Data processing: speech signal processing – linguistics – language – Speech signal processing – Application
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-13
2001-11-20
Ŝmits, T{overscore (a)}livaldis Ivars (Department: 2641)
Data processing: speech signal processing, linguistics, language
Speech signal processing
Application
C379S088010, C381S110000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321199
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a method for controlling an electronic device, in particular a mobile station in a mobile radio network.
Electronic devices such as personal computers (PC) are normally controlled by inputting commands via a keyboard or by selecting commands from appropriate menus using a mouse. Furthermore, PC control programs which react to acoustic voice commands already exist.
In order to control a computer using voice commands, it is in this case necessary for the acoustic input device to have a voice recognition unit which preferably has a learning capability, analyses the spoken words and compares them with the stored voice commands, in order to cause the corresponding command to be executed if a spoken word matches a stored voice command.
This known use of voice commands to control a PC admittedly has the advantage that the user's hands are in this case free for other tasks, but requires that he know the desired commands exactly. The search for a command that is unknown but whose nature is supposed is frequently carried out, for example, using a mouse, but is virtually impossible with voice commands.
In the case of fixed telephone networks, it is also known for the individual digits from 0 to 9 to be allocated tones using the DTMF (Dual Tone Multi Frequency) method, in order to transmit the dialled telephone number as a corresponding sequence of frequencies when dialling a telephone number.
The allocation of digits to frequencies is also used, for example, for remote interrogation of telephone answering machines, in order to transmit appropriate digit codes via the fixed-installed telephone lines.
The production of the individual frequencies for the tone dialling method and remote interrogation of telephone answering machines are normally carried out by appropriate frequency generators, which must in turn be operated via an appropriate keypad.
In the case of mobile stations in a mobile radio network, that is to say in the case of mobile telephones, operation is normally carried out via the telephone keypad and appropriate additional function keys. Mobile telephones in this case have only limited space for arranging additional control keys, so that additional functions, which could be integrated without any problems as the miniaturization of the electronic components progresses further, can be provided only with difficulty.
Using an acoustic command input, it would be possible to provide a remedy for this, in order to provide additional functions, improving user-friendliness, in a mobile telephone.
In vehicle navigation systems as well, the selection of destination addresses, that is to say the area, road, house number and possibly the selection of navigation information, that is to say the selection of possible alternative routes, such as motorways or motorway sections, could also be simplified by acoustic control.
With this in mind, the invention is based on the object of providing a method for controlling an electronic device, in particular a mobile station in a mobile radio network, to give a user the capability to carry out acoustic control in a simple manner, using his voice.
The invention thus provides that, in order to control an electronic device or a mobile telephone, a sound is varied in order to select from a plurality of predetermined options. The predetermined options may in this case be individual control commands from a user menu, individual data records from stored lists, such as from a telephone directory, or the individual values of continuously variable parameters.
Thus, in the case of the method according to the invention, a user can select from a list of options or can set a continuous parameter by variation of a sound produced by his voice, in the same way as using a rolling bar or scroll bar.
The method according to the invention can be used in mobile telephones, for example, in order to use a list of names to select from a telephone directory for dialling a telephone number of someone with whom one wishes to speak, so that the appropriate telephone number can then be dialled.
Alternatively, the method according to the invention can also be used, for example, for remote control of broadcast radio or television sets in order, for example, to select a programme or to set the reproduction volume.
In a preferred refinement, the invention provides that the predetermined options are sequentially assigned to an adjustable frequency range between a lowest frequency and a highest frequency, and that the frequency of the sound is varied in the set frequency range. As an alternative or in addition to this, it is expedient for the predetermined options to be assigned to different tonal qualities, and for the tonal quality of the sound to be varied.
One specific refinement of the invention is distinguished by the fact that various groups of predetermined options are assigned to different tonal qualities, while the individual options in each group are assigned to individual frequencies in a set frequency range, and that a group of predetermined options is first selected by varying the tonal quality, and the frequency of the sound is then varied in order to select an option from the selected group.
In the situation where the intention is to select only one item from a single list of options, that is to say for example a data record or a control command from a corresponding list of data or commands, or where only a single parameter is to be set, the variation of the frequency is particularly appropriate, since it is normally very easy for a user to deliberately vary the frequency with his voice. The variation of the tonal quality of a sound produced by the voice is particularly expedient when a selection among only a few options is to be made. If, for example, only individual control commands are intended to be selected, then it is feasible to allocate the tonal quality of a vowel sound to each control command. If there are more than eight selection options, it is admittedly still possible to carry out a selection by varying the tonal quality of the sound by articulating intermediate tonal qualities between the vowel sounds, but frequency variation is preferable in this case.
Variation of both the frequency and the tonal quality of a sound produced by the human voice opens up the possibility for a two-dimensional search in that, for example, the tonal quality is used first of all to select one of a number of lists or one of a number of parameters, before then selecting a specific option from the list or setting a specific parameter value by varying the frequency.
In order to provide real two-dimensionality in the selection of an option from a large number of two-dimensionally structured options, as is possible, for example, using a conventional computer mouse, the invention provides for the tonal quality and the frequency of the sound to be varied at the same time in order to select one option from a plurality of two-dimensional options.
Varying the tonal quality and frequency of a sound at the same time makes it possible for a user, in particular a practised user, to access the option to be selected acoustically and immediately without first of all having to vary the tonal quality to search in one direction, and then vary the frequency to search in the other direction.
For practical application, the invention provides that the predetermined options are control commands, which are combined in groups into menus and/or that the predetermined options are data which are stored in list form.
Particularly in the case of remote control of an electronic appliance in which one or more parameters can be set, it is advantageous if the options to be selected are formed by adjustable and selectable values of the parameter or parameters for operation of the electronic device. This development of the invention is expedient in particular when a plurality of parameters have to be set by the user more or less at the same time when using or handling the electronic appliance, while he is handling a tool supplied by the electronic appliance and thus has no hands free f
Gortz Udo
Salomaki Ari
Theimer Wolfgang
Ŝmits T{overscore (a)}livaldis Ivars
Nokia Mobile Phones Limited
Perman & Green LLP
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