IP Library Granted Patent US 7,424,431
Granted Patent B2
US 7,424,431 · App. 11/281,964 · Granted Sep 9, 2008

System, method and computer program product for adding voice activation and voice control to a media player

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,424,431
App. No.
11/281,964
Granted
Sep 9, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A media player system, method and computer program product are provided. In use, an utterance is received. A command for a media player is then generated based on the utterance. Such command is utilized for providing wireless control of the media player.

Claims (94)

1. A system, comprising:

an automobile;

an assembly coupled to the automobile for receiving power therefrom and further connectable to a media player with music stored thereon, the assembly including a voice activation module, memory, a power unit for charging the media player, a speaker, and a microphone;

said memory including a computer readable medium comprising:

computer code for initializing a plurality of program variables stored in the memory of the assembly, the program variables including artists, songs, and playlists;

computer code for receiving a trigger signal;

computer code for, after the receipt of the trigger signal, receiving an utterance utilizing the microphone of the assembly;

computer code for verifying the utterance utilizing the speaker of the assembly;

computer code for, after the verification of the utterance, generating a corresponding command for the media player based on the utterance, the corresponding command selected from a command set including a play command, a pause command, a shuffle command, a playlist command, an artist command, and a song command; and

computer code for channeling output of the media player via the assembly;

wherein the corresponding command provides wireless control of the media player;

wherein the corresponding command is sent as a bit stream with each of a plurality of bits sent every 55 uSecs.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the assembly includes:

an FM transmitter; and

software capable of detecting the utterance, translating the utterance into computer code and transmitting the code to the media player.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the computer code controls a state of the media player.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the output is FM modulated utilizing the FM transmitter of the assembly for reception by an FM receiver.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the FM transmitter is capable of sweeping in a range of frequencies between 88 MHz and 108 MHz.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the assembly is releasably connected to the media player.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the assembly includes a visual indicator for indicating whether the media player is awaiting the receipt of the utterance.

8. The system of claim 1 , and further comprising computer code for adjusting the received utterance if it is not verified.

9. The system of claim 1 , and further comprising computer code for translating the utterance into computer code capable of being recognized by the media player.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the media player is selected from the group consisting of: an iPod(R) and a cell phone.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the utterance is a programmed command that is registered by the media player.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the command set also includes at least one of a fast forward command, a rewind command, an on command, an off command, a repeat command, search, a volume up command, a volume down command, and a next playlist command.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the command set also includes a fast forward command, a rewind command, an on command, an off command, a repeat command, a search command, a volume up command, a volume down command, and a next playlist command.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the utterance is converted into an application specific voice tag and is subsequently compared to at least one voice tag from a library of voice tags located on the media player.

15. A system, comprising:

an automobile;

an assembly coupled to the automobile for receiving power therefrom and further connectable to a media player with music stored thereon, the assembly including memory, a power source for charging the media player, a speaker, a microphone, and:

computer code for initializing a plurality of program variables stored in the memory of the assembly, the program variables including artists, songs, and playlists;

computer code for identifying a trigger signal;

computer code for, after the identification of the trigger signal, identifying an utterance received utilizing the microphone of the assembly;

computer code for verifying the utterance utilizing the speaker of the assembly; and

computer code for, after the verification of the utterance, generating a corresponding command for the media player based on the utterance, the corresponding command selected from a command set including a play command, a pause command, a shuffle command, a playlist command, an artist command, and a song command;

said assembly channeling output of the media player via the assembly;

said corresponding command providing wireless control of the media player;

wherein the corresponding command is sent as a bit stream with each of a plurality of bits sent with a code repetition rate of 66.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the corresponding command is application-specific.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the trigger signal is audible.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the trigger signal includes an audible trigger word.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein it is determined whether a timeout has occurred before the utterance is received.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein if the timeout has occurred, the identification of the trigger signal is repeated.

21. The system of claim 15 , wherein it is determined whether the utterance is verified.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein it is determined whether the utterance is verified, based on whether the utterance is programmed.

23. The system of claim 21 , wherein it is determined whether the utterance is verified, based on whether the utterance is registered.

24. The system of claim 21 , wherein if the utterance is not verified, the corresponding command is not generated.

25. The system of claim 21 , wherein if the utterance is not verified, the utterance is outputted via the speaker.

26. The system of claim 25 , wherein a user is allowed to accept or reject the utterance outputted via the speaker.

27. The system of claim 15 , wherein the program variables are initialized with at least one of input and output.

28. The system of claim 15 , wherein a button release command is generated.

29. The system of claim 15 , wherein the media player further includes a satellite radio player.

30. The system of claim 15 , wherein the corresponding command is sent as a bit stream with each bit sent with a code repetition rate of 66.

31. The system of claim 15 , wherein it is determined whether the corresponding command is a sleep command.

32. The system of claim 15 , wherein the media player is powered down, if it is determined the corresponding command is a sleep command.

33. The system of claim 15 , wherein the program variables are released.

34. The system of claim 15 , wherein the media player includes an iPod(R).

35. The system of claim 15 , wherein the command set includes a search command.

36. The system of claim 15 , wherein the utterance is compared against a library of words.

37. The system of claim 36 , wherein the corresponding command is generated in response to identifying a match between the utterance and the library of words.

