Telecommunications – Transmitter and receiver at same station – Radiotelephone equipment detail
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-03
2001-04-03
Hunter, Daniel (Department: 2684)
Telecommunications
Transmitter and receiver at same station
Radiotelephone equipment detail
C455S460000, C455S550100, C455S564000, C455S565000, C455S575100, C379S088010, C379S088020, C379S088030, C379S355020
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212408
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to telephonic systems and handsets and more specifically to a system and method for facilitating voice commands with telephone and communication systems.
2. Related Art
The advent of wireless personal communication devices has revolutionized the telecommunications industry. Cordless telephones, as well as Cellular, PCS, emerging satellite networks and other wireless services provide wireless personal communications to businesses and individuals at home, in the office, on the road, and virtually anywhere the wireless network reaches. Wireless telephone subscribers no longer have to stop at pay telephones along the road, or wait until they return home or to the office to check messages and return important business calls. Instead, wireless subscribers carry out their day to day business from their cars, from the job site, while walking along the airport concourse, and just about anywhere their signals are accessible.
Additionally, the popularity of the speakerphone, for both mobile and fixed phones has grown steadily. The speakerphone feature enables users to conduct other tasks while carrying on a conversation without having to hold the instrument to their ear. In the car, the user can drive with preferably with both hands on the wheel and both eyes on the road. At home or in the office, the user can carry on other tasks while also carrying on a conversation.
Thus, it is no surprise that since the introduction of the cellular telephone service, the number of wireless telephone subscribers has increased steadily. Today, the number of wireless telephone subscribers is staggering and still growing rapidly. In fact, many households have multiple wireless telephones in addition to their conventional land-line services. Additionally, the popularity of speakerphones has grown as well. Almost every office telephone includes a speakerphone feature in today's modern workplace.
With markets of this size, there is fierce competition among hardware and equipment manufacturers as well as among service providers. In an attempt to lure customers, most manufacturers and providers offer handsets with desirable features or attributes such as small size, light weight, longer battery life, speed dial, and so forth. Many recent additions to the marketplace include multi-functional handsets that even provide pocket-organizer functions integrated into the wireless handset. Most manufacturers, however, are still scrambling to add new features to their communication devices to snare a portion of this booming market. One disadvantage that exists with many current devices and services, however, is that their hands-free capabilities are somewhat limited. With conventional technology, hands-free operation is limited to speakerphone capabilities that only allow a user to converse in a hands-free mode.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed toward systems and methods implementing a voice command mode with an electronic device such as, for example a communication device. In one implementation of the invention, a voice command mode is provided with communication hand set or device such as, for example, a telephone, a cordless phone, a wireless handset, a satellite phone, or other communication device. There is methods and techniques can be provided to allow the voice to enter the voice command mode and exit from the voice command mode in a manner that is advantageously beneficial to a user.
According to one aspect to the invention, several techniques can be provided to allow or to cause the communication device to enter into the voice command mode. For example, manual entry may be requested by the user in response to a button activity, such as, for example depressing or manipulating a button or switch, a key stroke, a key sequence, or other manual operation. Additionally, manual entry may be requested by a spoken command that is interpreted as instructing the device to enter the voice command mode.
According to another aspect of the invention, the communication device can be programmed to automatically enter the voice command mode based on the occurrence of certain events or conditions. For example, on the occurrence of an incoming call in the idle mode, the system can automatically enter the voice command mode, allowing the user to provide a voice command indicating whether the device should answer the call, ignore the call, or send the incoming call to voice mail. As another example, the communication device may be programmed to automatically enter the voice command mode upon the initiation of a call to a particular recipient, or upon a receipt of a call from a particular caller. This scenario can be especially useful in situations such as those where the other party to the call is an automated system that utilizes DTMF tones or other signals for operation or navigation. As yet a further example, the communication device can be programmed to automatically enter the voice command mode when connected to a hands-free kit.
Once in the voice command mode, the communication device can interpret one or more voice commands received by the user, and can act on those voice commands. For example, according to one aspect of the invention, the voice command mode can allow the user to vocally request key stroke inputs, and can convert this vocal input into appropriate tones (such as, for example DTMF tones). The communication device can communicate these DTMF tones across the communication channel. In other words, in the voice command mode, the user can, through voice commands, vocally enter a number or alphanumeric sequence without physically having to press the number or sequence on the keypad. The communication device in interpreting these commands, causes the number or sequence to be “dialed.”
Thus, in voice command mode, the user can vocally command the communication device to look-up a number for a desired party and to dial that number. Furthermore, the voice command mode can be implemented in scenarios where the user is accessing a menu-driven system such as, for example, voice mail systems, automated account systems, paging systems, and other automated systems. Consider for example using the voice command mode to access a voice mail system. The user can place a call to or receive a call from the voice mail system. Using the voice command mode, the user can enter his or her password information by speaking the password (usually a numeric sequence) instead of pressing the sequence. Additionally, the user can navigate through the voice-mail system options with voice commands as opposed to physical keystroke entries.
The same advantages can be found by accessing other automated systems as well. Thus, in these and other scenarios, the user does not need to constantly remove the handset from his or her ear, enter key strokes, replace the handset to his or her ear, enter another key stroke, and so on. Instead, by interpreting voice instructions, and dialing the sequence for the user, the operation is easier and more convenient for the user.
As with entry into the voice command mode, several techniques and scenarios can be provided for exiting the voice command mode as well. For example, manual exit of the voice command mode can be provided in the form of a physical action performed by the user, or even a voice command provided by the user such as, for example, “exit voice command mode.” This manual mode allows the user direct control over when he or she exits the voice command mode.
According to another aspect of the invention, additional techniques can be provided for exiting the voice command mode. These additional techniques can include automatic exiting upon the expiration of a timeout period, upon the receipt of a pre-determined period of silence, and upon the issuance of a certain commands, command sequences, or upon the occurrence of other defined conditions. The provisions for automatically exiting the voice command mode can be implemented to provide a more seamless or transparent operation to th
Chen Swan
Chung Jong T.
Son William Y.
Hunter Daniel
Innovative Global Solution, Inc.
Lyon & Lyon LLP
Woldetatios Yemane
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