Telephonic communications – Audio message storage – retrieval – or synthesis – Voice activation or recognition
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-20
2003-11-11
Hoosain, Allan (Department: 2645)
Telephonic communications
Audio message storage, retrieval, or synthesis
Voice activation or recognition
C379S088020, C379S088030, C379S088070, C379S088160, C379S201010, C379S201020
Reexamination Certificate
active
06647097
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a telephone system for voice recognition which permits verbal dialing of a telephone number by recognizing the voice of the user of the telephone system.
An existing private branch exchange (PBX) or a key service unit (KSU) has the main unit equipped with a control section and a verbal telephone directory data storage section, both being provided for the purpose of fulfilling a voice recognition function. Verbal dialing of a telephone number can be effected by verbally accessing the verbal telephone directory data storage section over the telephone.
FIG. 3
is a block diagram showing the configuration of an existing key service unit having a voice recognition function. A main unit
1
comprises a system control section
12
, and the system control section
12
is connected to a station circuit interface
13
to be connected to a station circuit, an extension interface
14
to be connected to the key service unit
2
, a voice recognition control section
15
which fulfills a voice recognition function, and a verbal telephone directory memory section
16
.
The key service unit
2
further comprises a power supply section
21
, a handset
22
, a call circuit section
23
connected to the handset
22
, and a main unit interface
24
for connecting the call circuit section
23
to the main unit
1
. The main unit interface
24
is connected to a key matrix section
25
, an LED (light-emitting diode) display
26
, and an LCD (liquid-crystal display)
27
.
With the foregoing circuit configuration, when the key service unit
2
is connected to the main unit
1
, a d.c. power supply to be used by the key service unit
2
is generated. When the handset
22
of the key service unit
2
is picked up from a hook and dial buttons are pressed, the key matrix
25
detects data related to the thus-dialed telephone number and sends the dial data to the system control section
12
by way of the main unit interface
24
and the extension interface
14
.
If the dial data requires a local call within the station, the system control section
12
connects a communication channel of the station interface
13
to a communication channel of the extension interface
14
, enabling the user to make a call from the hand set
22
by way of the main unit interface
24
and the call circuit section
23
of the key service unit
2
.
In a case where information relating to the state of the call at this time, the system control section
12
provided in the main unit
1
controls the LED display
26
and the LCD
27
by way of the extension interface
14
and the main unit interface
24
so as to display predetermined information.
Next, the voice recognition function will be described. When a key of the key service unit
2
used for bringing the key service unit into a voice recognition mode is pressed, the key matrix
25
detects data relating to the thus-pressed key and transmits the thus-detected data to the system control section
12
by way of the min unit interface
24
and the extension interface
14
.
The system control section
12
connects the voice recognition control section
15
to the key service unit
2
and sounds a beep by way of the extension interface
14
, the main unit interface
24
, the call circuit
23
, and the handset
22
to let the user know the connection. Further, pre-registered display data are transmitted to and displayed on the LCD
27
by way of the extension interface
14
and the main unit interface
24
, thereby urging the user to perform a verbal input operation.
The user performs a verbal input operation according to instructions. The thus-input signal is compared with data which are stored in the verbal telephone directory memory section
16
beforehand and which respond to unspecified calling parties. If there is a match between the input signal and the data, the voice recognition control section
15
transmits dial information relating to the name of the calling party and dials a telephone number corresponding to the phone-number information. In this way, it is possible even for the existing key service unit to fulfill the voice recognition function.
As mentioned previously, since the existing PBX or KSU has the control section for fulfilling the voice recognition function, the voice recognition function of the PBX or KSU is set so as to respond to unspecified calling parties because of a necessity to allow all the users of the KSU to make a phone call, resulting in an insufficient rate of recognition of every user. Further, another problem of the existing PBX or KSU is that an operating guide is provided for the user only in the form of a message on the LCD and a beep sound, which makes it difficult for the user to use the PBX or KSU.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been conceived to solve the foregoing problems in the existing PBX or KSU, and the object of the present invention is to provide a telephone system for voice recognition which has superior voice recognition performance and operability.
A telephone system for voice recognition according to the present invention is characterized by the feature that the telephone system to be connected to a main unit of a private branch exchange or a key service unit comprises a verbal telephone directory memory section for storing information relating to the voice of the user (hereinafter often referred to as “voice information”) and information relating to telephone numbers (hereinafter often referred to as “phone-number information”), a control section which recognizes user's input voice by means of the voice information and which controls a dialing operation on the basis of the phone-number information, and a predetermined guidance memory section which stores instruction data used for giving instructions to the user in the form of voice or an indication.
By virtue of the present invention, there is provided a telephone system for voice recognition having superior voice recognition performance and operability.
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patent: 6-2849 (2000-02-01), None
Hoosain Allan
Matsushita Electric - Industrial Co., Ltd.
Pearne & Gordon LLP
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