Systems and methods for automatic speech recognition

1. A system comprising:

a multi-directional microphone array that includes a plurality of microphones each of which corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of voice pickup areas; and

control circuitry in communication with the multi-directional microphone array;

wherein the control circuitry receives a first signal from a first sensor in or proximate to a first of the plurality of voice pickup areas, the first signal indicative of the first sensor detecting a user in the first of the plurality of voice pickup areas,

wherein, responsive to the first signal, the control circuitry transmits a second signal to the multi-directional microphone array with instructions to activate a first of the plurality of microphones corresponding to the first of the plurality of voice pickup areas to enhance speech recognition by the multi-directional microphone array within the first of the plurality of voice pickup areas,

wherein, responsive to the second signal, the multi-directional microphone array activates the first of the plurality of microphones,

wherein, after activation of the first of the plurality of microphones, the multi-directional microphone array detects a wakeup command from the first of the plurality of voice pickup areas, and

wherein, responsive to the wakeup command from the first of the plurality of voice pickup areas, the multi-directional microphone array enters an active listening mode for the first of the plurality of voice pickup areas.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of microphones is capable of detecting sound from a respective one of a plurality of directions surrounding the multi-directional microphone array.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the sound includes a voice command of the user.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the multi-dimensional microphone array activates a direction setting of the multi-dimensional microphone array based on a relative location of the user within a second of the plurality of voice pickup areas.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein, responsive to the second signal, the multi-directional microphone array directs a beamforming function of the first of the plurality of microphones towards the first of the plurality of voice pickup areas.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the control circuitry uses the first signal to identify the first of the plurality of microphones.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first signal includes an indication of the first of the plurality of voice pickup areas.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the first sensor includes a microwave sensor, a PIR sensor, an RF sensor, or a location sensor.

9. A method comprising:

associating each of a plurality of microphones of a multi-directional microphone array with a respective one of a plurality of voice pickup areas;

communicating with the multi-directional microphone array via control circuitry that receives a first signal from a sensor in or proximate to a first of the plurality of voice pickup areas, the first signal indicative of the sensor detecting a user in the first of the plurality of voice pickup areas;

responsive to the first signal, transmitting a second signal to the multi-directional microphone array via the control circuitry, the second signal including instructions to activate a first of the plurality of microphones corresponding to the first of the plurality of voice pickup areas to enhance speech recognition by the multi-dimensional microphone array within the first of the plurality of voice pickup areas;

responsive to the second signal, activating the first of the plurality of microphones;

after activation of the first of the plurality of microphones, detecting a wakeup command from the first of the plurality of voice pickup areas; and

responsive to the wakeup command from the first of the plurality of voice pickup areas, entering an active listening mode for the first of the plurality of voice pickup areas.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of microphones is capable of detecting sound from a respective one of a plurality of directions surrounding the multi-directional microphone array.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

responsive to the second signal, directing a beamforming function of the first of the plurality of microphones towards the first of the plurality of voice pickup areas.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

using the first signal to identify the first of the plurality of microphones.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

using the first signal to identify the first of the plurality of microphones.