38. The system of claim 37 , wherein the library of words includes an artist name and a voice tag.

39. The system of claim 37 , wherein the library of words includes an artist name and an application specific voice tag.

40. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable storage medium, comprising:

computer code for controlling an assembly coupled to an automobile for receiving power therefrom and further connectable to a media player with music stored thereon, the assembly including memory, a power source for charging the media player, a speaker, and a microphone;

computer code for initializing a plurality of program variables stored in the memory of the assembly, the program variables including artists, songs, and playlists;

computer code for identifying a trigger signal;

computer code for, after the identification of the trigger signal, identifying an utterance received utilizing the microphone of the assembly;

computer code for verifying the utterance utilizing the speaker of the assembly;

computer code for, after the verification of the utterance, generating a corresponding command for the media player based on the utterance, the corresponding command selected from a command set including a play command, a pause command, a shuffle command, a playlist command, an artist command, and a song command; and

computer code for controlling the assembly such that output of the media player is channeled via the assembly, and the corresponding command provides wireless control of the media player;

wherein the corresponding command is at least one of 1) sent as a bit stream with each of a plurality of bits sent every 55 uSecs, and 2) sent as a bit stream with each of a plurality of bits sent with a code repetition rate of 66.

41. The computer program product of claim 40 , wherein the corresponding command is application-specific.

42. The computer program product of claim 40 , wherein the trigger signal is audible.

43. The computer program product of claim 42 , wherein the trigger signal includes an audible trigger word.

44. The computer program product of claim 40 , wherein it is determined whether a timeout has occurred before the utterance is received.

45. The computer program product of claim 44 , wherein if the timeout has occurred, the identification of the trigger signal is repeated.

46. The computer program product of claim 40 , wherein it is determined whether the utterance is verified.

47. The computer program product of claim 46 , wherein it is determined whether the utterance is verified, based on whether the utterance is programmed.

48. The computer program product of claim 46 , wherein it is determined whether the utterance is verified, based on whether the utterance is registered.

49. The computer program product of claim 46 , wherein if the utterance is not verified, the corresponding command is not generated.

50. The computer program product of claim 46 , wherein if the utterance is not verified, the utterance is outputted via the speaker.

51. The computer program product of claim 50 , wherein a user is allowed to accept or reject the utterance outputted via the speaker.

52. The computer program product of claim 50 , wherein the program variables are initialized with at least one of input and output.

53. The computer program product of claim 40 , wherein a button release command is generated.

54. The computer program product of claim 40 , wherein the command set includes a search command.

55. The computer program product of claim 40 , wherein the utterance is compared against a library of words.

56. The computer program product of claim 55 , wherein the corresponding command is generated in response to identifying a match between the utterance and the library of words.

57. The computer program product of claim 55 , wherein the library of words includes an artist name and a voice tag.

58. The computer program product of claim 55 , wherein the library of words includes an artist name and an application specific voice tag.

59. The computer program product of claim 40 , and further comprising computer code for translating the utterance into computer code capable of being recognized by the media player.

60. The computer program product of claim 40 , wherein the utterance is a programmed command that is registered by the media player.

61. The computer program product of claim 40 , wherein the command set also includes at least one of a fast forward command, a rewind command, an on command, an off command, a repeat command, search, a volume up command, a volume down command, and a next playlist command.

62. The computer program product of claim 40 , wherein the command set also includes a fast forward command, a rewind command, an on command, an off command, a repeat command, a search command, a volume up command, a volume down command, and a next playlist command.

63. The computer program product of claim 44 , wherein the utterance is converted into an application specific voice tag and is subsequently compared to at least one voice tag from a library of voice tags located on the media player.

Assignments (11)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2015
From: KILPAUK GARDEN, SERIES 64 OF ALLIED SECURITY TRUST I
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036565/0060 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 6, 2014
From: STRAGENT, LLC
To: KILPAUK GARDEN, SERIES 64 OF ALLIED SECURITY TRUST I
Reel/Frame 034411/0025 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 16, 2014
From: STRAGENT, LLC
To: SEESAW FOUNDATION
Reel/Frame 033967/0150 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 16, 2014
From: TAG FOUNDATION
To: STRAGENT, LLC
Reel/Frame 033967/0159 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 16, 2014
From: SEESAW FOUNDATION
To: TAG FOUNDATION
Reel/Frame 034012/0764 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 16, 2014
From: GREENE, MARK; HEGARTY, MICHAEL; CANTWELL, DERMOT
To: VOICEDEMAND, INC.
Reel/Frame 033967/0130 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 16, 2014
From: STRAGENT, LLC
To: STRAGENT, LLC
Reel/Frame 033967/0138 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 31, 2011
From: STRAGENT, LLC
To: SEESAW FOUNDATION
Reel/Frame 026365/0027 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 12, 2008
From: STRAGENT, LLC
To: STRAGENT, LLC
Reel/Frame 021973/0075 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 30, 2007
From: VOICEDEMAND, INC.
To: STRAGENT, LLC
Reel/Frame 020042/0331 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 16, 2005
From: GREENE, MARK; HEGARTY, MICHAEL; CANTWELL, DERMOT
To: VOICEDEMAND, INC.
Reel/Frame 017252/0376 →