Method and Apparatus for Voice Control User Interface with Discreet Operating Mode

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016253149-A1
Application number	US-201514631924-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 26, 2015
Priority date	Feb 26, 2015
Publication date	Sep 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electronic device includes a voice control interface engine operative in a first mode to receive a speech command, through a microphone, from a first distance and produce, through a loudspeaker and in response to the speech command, an audible output at a first output level. One or more processors are operable with one or more sensors to detect a predefined user input. The one or more processors can then transition the voice control interface engine to a second mode operative to receive the speech command from a second distance and produce, in response to the speech command, the audible output at a second output level, where the second distance is less than the first distance and the second output level less than the first output level.

First claim

1 . A method comprising:
operating a voice control interface engine of an electronic device in a first mode operative to receive a speech command from a first distance and produce, in response to the speech command, an audible output at a first output level; detecting, with one or more motion detectors operable with one or more processors of the electronic device to determine a spatial orientation of the electronic device in three-dimensional space, a predefined user input comprising a lifting of the electronic device from a first elevation to a second elevation; and causing, with the one or more processors, the voice control interface engine to transition to a second mode operative to receive the speech command from a second distance and produce, in response to the speech command, the audible output at a second output level; the second distance less than the first distance and the second output level less than the first output level.

2 . The method of claim 1 , the detecting comprising identifying, with one or more sensors operable with the one or more processors, a predefined gesture input.

3 . The method of claim 1 , the second elevation greater than the first elevation.

4 . The method of claim 2 , the predefined gesture input comprising moving the electronic device from a first position distally located from a user to a second position proximately located with the user.

5 . The method of claim 4 , the second position proximately located with a user's head.

6 . The method of claim 2 , the predefined gesture input comprising a predefined motion about the electronic device.

7 . The method of claim 1 , the detecting comprising identifying, with a user interface, actuation of a user actuation target.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising redirecting the audible output to an earpiece loudspeaker of the electronic device.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising returning, with the one or more processors, the voice control interface engine to the first mode in response to identifying a predefined condition.

10 . The method of claim 9 , the predefined condition comprising a predefined gesture input.

11 . The method of claim 9 , the predefined condition comprising expiration of a timer.

12 . An apparatus comprising:
a motion detector operable to detect whether the apparatus is stationary; a voice control interface engine operative in a first mode to receive a speech command, through a microphone, from a first distance and produce, through a loudspeaker and in response to the speech command, an audible output at a first output level; one or more processors operable with one or more sensors, the one or more processors to:
detect, with the motion detector, a predefined user input moving the electronic device in three-dimensional space; and
transition the voice control interface engine to a second mode operative to receive the speech command from a second distance and produce, in response to the speech command, the audible output at a second output level;
the second distance less than the first distance and the second output level less than the first output level.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , the predefined user input comprising a gesture input.

14 . The apparatus of claim 12 , the predefined user input comprising a touch input.

15 . The apparatus of claim 12 , the predefined user input comprising a predefined movement of the apparatus.

16 . The apparatus of claim 12 , the voice control interface engine operative in the second mode to output the audible output from a second loudspeaker different from the loudspeaker.

17 . The apparatus of claim 12 , the one or more processors further operable to, with the one or more sensors, detect a predefined condition and cause the voice control interface engine to return to the first mode.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising a timer operable with the one or more processors, the predefined condition comprising expiration of the timer.

19 . The apparatus of claim 17 , the predefined condition comprising a predefined movement of the apparatus.

20 . The apparatus of claim 17 , the apparatus comprising an electronic device, the predefined condition comprising placement of the electronic device into a low power or sleep mode.

Assignees

• Motorola Mobility Llc

Inventors

• Iyer Boby
• Foy Kevin O

Classifications

• G06F3/04883

  for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text · CPC title

• G06F1/1684

  Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675 · CPC title

• G06F1/1694

  the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer · CPC title

• G10L2015/225

  Feedback of the input speech · CPC title

• G06F1/1643

  the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads (details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615) · CPC title