System and method for performing speech recognition to control devices on a network

1. A method comprising:

converting, via a processor, an utterance from a user for controlling a remote device in a network to a device specific control language associated with the remote device to yield a remote device communication;

synthesizing a response from the remote device that is based at least in part on the remote device communication to yield an audible response; and

communicating the audible response to the user.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

accessing a user profile having an access parameter associated with the remote device.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

receiving a request for access to the remote device from a second user associated with a second user profile;

converting the request for access into text;

determining if the text sufficiently matches a criteria associated with the access parameter to yield an access decision;

generating an access result comprising one of allowing the second user access to the remote device and denying the second user access to the remote device; and

communicating the access result to the second user.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the criteria is associated with a date on which the request is received.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the user and the second user are in a hierarchy, where the user can set access rights for the second user.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the utterance is in a natural language format.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote device is at least one of a television, a cable box, a home alarm, a kitchen appliance, and HVAC equipment.

8. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable medium having stored therein instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

converting an utterance from a user for controlling a remote device in a network to a device specific control language associated with the remote device to yield a remote device communication;

synthesizing a response from the remote device that is based at least in part on the remote device communication to yield an audible response; and

communicating the audible response to the user.

9. The system of claim 8 , the computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method further comprising:

accessing a user profile having an access parameter associated with the remote device.

10. The system of claim 9 , the computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method further comprising:

receiving a request for access to the remote device from a second user associated with a second user profile;

converting the request for access into text;

determining if the text sufficiently matches a criteria associated with the access parameter to yield an access decision;

generating an access result comprising one of allowing the second user access to the remote device and denying the second user access to the remote device; and

communicating the access result to the second user.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the criteria is associated with a date on which the request is received.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the user and the second user are in a hierarchy, where the user can set access rights for the second user.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the utterance is in a natural language format.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the remote device is at least one of a television, a cable box, a home alarm, a kitchen appliance, and HVAC equipment.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions which, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method comprising:

converting an utterance from a user for controlling a remote device in a network to a device specific control language associated with the remote device to yield a remote device communication;

synthesizing a response from the remote device that is based at least in part on the remote device communication to yield an audible response; and

communicating the audible response to the user.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , the instructions which, when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method further comprising:

accessing a user profile having an access parameter associated with the remote device.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , the instructions which, when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method further comprising:

receiving a request for access to the remote device from a second user associated with a second user profile;

converting the request for access into text;

determining if the text sufficiently matches a criteria associated with the access parameter to yield an access decision;

generating an access result comprising one of allowing the second user access to the remote device and denying the second user access to the remote device; and

communicating the access result to the second user.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the criteria is associated with a date on which the request is received.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the user and the second user are in a hierarchy, where the user can set access rights for the second user.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the utterance is in a natural language format.