Apparatus and method for providing hands-free operation of a device
View Patent ↗The present invention provides an apparatus and method for providing hands-free operation of a device. A hands-free adapter is provided that communicates with a device and 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 via the headset.
1. A method for providing hands-free operation of a communications device, comprising:
detecting a command prefix and a subsequently spoken voicemail command;
generating a device command that emulates an interaction of a user with the communication device to answer an incoming call;
providing the device command to the communication device; and
playing an outgoing announcement to a caller.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising recording a message from the caller in response to the spoken voicemail command.
3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising interfacing with a headset.
4. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising processing audio signals from the headset.
5. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising passing audio signals to the communications device.
6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising interfacing with a mobile phone.
7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising playing a tone when the incoming call is received.
8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising detecting an event.
9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising generating an event indicator.
10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising overlaying the event indicator onto an audio signal.
11. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising providing the event indicator to a headset.
12. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising interfacing with a computer.
13. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising wirelessly interfacing with the communications device.
14. A system providing hands-free operation of a communications device, comprising:
a processor executing code stored in memory that causes the processor to:
detect a command prefix and a subsequently spoken voicemail command;
generate a device command that emulates an interaction of a user with the communication device to answer an incoming call;
provide the device command to the communication device; and
play an outgoing announcement to a caller.
15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the code further causes the processor to record a message from the caller.
16. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the code further causes the processor to interface with a headset.
17. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the code further causes the processor to process audio signals from the headset.
18. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the code further causes the processor to pass audio signals to the communications device.
19. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the code further causes the processor to interface with a mobile phone.
20. A storage medium encoded with instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:
detecting a command prefix and a subsequently spoken voicemail command;
generating a device command that emulates an interaction of a user with the communication device to answer an incoming call;
providing the device command to the communication device; and
playing an outgoing announcement to a caller.