Eyes-free push-to-talk communication
A push-to-talk feature on a mobile handset is initiated by speaking a recipient's name as the first part of an initial message. A speech recognition device located in the handset or in a push-to-talk server may recognize the recipient's name, determine the proper addressing for the message, establish a push-to-talk session, and deliver the message to the intended recipient. The session may continue until a session timeout has occurred, until another session is started, or until the user otherwise terminates the session.
1 . A method comprising:
receiving a push-to-talk audio message from a user, said push-to-talk audio message comprising a recipient name followed by a message body;
parsing said recipient name from said push-to-talk audio message;
matching said recipient name with a recipient name in a recipient database to determine a recipient address; and
attempting to establish a push-to-talk session.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
querying a push-to-talk status database to determine a recipient status for said recipient address.
3 . The method of claim 2 further comprising:
determining that said recipient status is online;
establishing a push-to-talk session with a device having said recipient address; and
transmitting said message body to said device.
4 . The method of claim 2 further comprising:
determining that said status is offline;
generating an audio response message comprising an indication that said recipient address is offline; and
playing said audio response message.
5 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
detecting a keyword within said push-to-talk audio message.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein said steps of parsing and matching are performed by a mobile handset.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein said steps of parsing and matching are performed by a push-to-talk server.
8 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
failing to establish said push-to-talk session; and
storing at least said message body in a voice mail storage system for said recipient.
9 . A handset comprising:
a push-to-talk key;
a directory of a plurality of push-to-talk users;
an interface for connection to a push-to-talk server, said push-to-talk server comprising a database of statuses for each of said push-to-talk users; and
wherein said handset is adapted to:
determine that no push-to-talk session is active between said handset and said push-to-talk server;
parse an initial push-to-talk audio message having a recipient name followed by a message body; and
match said recipient name with one of said push-to-talk users in said directory to determine a recipient device.
10 . The handset of claim 9 further adapted to:
determine said status for said recipient device from said push-to-talk server.
11 . The handset of claim 10 further adapted to:
based on said status, establish a push-to-talk session with said recipient device; and
transmit said message body to said recipient device.
12 . The handset of claim 10 further adapted to:
detect a voice command to end said push-to-talk session; and
close said push-to-talk session.
13 . The handset of claim 9 further adapted to:
determine that said status is offline; and
play an audio message indicating that said recipient device is offline.
14 . The handset of claim 9 wherein said speech recognition system is further adapted to:
detect a keyword within said initial push-to-talk audio message.
15 . A push-to-talk server comprising:
an interface for connecting to a first device, said first device adapted to transmit an initial push-to-talk audio message, said first device having a directory of push-to-talk users;
a processor adapted to:
when no push-to-talk session is active, receive a push-to-talk audio message from a user, said push-to-talk audio message comprising a recipient name followed by a message body;
parse said recipient name from said push-to-talk audio message;
match said recipient name with a recipient name in a recipient database to determine a recipient address; and
attempt to establish a one-to-one push-to-talk session;
a status database;
wherein said push-to-talk server is adapted to determine a status of said one of said push-to-talk users.
16 . The push-to-talk server of claim 15 further adapted to:
based on said status, establish a push-to-talk session with said recipient device; and
transmit said message body to said recipient device.
17 . The push-to-talk server of claim 16 further adapted to:
detect a voice command to end said push-to-talk session; and
close said push-to-talk session.
18 . The push-to-talk server of claim 15 further adapted to:
determine that said status is offline; and
transmit an audio message indicating that said recipient device is offline to said first device.
19 . The push-to-talk server of claim 15 wherein said speech recognition system is further adapted to:
detect a keyword within said initial push-to-talk audio message.