Voice enabled remote control for a set-top box

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9852614-B2
Application number	US-201514819613-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 6, 2015
Priority date	Jun 20, 2008
Publication date	Dec 26, 2017
Grant date	Dec 26, 2017

Abstract

A remote control device includes a digital audio storage device, a talk button, and an optical distance measurer. The digital audio storage device is configured to continually record an audio input for a specific amount of time. The talk button is coupled to the digital audio storage device and is configured to initiate a transmission of the audio input to a set-top box device. The optical distance measurer is coupled to the talk button and is configured to automatically measure a distance to a user in response to the talk button being pressed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A remote control device, comprising:
a processing system including a processor; and
a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
receiving audio input from a user responsive to detecting user input;
measuring a distance to the user to generate an audio threshold;
performing voice recognition on the audio input to determine a command function while the audio input satisfies the audio threshold;
monitoring a volume level of the audio input to detect when the volume level falls below the audio threshold;
measuring a length of time after the volume level falls below the audio threshold;
determining if a command indicator input has been received from the user within a predetermined length of time after the volume level falls below the audio threshold; and
transmitting the command function to a media device responsive to detecting the volume level falling below the audio threshold and responsive to a determination that the command indicator input has been received within the predetermined length of time.

2. The remote control device of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise continuously recording the audio input over a predetermined amount of time.

3. The remote control device of claim 1 , further comprising a two-way digital audio transmitter to perform the transmitting.

4. The remote control device of claim 3 , further comprising a speaker, wherein the speaker outputs digital audio signals received from the media device through the two-way digital audio transmitter.

5. The remote control device of claim 3 , further comprising an audio output connected to the two-way digital audio transmitter, the audio output configured to output digital audio signals received from the media device to an external audio output device.

6. The remote control device of claim 1 , wherein the command indicator input is detected upon a talk button being pressed.

7. The remote control device of claim 1 , wherein the distance is transmitted to the media device to indicate a modified amplification level of the command function, and
wherein the distance is compared to a threshold distance to determine the modified amplification level.

8. The remote control device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a microphone to receive the audio input; and
a light emitting diode associated with the microphone, the light emitting diode being lit in response to the user input being detected,
wherein the audio threshold is a volume level.

9. The remote control device of claim 8 , wherein, upon the user input ceases, the light emitting diode ceases being lit, and wherein additional audio input is recorded until the volume level falls below the threshold.

10. A method, the method comprising:
obtaining, by a media control device comprising a processor, an audio input;
measuring, by the media control device, a distance to a user providing the audio input as a measured distance to generate a threshold;
detecting, by the media control device, when the audio input has ceased by comparing the audio input to the threshold;
measuring, by the media control device, a length of time after a volume level of the audio input falls below an audio threshold;
determining, by the media control device, if a command indicator input has been received from the user after the volume level falls below the audio threshold; and
providing, by the media control device, the audio input to a media device being controlled by the media control device to perform voice recognition on the audio input to determine a command function for controlling operations of the media device responsive to detecting the audio input has ceased and responsive to a determination that the command indicator input has been received.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising continuously recording the audio input over a predetermined amount of time after the command indicator input has ceased.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising automatically transmitting the command function after the command indicator input has ceased.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the measured distance is transmitted to the media device to indicate a modified amplification level of the command function, and wherein the measured distance is compared to a threshold distance to determine the modified amplification level.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising activating a light emitting diode responsive to the command indicator input, and wherein the command indicator input is detected upon a talk button being pressed.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising, responsive to the command indicator input ceasing, ceasing the activation of the light emitting diode, and wherein additional audio input is recorded until the volume level falls below the audio threshold.

16. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
receiving an audio input;
measuring a distance to a user providing the audio input to determine a threshold for detecting when the user ceases to provide the audio input;
detecting, according to the threshold, that the audio input has ceased to be provided by the user;
measuring a length of time after the audio input falls below the threshold;
determining if a command indicator input has been received from the user within a predetermined length of time after the audio input falls below the threshold;
performing voice recognition on the audio input to determine a command function for controlling a media device responsive to the detecting that the audio input has ceased to be provided by the user; and
transmitting the command function to the media device responsive to the detecting that the audio input has ceased to be provided by the user and responsive to a determination that the command indicator input has been received within the predetermined length of time.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the transmitting is performed by a two-way digital audio transmitter, and wherein the command indicator input is detected upon a talk button being pressed.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein operations further comprise outputting digital audio signals received from the media device through the two-way digital audio transmitter.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the distance is compared to a threshold distance to determine a modified amplification level.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise providing an indication that the input command has been received and has not ceased.

Assignees

• Nuance Communications Inc

Inventors

• Chang Hisao
• Arizmendi Iker

Classifications

• G08C17/00 Primary

  Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link · CPC title

• G08C2201/31

  Voice input · CPC title

• G10L15/00

  Speech recognition (G10L17/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G10L15/26

  Speech to text systems (G10L15/08 takes precedence) · CPC title