# US 2014/0156281 A1 · Voice-controlled configuration of an automation system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0156281 A1 - Document ID: US20140156281A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/692,489 - Filed: 2012-12-03 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-03 - Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Applicants: Qualcomm Incorporated - Inventors: John D. BOYD; James B. CARY; Geoffrey C. WENGER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156281A1 ## CPC - G10L 21/00: Speech or voice signal processing techniques to produce another audible or non-audible signal, e.g. visual or tactile, in order to modify its quality or its intelligibility (G10L19/00 takes precedence) - H04L 12/281: {indicating a format for calling an appliance service function in a home automation network (for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025)} - H04L 12/2818: {from a device located outside both the home and the home network (access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007)} - H04L 12/282: {based on user interaction within the home (receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204)} - H04L 12/283: {Processing of data at an internetworking point of a home automation network} - H04L 12/2834: {Switching of information between an external network and a home network (access arrangements H04L12/2856)} - H04M 1/72415: for remote control of appliances - H04M 2250/74: with voice recognition means - G10L: SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract Methods and apparatus are provided for configuring control of an automation system for a home or other space, using audio input to a controller. Activation of an appliance in the automation system initiates the providing of the capabilities of the appliance to the controller and a data collection process via an audible interface. Audible user input is converted to an audio signal, and then processed by the controller to determine control input for the appliance. The audible input may also be used for user authentication. Subsequently, the controller controls the appliance based on the control input. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: detecting, by a computer server, an appliance in communication with the computer server via a computer network; receiving, by the computer server, information indicating capabilities of the appliance; receiving audio input from a user converted by an electroacoustic transducer into an audio signal; and determining control settings controlling the capabilities of the appliance, based on the audio signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling the capabilities of the appliance, based on the control settings. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a network identifier for the at least one appliance, based on the audio signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising recognizing a voice pattern of the user based on the audio signal, and authenticating the user at least in part based on the voice pattern. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the information indicating the capabilities comprises at least one of: (a) communicating with a remote server to pull the information from a database stored on the server, or (b) receiving the information from the appliance via the network. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the computer server comprises a centralized controller for a home automation system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the computer server comprises one of a plurality of distributed controllers for a home automation system. ### Claim 8 An apparatus, comprising: at least one processor configured for detecting an appliance in communication via a computer network, receiving information indicating capabilities of the appliance, receiving audio input from a user converted by an electroacoustic transducer into an audio signal, and determining control settings controlling the capabilities of the appliance, based on the audio signal; and a memory component, in operative communication with the at least one processor, for storing data. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is further configured for controlling the capabilities of the appliance, based on the control settings. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is further configured for generating a network identifier for the at least one appliance, based on the audio signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is further configured for recognizing a voice pattern of the user based on the audio signal, and authenticating the user at least in part based on the voice pattern. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is further configured for receiving the information indicating the capabilities by at least one of: (a) communicating with a remote server to pull the information from a database stored on the server, or (b) receiving the information from the appliance via the network. ### Claim 13 An apparatus, comprising: means for detecting an appliance in communication via a computer network; means for receiving information indicating capabilities of the appliance; means for receiving audio input from a user converted by an electroacoustic transducer into an audio signal; and means for determining control settings controlling the capabilities of the appliance, based on the audio signal. ### Claim 14 A computer program product, comprising: a computer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer to: detect an appliance in communication via a computer network; receive information indicating capabilities of the appliance; receive audio input from a user converted by an electroacoustic transducer into an audio signal; and determining control settings controlling the capabilities of the appliance, based on the audio signal. ### Claim 15 A method comprising: advertising an appliance to a controller of an automation system via a computer network; transmitting a signal to the controller indicating capabilities of the appliance; converting audio input from a user into an audio signal, using an electroacoustic transducer; and transmitting control settings for the appliance encoded in the audio signal to the controller. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising performing the converting the audio input using a mobile entity operating a user interface application. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising performing the converting the audio input using a transducer component of the appliance. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising transmitting a network identifier for the appliance encoded in the audio signal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the signal to the controller indicating capabilities of the appliance comprises at least one of: (a) providing a pointer to a record of a remote database comprising the information, or (b) providing the information directly from the appliance via the network. ### Claim 20 An apparatus, comprising: at least one processor configured for advertising an appliance to a controller of an automation system via a computer network, transmitting a signal to the controller indicating capabilities of the appliance, converting audio input from a user into an audio signal, using an electroacoustic transducer, and transmitting control settings for the appliance encoded in the audio signal to the controller; and a memory component, in operative communication with the at least one processor, for storing data. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is further configured for performing the converting the audio input using a mobile entity operating a user interface application. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is further configured for performing the converting the audio input using a transducer component of the appliance. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is further configured for transmitting a network identifier for the appliance encoded in the audio signal. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is further configured for transmitting the signal to the controller indicating capabilities of the appliance by at least one of: (a) providing a pointer to a record of a remote database comprising the information, or (b) providing the information directly from the appliance via the network. ### Claim 25 A computer program product, comprising: a computer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer to: advertise an appliance to a controller of an automation system via a computer network; transmit a signal to the controller indicating capabilities of the appliance; convert audio input from a user into an audio signal, using an electroacoustic transducer; and transmit control settings for the appliance encoded in the audio signal to the controller. ### Claim 26 An apparatus for installing at least one appliance with a home automation system comprising a controller, the apparatus comprising: means for advertising an appliance to a controller of an automation system via a computer network; means for transmitting a signal to the controller indicating capabilities of the appliance means for converting audio input from a user into an audio signal, using an electroacoustic transducer; and means for transmitting control settings for the appliance encoded in the audio signal to the controller.