Telecommunications – Transmitter and receiver at same station – Radiotelephone equipment detail
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-23
2001-05-29
Hunter, Daniel (Department: 2749)
Telecommunications
Transmitter and receiver at same station
Radiotelephone equipment detail
C455S406000, C455S550100, C455S564000, C379S088060
Reexamination Certificate
active
06240303
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a voice recognition system for mobile telephones. More specifically, the present invention is a voice recognition system for mobile telephones which is activated by an enhanced recognition button and allows the mobile telephone user to operate the mobile telephone in a hands free mode.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
While mobile telephones offer convenience and benefits to drivers, they come at the expense of road safety. It has been statistically proven that drivers who are using mobile telephones while operating a vehicle are four times more likely to be involved in an accident. Presently, most mobile telephones require the driver to use one hand to hold the mobile telephone thereby forcing the driver to drive with only one hand. Since the driver is using one hand to hold the mobile telephone and the other hand to hold the steering wheel, shifting a standard shift vehicle or signaling becomes hazardous. In order for the driver to shift gears, the driver must either release the mobile telephone or the steering wheel. Typically, drivers release the steering wheel to shift gears. Driving a vehicle with no hands on the steering wheel is not a preferred method of driving. However, when it comes to signaling, drivers typically do not release the steering wheel or the mobile telephone, drivers just forego signaling. Changing lanes or turning without signaling is a safety concern and can lead to accidents.
Unfortunately, these are not the only problems drivers encounter when operating a vehicle and using a mobile telephone at the same time. Problems also occur when a driver receives a telephone call, the driver has to activate the mobile telephone to receive the call. The driver either takes his eyes off of the road or blindly tries to locate and activate the mobile telephone.
Similar problems also occur when a driver wishes to place a telephone call. To place a call, the driver must locate and activate the mobile telephone. When the driver attempts to dial a telephone number, he must divert his eyes from the road to the mobile telephone to locate the number keys. Whenever a driver must divert his eyes from the road, the driver is risking the possibility of an accident.
In response to these problems, some countries have outlawed the use of non-speaker mobile telephones in vehicles. However, the use of speaker phones solve only some of these problems. Drivers using speaker mobile telephones still have to locate and activate the mobile telephone. In addition, whenever a driver wishes to make a telephone call, the driver must dial the telephone number. To dial a telephone number the driver must divert his eyes from the road to the mobile telephone risking the possibility of causing an accident.
Therefore there is a need to reduce the risk of a driver being involved in an accident when a driver is using a mobile telephone while operating a vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the need for reducing the risk of a driver being involved in an accident when a driver is using a mobile telephone while operating a vehicle.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to allow a driver to use a mobile telephone in a hands-free manner.
A further object of the present invention is to allow a driver to use voice commands to operate a mobile telephone.
A further object of the present invention is to allow a driver to place telephone calls using a voice recognition system.
A further object of the present invention is to allow a driver to call pre-stored telephone numbers using a voice recognition system.
A further object of the present invention is to allow a driver to answer a telephone call using a voice recognition system.
A further object of the present invention is to allow a driver to select options from a menu using a voice recognition system.
The present invention is a voice recognition system that allows a driver to reduce his risk of being involved in an accident while operating a vehicle and using a mobile telephone. The present invention is a mobile telephone having a voice recognition system which receives and acts on voice commands. Once the voice recognition system is activated, the mobile telephone can be operated in a hands free mode. The voice recognition system is used to automatically perform the same functions as a keypad. Since a driver can use just the voice recognition system, a keypad is no longer necessary. A mobile telephone equipped with a voice recognition system of the present invention requires only two buttons, a power button and a voice recognition button. The power button is used to turn the mobile telephone on and off. The voice recognition button is used to activate and deactivate the voice recognition system.
To provide further safety, the voice recognition button is implemented to provide easier activation of the voice recognition system. To distinguish the voice recognition button from other buttons or keys located on a mobile telephone, the voice recognition button is physically enhanced to differ from the other buttons. The enhanced voice recognition button can differ from the other buttons in type, size, color, texture and location. By using a different type of button for the enhanced voice recognition button, the button will be easier to distinguish. By using a larger button for the enhanced voice recognition button, the button will be easier to feel. By using a bright or different color button for the enhanced voice recognition button, the button will be easier to see as well. By using a different textured button for the enhanced voice recognition button, the button will feel different from the other buttons and be easier to locate by touch. The enhanced voice recognition button can also be located or positioned in a more accessible or convenient location on the mobile telephone to provide easy access.
Once the voice recognition system is activated, a driver can use voice commands to execute basic telephone functions. For instance, the command “dial” followed by a telephone number can be used to command the mobile telephone to dial the telephone number which the driver dictated. The command “call” followed by either a name or number can be used to dial a pre-stored telephone number. The command “answer” can be used to allow the driver to receive an incoming telephone call. All of these commands allow a driver to operate his vehicle and mobile telephone without having to hold the mobile telephone. Since the mobile telephone can be operated in a hands free mode, the driver is less susceptible to being involved in an accident.
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Hunter Daniel
Motorola Inc.
Tran Pablo
LandOfFree
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