Method and apparatus for connecting service between user devices using voice

• US 9,805,733 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2013
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Sehwan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lerner, Martin
• Application Number:
  US13/934,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20140012587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,581 Days
• Field of Search: 704235, 704270, 7042701, 704275, 455418, 455420, 455 412, 705 64, 705 67, 705 73, 709208, 726 4
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/00 Speech or voice signal processing techniques to produce another audible or non-audible signal, e.g. visual or tactile, in order to modify its quality or its intelligibility G10L19/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means voice activated dialling H04M1/271; voice recognition algorithms G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/65 Environment-dependent, e.g. using captured environmental data

Abstract

A method of connecting a service between a device and at least one other device is provided. The method includes recording, by the device, a user voice input in a state where a voice command button has been input, outputting first information based on the recorded user voice when an input of the voice command button is cancelled, receiving, by the device, second information corresponding to the first information, recognizing a service type according to the first information and the second information, connecting the device to a subject device in an operation mode of the device determined according to the recognized service type, and performing a service with the connected subject device.

Claims

1. A method of connecting a service between a device and an external device, the method comprising:

receiving, by the device, a voice input in response to a voice command being input;

transmitting to a server first information based on the received voice input;

receiving, by the device from the server, second information corresponding to the first information, wherein the second information includes an operation mode determined for the device, a device address of an external device, and execution information of a service to be executed;

recognizing the operation mode according to the received second information, wherein the operation mode is one of a master mode and a slave mode;

connecting the device to the external device according to the service and operation mode; and

performing, with the external device, the service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the service with the external device comprises performing at least one of transmitting and receiving data according to the service or performing a certain function according to whether the device is operating in the master mode or the slave mode.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the server, the first information from the device;

comparing and searching, by the server, for at least one device having third information corresponding to recording data and a timestamp of the first information;

determining, by the server, an operation for each of the device and the external device by checking the timestamp of the first information and a timestamp of the third information; and

generating, by the server, the second information indicating the operation mode of each of the device and the external device, the device address of the external device and the service, and transmitting the generated second information to each of the device and the external device.

4. A method of connecting a service between a device and an adjacent device, the method comprising:

receiving, by the device, a voice input in response to a voice command being input;

outputting first information based on the received voice input as audio data through a speaker;

receiving, through a microphone by the device, second information output from an adjacent device corresponding to the first information, wherein the adjacent device is the external device;

recognizing a service according to the first information and the received second information;

connecting the device to the adjacent device in an operation mode of the device determined according to the service; and

performing, with the adjacent device, the service,

wherein the second information includes recording data, a timestamp, and a device address of the adjacent device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein recognizing the service comprises:

determining, according to the first information and the second information, the operation mode of the device, a device address of the adjacent device, and a type of the service.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the operation mode of the device is determined as one of a master mode and a slave mode according to a time difference between a timestamp of the first information and the timestamp in the second information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the device is connected to the adjacent device according to a device address of the adjacent device and a preset communication method in the determined operation mode.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein performing the service with the external device comprises:

performing at least one of transmitting and receiving data according to the service, or performing a certain function according to which one of the device and the adjacent device is operating in the master mode and which one of the device and the adjacent device is operating in the slave mode.

9. A method of connecting a service between a device and an external device, the method comprising:

receiving, by the device, a voice input in response to a voice command being input;

generating and outputting first information based on the received voice input, wherein the first information comprises an authentication key having a unique string generated using a voice waveform of the received voice input and a timestamp corresponding to the input of the voice command;

changing device information of the device using the first information;

searching for an external device having device information corresponding to the first information to be connected with the device;

receiving, by the device, second information corresponding to the first information;

determining an operation mode according to the first information and the received second information;

connecting to the external device in the determined operation mode of the device; and

performing a service with the connected external device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the device information is a device identifier changed using the string of the authentication key.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein searching for the external device comprises:

searching among surrounding devices; and

determining a device having device information coinciding with the authentication key among the searched surrounding devices as the external device,

wherein connecting to the external device comprises;

transmitting a connection request to the external device for connection.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein connecting to the external device comprises:

comparing an authentication key generated and transmitted by the external device at the time of receiving the connection request with device information of the device; and

transmitting a connection approval to the external device when the device information of the external device coincides with the authentication key.

