controls a state of the media player.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the output is FM modulated utilizing the FM transmitter of the assembly for reception by an FM receiver.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the FM transmitter is capable of sweeping in a range of frequencies between 88 MHz and 108 MHz.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the assembly is releasably connected to the media player.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the assembly includes a visual indicator for indicating whether the media player is awaiting the receipt of the utterance.

8. The system of claim 1, and further comprising computer code for adjusting the received utterance if it is not verified.

9. The system of claim 1, and further comprising computer code for translating the utterance into computer code capable of being recognized by the media player.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the media player is selected from the group consisting of:

an iPod(R) and a cell phone.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the utterance is a programmed command that is registered by the media player.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the command set also includes at least one of a fast forward command, a rewind command, an on command, an off command, a repeat command, search, a volume up command, a volume down command, and a next playlist command.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the command set also includes a fast forward command, a rewind command, an on command, an off command, a repeat command, a search command, a volume up command, a volume down command, and a next playlist command.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the utterance is converted into an application specific voice tag and is subsequently compared to at least one voice tag from a library of voice tags located on the media player.

15. A system, comprising:

an automobile;

an assembly coupled to the automobile for receiving power therefrom and further connectable to a media player with music stored thereon, the assembly including memory, a power source for charging the media player, a speaker, a microphone, and;

computer code for initializing a plurality of program variables stored in the memory of the assembly, the program variables including artists, songs, and playlists;

computer code for identifying a trigger signal;

computer code for, after the identification of the trigger signal, identifying an utterance received utilizing the microphone of the assembly;

computer code for verifying the utterance utilizing the speaker of the assembly; and

computer code for, after the verification of the utterance, generating a corresponding command for the media player based on the utterance, the corresponding command selected from a command set including a play command, a pause command, a shuffle command, a playlist command, an artist command, and a song command;

said assembly channeling output of the media player via the assembly;

said corresponding command providing wireless control of the media player;

wherein the corresponding command is sent as a bit stream with each of a plurality of bits sent with a code repetition rate of 66.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the corresponding command is application-specific.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the trigger signal is audible.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the trigger signal includes an audible trigger word.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein it is determined whether a timeout has occurred before the utterance is received.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein if the timeout has occurred, the identification of the trigger signal is repeated.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein it is determined whether the utterance is verified.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein it is determined whether the utterance is verified, based on whether the utterance is programmed.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein it is determined whether the utterance is verified, based on whether the utterance is registered.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein if the utterance is not verified, the corresponding command is not generated.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein if the utterance is not verified, the utterance is outputted via the speaker.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein a user is allowed to accept or reject the utterance outputted via the speaker.

27. The system of claim 15, wherein the program variables are initialized with at least one of input and output.

28. The system of claim 15, wherein a button release command is generated.

29. The system of claim 15, wherein the media player further includes a satellite radio player.

30. The system of claim 15, wherein the corresponding command is sent as a bit stream with each bit sent with a code repetition rate of 66.

31. The system of claim 15, wherein it is determined whether the corresponding command is a sleep command.

32. The system of claim 15, wherein the media player is powered down, if it is determined the corresponding command is a sleep command.

33. The system of claim 15, wherein the program variables are released.

34. The system of claim 15, wherein the media player includes an iPod(R).

35. The system of claim 15, wherein the command set includes a search command.

36. The system of claim 15, wherein the utterance is compared against a library of words.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the corresponding command is generated in response to identifying a match between the utterance and the library of words.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the library of words includes an artist name and a voice tag.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein the library of words includes an artist name and an application specific voice tag.

40. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable storage medium, comprising:

computer code for controlling an assembly coupled to an automobile for receiving power therefrom and further connectable to a media player with music stored thereon, the assembly including memory, a power source for charging the media player, a speaker, and a microphone;

computer code for initializing a plurality of program variables stored in the memory of the assembly, the program variables including artists, songs, and playlists;

computer code for identifying a trigger signal;

computer code for, after the identification of the trigger signal, identifying an utterance received utilizing the microphone of the assembly;

computer code for verifying the utterance utilizing the speaker of the assembly;

computer code for, after the verification of the utterance, generating a corresponding command for the media player based on the utterance, the corresponding command selected from a command set including a play command, a pause command, a shuffle command, a playlist command, an artist command, and a song command; and

computer code for controlling the assembly such that output of the media player is channeled via the assembly, and the corresponding command provides wireless control of the media player;

wherein the corresponding command is at least one of

     1) sent as a bit stream with each of a plurality of bits sent every 55 uSecs, and

     2) sent as a bit stream with each of a plurality of bits sent with a code repetition rate of 66.

41. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the corresponding command is application-specific.

42. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the trigger signal is audible.

43. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein the trigger signal includes an audible trigger word.

44. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein it is determined whether a timeout has occurred before the utterance is received.

45. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein if the timeout has occurred, the identification of the trigger signal is repeated.

46. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein it is determined whether the utterance is verified.

47. The computer program product of claim 46, wherein it is determined whether the utterance is verified, based on whether the utterance is programmed.

48. The computer program product of claim 46, wherein it is determined whether the utterance is verified, based on whether the utterance is registered.

49. The computer program product of claim 46, wherein if the utterance is not verified, the corresponding command is not generated.

50. The computer program product of claim 46, wherein if the utterance is not verified, the utterance is outputted via the speaker.

51. The computer program product of claim 50, wherein a user is allowed to accept or reject the utterance outputted via the speaker.

52. The computer program product of claim 50, wherein the program variables are initialized with at least one of input and output.

53. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein a button release command is generated.

54. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the command set includes a search command.

55. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the utterance is compared against a library of words.

56. The computer program product of claim 55, wherein the corresponding command is generated in response to identifying a match between the utterance and the library of words.

57. The computer program product of claim 55, wherein the library of words includes an artist name and a voice tag.

58. The computer program product of claim 55, wherein the library of words includes an artist name and an application specific voice tag.

59. The computer program product of claim 40, and further comprising computer code for translating the utterance into computer code capable of being recognized by the media player.

60. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the utterance is a programmed command that is registered by the media player.

61. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the command set also includes at least one of a fast forward command, a rewind command, an on command, an off command, a repeat command, search, a volume up command, a volume down command, and a next playlist command.

62. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the command set also includes a fast forward command, a rewind command, an on command, an off command, a repeat command, a search command, a volume up command, a volume down command, and a next playlist command.

63. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the utterance is converted into an application specific voice tag and is subsequently compared to at least one voice tag from a library of voice tags located on the media player.