Speech controlled vehicle alarm system

A hand held control unit remotely located from a responder unit carried in a vehicle for controlling one or more vehicle functions associated with the vehicle, the control unit comprising:

• a power source;
• a microphone for receiving commands spoken by a user;
• a transceiver;
• a speech recognition subsystem for identifying a first spoken command and a control function associated with the first spoken command using speaker-independent processing, and responsive to identification of a control function relating to enablement or disablement of control functions, for identifying a second spoken command using speaker-dependent processing to verify the user has authority to enable or elisable the control functions;
• a switch that upon actuation by the user selectively powers the speech recognition subsystem;
• and
• a means for announcing control or status messages to the user.

A responder unit for use in a control system for a vehicle responsive to a remotely located control unit carried by a user, the responder unit comprising:

• a transceiver for receiving signals from and transmitting signals to the remotely located control unit;
• means for controlling one or more functions associated within the vehicle, the responder unit being operated by the remotely located control unit upon receipt of a signal to enable the user to control the functions using spoken commands;
• a speech recognition subsystem for identifying a first spoken command and a control function associated with the first spoken command using speaker-independent independent processing, and responsive to identification of a control function relating to enablement or disablement of control functions for identifying a second spoken command using speaker-dependent processing to verify the user has authority to enable or disable the control functions;
• means for announcing control or status messages to the user through the control unit.