13. A method of connecting a service between a device and an external device using a voice, the method comprising:

recording, by the device, a timestamp and waiting for reception of an input of a voice in response to a voice command being input;

receiving input of the voice, recording the received input of the voice, and generating recording data based upon the received input of the voice;

generating voice information according to the recorded timestamp, the recording data and a device address of the device;

transmitting the generated voice information to a server;

receiving service information from the server;

checking an operation mode of the device, the device address of an external device for connection and of an execution service according to the service information;

connecting the device to the external device according to the checked operation mode; and

performing, upon connecting to the external device, a service with the connected external device according to the checked execution service and according to the checked operation mode.

14. A method of connecting a service using a voice, the method comprising:

recording, by a first device, a timestamp and waiting for reception of an input of a voice in response to a voice command being input;

receiving input of the voice and generating recording data by recording the input of the voice;

generating first voice information that includes the recorded timestamp, the recording data, and a device address of the device;

loading the generated first voice information as audio data and outputting the loaded audio data through a speaker of the first device;

receiving second voice information output through a speaker of a second device through a microphone of the first device;

determining, using the first voice information and the second voice information, an operation mode of the first device, a device address of the second device for establishing a connection with the first device, and an execution service;

connecting the first device to the second device according to the determined operation mode; and

performing, upon connecting the first device to the second device, a service according to the determined execution service and according to the determined operation mode of the first device.

15. A method of connecting a service between a device and an external device using a voice, the method comprising:

recording a timestamp and waiting for reception of an input of a voice in response to a voice command being input;

receiving input of the voice and generating recording data by recording the input of the voice;

generating, when input of the voice command is released, an authentication key having a unique string by using a voice waveform of the recording data and the recorded timestamp;

changing device information for identifying the device using the authentication key;

searching for an external device to be connected with the device having device information corresponding to the authentication key at a preset communication mode;

connecting the device and the external device through transmission of a connection request and reception of a connection approval; and

performing, upon connecting with the external device, the service.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein searching for the external device comprises:

searching among surrounding devices at the preset communication mode; and

determining a device having device information coinciding with the string of a voice waveform portion of the authentication key among the surrounding devices as the external device.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

comparing a string of a time information portion of the authentication key with a string of a time information portion of the device information so as to determine an operation mode of the device.

18. A device for supporting a service connection between a device and an external device by using an input voice, the device comprising:

a storage unit; and

a controller, wherein the controller executes at least one program stored in the storage unit to control the device to;

receive a voice input in response to a voice command being input,

transmit first information to a server based on the received voice input,

receive, from the server, second information corresponding to the first information, wherein the second information includes an operation mode determined for the device, a device address of an external device, and execution information of a service to be executed,

recognize the operation mode according to the received second information, wherein the operation mode is one of a master mode and a slave mode,

connect the device to an external device according to the service and operation mode, and

perform, with the connected external device, the service.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded a program for performing a method of connecting a service between a device and an external device, the method comprising:

receiving, by the device, a voice input in response that a voice command being input;

transmitting to a server first information based on the received voice input;

receiving, by the device from the server, second information corresponding to the first information, wherein the second information includes an operation mode determined for the device, a device address of an external device, and execution information of a service to be executed;

recognizing the operation mode according to the received second information, wherein the operation mode is one of a master mode and a slave mode;

connecting the device to the external device according to the service and operation mode; and

performing, with the external device, the service.

20. A method for a server, comprising:

receiving, by the server, first information from a first device, wherein the first information is based on a voice input recorded by the first device in response to a voice command and comprises recording data and a timestamp;

searching, by the server, for a second device having third information corresponding to the recording data and timestamp of the first information;

if a second device is found, determining, by the server, an operation for each of the first device and the second device by at least checking the timestamp of the first information and a timestamp of the third information;

generating, by the server, second information indicating an operation mode of each of the first device and the second device, the device address of the second device, and information regarding a service to be executed when the first and second device are connected; and

transmitting the generated second information to each of the first device and the second device,

wherein the first and second devices connect in the operation mode indicated by the second information, and

wherein the connected first and second devices execute the service as indicated by information regarding the service in the second information.