Speech recognition system

• US 7,548,861 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Nada, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Huyen X.
• Application Number:
  US11/511,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20070055531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 704/270, 704/231, 704/271, 704/272, 704/273, 704/274, 704/275, 704/270.1, 704/276
• US Class Current: 704/270
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0373 Voice control in general G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/28 Constructional details of speech recognition systems

Abstract

An audio operating unit of an audio apparatus is used for speech recognition. Specifically, when it is determined that a speech recognition start switch has been pressed, a speech recognition apparatus outputs a signal indicating volume down to a mute level to an audio-apparatus main body of the audio apparatus via an in-vehicle LAN. In addition, a signal indicating that speech recognition is in operation is outputted to various ECUs via the in-vehicle LAN so that speech recognition is performed. The audio-apparatus main body that has acquired the signal indicating volume down to a mute level lowers the volume to the mute level, while ignoring an output signal from the audio operating unit. On the other hand, the speech recognition apparatus executes a process related to speech recognition by, e.g., selecting or determining one of candidate words based on the output signal from the audio operating unit.

Claims

1. A speech recognition system in a vehicle, the system comprising:

a speech recognition apparatus for performing speech recognition;

an electronic apparatus for performing at least a specified operation; and

a communication network via which the speech recognition apparatus and the electronic apparatus are communicative,

wherein the speech recognition apparatus includes;

a notifying unit for transmitting, when performing speech recognition, an operating signal indicating that the speech recognition is in operation to the electronic apparatus;

a speech recognizing unit for performing speech recognition to specify a candidate for a speech inputted by a user;

a reporting unit for reporting the specified candidate so as to require the user to indicate an instruction; and

a first control unit for executing, when receiving an instruction signal indicating an operation performed by the user, a subsequent process based on the received instruction signal,

wherein the electronic apparatus includes;

a receiving unit for receiving an operation performed by the user and generating a corresponding instruction signal; and

a second control unit for,

when not receiving the operating signal, determining that the instruction signal is not related to speech recognition and executing the specified operation based on the instruction signal, and

when receiving the operating signal, determining that the instruction signal is related to speech recognition and transmitting, without executing the specified operation based on the instruction signal, the instruction signal to the speech recognition apparatus, and

wherein the speech recognition apparatus then executes the subsequent process based on the instruction signal transmitted from the electronic apparatus.

2. The speech recognition system of claim 1, wherein

the receiving unit included in the electronic apparatus is constructed as an independent portion, which is separate from a main body of the electronic apparatus, and

the speech recognition apparatus, the receiving unit of the electronic apparatus, and the main body of the electronic apparatus are mutually communicative via the communication network.

3. The speech recognition system of claim 1, wherein

the receiving unit is disposed within reach of the user in a driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle.

4. The speech recognition system of claim 1, wherein

the receiving unit is disposed within sight of the user in a driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle.

5. The speech recognition system of claim 1, wherein

the receiving unit is disposed in a steering wheel of the vehicle.

6. The speech recognition system of claim 1, wherein

the receiving unit is disposed on a periphery of an instrument panel of the vehicle.

7. The speech recognition system of claim 1, wherein

the electronic apparatus is allowed not to use the instruction signal for performing the specified operation when the operating signal is received.

8. The speech recognition system of claim 1, wherein

the electronic apparatus has a function not to disturb speech recognition when the operating signal is received.

9. The speech recognition system of claim 1, wherein

the electronic apparatus includes an audio apparatus, and

an audio volume of the audio apparatus is decreased to a mute level when the operating signal is received.

10. The speech recognition system of claim 1, wherein

when the candidate specified by the speech recognizing unit includes a plurality of items, the receiving unit is used for the user to select one of the plurality items.

11. The speech recognition system of claim 1, wherein

when the candidate specified by the speech recognizing unit includes a plurality of words, the reporting unit reports the specified candidate as the plurality of words to the user and the user is required to select to one of the plurality of words.

12. The speech recognition system of claim 1, wherein

the speech recognition apparatus further includes a speech receiving unit for receiving a speech inputted by the user.

