Voice enabled remote control for a set-top box
AssigneeNuance Communications, Inc.
InventorsHisao Chang, Iker Arizmendi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims20
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.
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.
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.