Apparatus and method for providing hands-free operation of a device
View Patent ↗In exemplary embodiments, a hands-free adapter provides hands-free operation of a device. The adapter communicates with the device, and in some embodiments, with a headset. The hands-free adapter allows a user to use voice commands so that the user does not have to handle the device. The hands-free adapter receives voice commands from the headset and translates the voice commands to commands recognized by the device. The hands-free adapter also monitors the device to detect device events and provides notice of the events to the user.
1. A hands-free adapter, comprising:
a device interface for interfacing the hands-free adapter to a communications device;
a headset interface for interfacing the hands-free adapter to a hands-free headset;
a memory storing a command prefix and a subsequent voicemail command; and
a processor detecting the command prefix and the voicemail command, the processor generating a device command to answer an incoming call.
2. The hands-free adapter of claim 1 , wherein the communications device comprises a phone.
3. The hands-free adapter of claim 1 , wherein the communications device comprises at least one of a cellular phone, a voice-over internet protocol phone, a telephone, and a wireless phone.
4. The hands-free adapter of claim 1 , wherein the communications device comprises at least one of a computer, a digital music device, a digital recording device, a personal digital assistant, an interactive television, and a digital signal processor.
5. The hands-free adapter of claim 1 , wherein the processor connects an incoming communication to the hands-free headset to establish a communications connection.
6. The hands-free adapter of claim 5 , wherein the processor communicates an outgoing announcement via the communications connection.
7. The hands-free adapter of claim 6 , wherein the processor stores a message to the memory.
8. The hands-free adapter of claim 1 , wherein the processor processes the voicemail command to emulate a user's interaction with a voice messaging feature.
9. A method for providing hands-free operation of a device, comprising:
monitoring a hands-free adapter for a command prefix and a subsequent voicemail command; and
in response to detecting the voicemail command, generating a device command by a processor that answers an incoming call.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
establishing a communications connection between the hands-free adapter and the device.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the communications connection comprises a video communications connection.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the communications connection comprises a data communications connection.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the communications connection comprises an audio communications connection.
14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
monitoring the device for an event of interest comprising at least one of a status of the device, a functionality of the device, and a capability of the device;
in response to detecting the event of interest, generating an event indicator; and
providing the event indicator to the hands-free adapter.
15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising presenting a notification that the voicemail command has been detected.
16. A storage medium on which is encoded instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:
monitoring a hands-free adapter for a command prefix and a subsequent voicemail command, the command prefix being at least one spoken word that is used to identify subsequently spoken voice commands that control a device, the voicemail command only being effective when preceded by the spoken command prefix; and
in response to detecting the voicemail command, generating a device command by a processor that answers an incoming call.
17. The storage medium of claim 16 , further comprising instructions for establishing a communications connection between the hands-free adapter and a communications device.
18. The storage medium of claim 16 , further comprising instructions for performing the following:
monitoring the device for an event of interest comprising at least one of a status of the device, a functionality of the device, and a capability of the device;
in response to detecting the event of interest, generating an event indicator; and
providing the event indicator to the hands-free adapter.
19. The storage medium of claim 16 , further comprising instructions for presenting a notification that the voicemail command has been detected.