# US 2016/0253149 A1 · Method and Apparatus for Voice Control User Interface with Discreet Operating Mode > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0253149 A1 - Document ID: US20160253149A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/631,924 - Filed: 2015-02-26 - Published: 2016-09-01 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-26 - Assignees: Motorola Mobility LLC - Applicants: Motorola Mobility LLC - Inventors: Boby Iyer; Kevin O. Foy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160253149A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/167: {Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback} - G06F 1/1643: {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)} - G06F 1/1684: {Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675} - G06F 1/1694: {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} - G06F 3/017: {Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883)} - G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text - G10L 17/22: Interactive procedures; Man-machine interfaces - G10L 2015/225: {Feedback of the input speech} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G10L: SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING ## 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. ## Claims ### 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, the second elevation greater than the first elevation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) 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. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, the second position proximately located with a user's head. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, the predefined gesture input comprising a predefined motion about the electronic device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, the detecting comprising identifying, with a user interface, actuation of a user actuation target. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising redirecting the audible output to an earpiece loudspeaker of the electronic device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, the predefined condition comprising a predefined gesture input. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, the predefined condition comprising expiration of a timer. ### Claim 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. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, the predefined user input comprising a gesture input. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, the predefined user input comprising a touch input. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, the predefined user input comprising a predefined movement of the apparatus. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) 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. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a timer operable with the one or more processors, the predefined condition comprising expiration of the timer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, the predefined condition comprising a predefined movement of the apparatus. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) 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.