Method, system, and apparatus for monitoring security events using speech recognition

• US 7,904,299 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2008
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Gandhi, Shailesh, Mansey, Pradeep, Patel, Anilkumar B.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCFADDEN, SUSAN IRIS
• Application Number:
  US12/029,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20080215334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 704/274
• US Class Current: 704/274
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1672 using sonic detecting means, e.g. a microphone operating in the audio frequency range

Abstract

A method of monitoring for security events using a speech recognition system can include receiving a sound signal within the speech recognition system and determining at least one attribute of the sound signal. The attribute of the sound signal can be compared with one or more acoustic models associated with a security event. The method can further include identifying the sound signal as a security event according to the comparing step.

Claims

1. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium, having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a computer for causing the computer to perform a method comprising steps of:

receiving a sound signal with the speech recognition engine;

determining at least one attribute of the sound signal;

comparing the at least one attribute of the sound signal with at least one acoustic model associated with a security event;

notifying a user over a communications channel if, based upon comparison of the at least one attribute of the sound signal with at least one acoustic model, the sound signal is identified as the security event; and

initiating a recording of an audio loop for a predetermined time frame to record other sounds signals if, based upon the comparison of the at least one attribute of the sound signal with at least one acoustic model, the sound signal is identified as the security event.

2. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises sending a message describing the security event over the communications channel.

3. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises sending a recording of the sound signal with the message.

4. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 2, wherein the communication channel is an Internet communication channel.

5. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 2, wherein the communication channel is a wireless communication channel and/or a telephony communication channel.

6. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 2, wherein said sending further comprising comprises notifying the user of a system failure.

7. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1, wherein the speech recognition engine is disposed within a personal computer.

8. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1, wherein said receiving step comprises detecting an acoustic sound through a transducer communicatively linked to the speech recognition engine.

9. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1, wherein said sound signal specifies a sound of an alarm.

10. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1, wherein the sound signal specifies a sound of glass breaking, a person walking, an animal noise, or a human voice.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a speech recognition engine to receive a sound signal; and

at least one processor programmed to;

determine at least one attribute of the sound signal;

compare the at least one attribute of the sound signal with at least one acoustic model associated with a security event;

notify a user over a communications channel if, based upon comparison of the at least one attribute of the sound signal with at least one acoustic model, the sound signal is identified as the security event; and

initiate a recording of an audio loop for a predetermined time frame to record other sounds signals if, based upon the comparison of the at least one attribute of the sound signal with at least one acoustic model, the sound signal is identified as the security event.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to send a message describing the detected security event over the communications channel.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to send a recording of the sound signal with the message.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the communication channel is an Internet communication channel.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the communication channel is a wireless communication channel and/or a telephony communication channel.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to send a message over the communications channel that describes the detected security event and notifies the user of a system failure.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a personal computer that comprises the speech recognition engine and the at least one processor.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a transducer that is communicatively linked to the speech recognition engine and detects an acoustic sound.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said sound signal specifies a sound of an alarm.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sound signal specifies a sound of glass breaking, a person walking, an animal noise, or a human voice.