User device having a voice recognition function and an operation method thereof

• US 9,836,275 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2014
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Cha, Soon-Hyun, Kim, Yang-Su, Cho, Jae-Wan, Hwang, Sun-Min
• Primary Examiner(s): Cordero, Marivelisse Santiago
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguezgonzalez, Lennin
• Application Number:
  US14/253,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20140316777A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback

Abstract

A user device having a voice recognition function and an operation method thereof are provided. The operation method includes detecting whether there is an input from at least one sensor in response to execution of an application which may use voice recognition and activating or inactivating the voice recognition in response to the detection of the input.

Claims

1. A method in an electronic device comprising:

detecting an execution of an application; and

in response to a determination that the application is operable to perform at least one function based on a voice command, activating or inactivating a voice recognition function using a microphone of the electronic device based on whether a touch input or hovering input is detected by a touch sensor in a screen of the electronic device,

wherein, when the touch input or hovering input is detected, the voice recognition function using the microphone is inactivated while executing the application,

wherein the voice recognition function using the microphone is inactivated within a threshold time elapsed after the touch input or hovering input is detected while executing the application, and

wherein the voice recognition function using the microphone is activated once the threshold time has elapsed without another touch input or hovering input after the touch input or hovering is detected.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying of whether the electronic device is in the proximity of the user depends on an input generated from a grip sensor or a proximity sensor, and

activating the voice recognition function using the microphone while executing the application when the input from the grip sensor or the proximity sensor is detected,

wherein the grip sensor is configured to detect a microcurrent in association with the input, and

wherein the proximity sensor is configured to detect a change of capacitance in association with the input.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether an external microphone is electronically connected to the electronic device;

in response to the determination that the external microphone is electronically connected to the electronic device, activating the voice recognition function using the external microphone; and

in response to the determination that the external microphone is not electronically connected to the electronic device, activating the voice recognition function using a microphone of the electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the application, which is operable to perform the at least one function based on the voice command, includes a camera application.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one function of the camera application includes a photographing function.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

displaying a photographing button on the screen according to the executed application,

wherein the photographing button is used for the photographing function.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the application, which is operable to perform the at least one function based on the voice command, includes at least one of a music playback application or an e-book application.

8. An electronic device comprising:

a screen with a touch sensor; and

a processor configured to;

detect an execution of an application, and

in response to a determination that the application is operable to perform the at least one function based on a voice command, activate or inactivate a voice recognition function using a microphone of the electronic device based on whether a touch input or hovering input is detected by the touch sensor in the screen,

wherein, when the touch input or hovering input is detected, the voice recognition function using the microphone is inactivated while executing the application,

wherein the voice recognition function using the microphone is inactivated within a threshold time elapsed after the touch input or hovering input is detected while executing the application, and

wherein the voice recognition function using the microphone is activated once the threshold time has elapsed without another touch input or hovering input after the touch input or hovering input is detected.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, further comprising a grip sensor or a proximity sensor,

wherein the processor is further configured to:

identify of whether the electronic device is in the proximity of the user depends on an input generated from the grip sensor or the proximity sensor, and

activate the voice recognition function using the microphone while executing the application when the input from the grip sensor or the proximity sensor is detected,

wherein the grip sensor is configured to detect a microcurrent in association with the input, and

wherein the proximity sensor is configured to detect a change of capacitance in association with the input.

10. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine whether an external microphone is electronically connected to the electronic device,

in response to the determination that the external microphone is electronically connected to the electronic device, activate the voice recognition function using the external microphone, and

in response to the determination that the external microphone is not electronically connected to the electronic device, activate the voice recognition function using a microphone of the electronic device.

11. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the application, which is operable to perform the at least one function based on the voice command, includes a camera application.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the at least one function of the camera application includes a photographing function.

13. The electronic device of claim 12,

wherein the processor is further configured to display a photographing button on the screen according to the executed application, and

wherein the photographing button is used for the photographing function.

14. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the application, which is operable to perform the at least one function based on the voice command, includes at least one of a music playback application or an e-book application.