13. The speech recognition system of claim 12, wherein

the notifying unit transmits the operating signal indicating that the speech recognition is in operation to the electronic apparatus when the speech receiving unit receives a speech inputted by the user.

14. The speech recognition system of claim 1, wherein

the speech recognition apparatus further includes a speech recognition start switch for the user to indicate a start of speech recognition, and

the notifying unit transmits the operating signal indicating that the speech recognition is in operation to the electronic apparatus when the user indicates a start of speech recognition via the speech recognition start switch.

15. A speech recognition system in a vehicle, the system comprising:

a speech recognition apparatus for performing speech recognition;

an electronic apparatus for performing at least a specified operation;

an operating panel for distributing an instruction signal corresponding to an operation performed by a user; and

a communication network via which the speech recognition apparatus, the operating panel, and the electronic apparatus are mutually communicative,

wherein the speech recognition apparatus includes;

a first receiving unit for receiving the instruction signal from the operating panel;

a notifying unit for transmitting, when performing speech recognition, an operating signal indicating that the speech recognition is in operation to the electronic apparatus;

a speech recognizing unit for performing speech recognition to output a candidate for a speech inputted by a user;

a reporting unit for reporting the candidate so as to require the user to indicate an instruction; and

a first control unit for executing, when receiving an instruction signal specifying an item from the candidate by the instruction performed by the user via the operating panel, a subsequent process based on the received instruction signal from the operating panel,

wherein the electronic apparatus includes;

a second receiving unit for receiving the instruction signal from the operating panel performed by the user; and

a second control unit for,

when not receiving the operating signal, determining that the instruction signal is not related to speech recognition and executing the specified operation based on the instruction signal, and

when receiving the operating signal, determining that the instruction signal is related to speech recognition and not executing the specified operation based on the instruction signal, and

wherein the speech recognition apparatus then executes the subsequent process based on the instruction signal transmitted from the operating panel.

16. The speech recognition system of claim 15, wherein

the operating panel is included in the electronic apparatus and

the second control unit included in the electronic apparatus transmits the instruction signal to the speech recognition apparatus.

17. The speech recognition system of claim 15, wherein

the operating panel is disposed within reach of the user in a driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle.

18. The speech recognition system of claim 15, wherein

the operating panel is disposed within sight of the user in a driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle.

19. The speech recognition system of claim 15, wherein

the operating panel is disposed in a steering wheel of the vehicle.

20. The speech recognition system of claim 15, wherein

the operating panel is disposed on a periphery of an instrument panel of the vehicle.

21. The speech recognition system of claim 15, wherein

the electronic apparatus is allowed not to use the instruction signal for performing the specified operation when the operating signal is received.

22. The speech recognition system of claim 15, wherein

the electronic apparatus has a function not to disturb speech recognition when the operating signal is received.

23. The speech recognition system of claim 15, wherein

the electronic apparatus includes an audio apparatus, and

an audio volume of the audio apparatus is decreased to a mute level or power of the audio apparatus is turned off when the operating signal is received.

24. The speech recognition system of claim 15, wherein

when the candidate outputted by the speech recognizing unit includes a plurality of words as a result of an execution of speech command, the reporting unit reports the specified candidate as the plurality of words to the user and the user is required to select one of the plurality of words and the operating panel is used for the user to select one of the plurality words.

25. The speech recognition system of claim 15, wherein

when the candidate output by the speech recognizing unit includes a plurality of words as a result of speech analysis, the reporting unit reports the specified candidate as the plurality of words to the user and the user is required to select one of the plurality of words.

26. The speech recognition system of claim 15, wherein

the speech recognition apparatus further includes a speech receiving unit for receiving a speech inputted by the user.

27. The speech recognition system of claim 26, wherein

the notifying unit transmits the operating signal indicating that the speech recognition is in operation to the electronic apparatus when the speech receiving unit receives a speech inputted by the user.

28. The speech recognition system of claim 15, wherein

the speech recognition apparatus further includes a speech recognition start switch for the user to indicate a start of speech recognition, and

the notifying unit transmits the operating signal indicating that the speech recognition is in operation to the electronic apparatus when the user indicates a start of speech recognition via the speech recognition start switch.