IP Library Granted Patent US 9,928,833
Granted Patent B2
US 9,928,833 · App. 15/073,288 · Granted Mar 27, 2018

Voice interface for a vehicle

Inventor: Danil V. Prokhorov (Canton, MI)
Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
G10L15/1822G06F3/167G10L15/22G10L15/265G10L15/30G10L2015/223
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,928,833
App. No.
15/073,288
Granted
Mar 27, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

The processing of voice inputs includes receiving a voice input from a user. The received voice input can be analyzed to determine whether the voice input includes at least one of human-intended content or machine-intended content. Responsive to determining that the voice input includes human-intended content, a human recipient for the human-intended content can be identified within the voice input, and a message can be sent to the identified human recipient. The message can include the human-intended content in an audio form. Responsive to determining that the voice input includes machine-intended content, a machine recipient for the machine-intended content can be identified within the voice input, and a message including the machine-intended content can be sent to the identified machine recipient to implement the machine-intended content.

Claims (61)

1. A method of processing voice inputs, the method comprising:

receiving a voice input from a user;

analyzing, using a processor, the received voice input for human-intended content and machine-intended content;

when the voice input includes human-intended content:

identifying within the voice input a human recipient for the human-intended content; and

sending a message to the identified human recipient, the message including the human-intended content in an audio form; and

when the voice input includes machine-intended content:

identifying within the voice input a machine recipient for the machine-intended content; and

sending a message including the machine-intended content to the identified machine recipient, whereby the machine-intended content is processed for implementation by the identified machine recipient.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the received voice input to determine whether the voice input includes at least one of human-intended content or machine-intended content includes analyzing the received voice input using natural language processing.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the voice input includes receiving the voice input directly from a human user at voice interface located onboard a vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the voice input includes receiving the voice input indirectly from a human user at a remote voice interface.

5. The method of claim 1 , further including generating an audio file including the human intended content, and wherein the message includes the audio file.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the human intended content is not converted to text.

7. The method of claim 1 , further including converting the machine intended content into a format that is compatible for processing by the identified machine recipient.

8. A voice input system comprising:

a voice interface configured to receive voice inputs from a human user, the voice interface including one or more microphones; and

one or more processors operatively connected to receive voice inputs from the voice interface, the one or more processors being programmed to initiate executable operations comprising:

analyzing a received voice input for human-intended content and machine-intended content;

when the voice input includes human-intended content:

identifying within the voice input a human recipient for the human-intended content; and

sending a message to the identified human recipient, the message including the human-intended content in an audio form, and

when the voice input includes machine-intended content:

identifying within the voice input a machine recipient for the machine-intended content; and

sending a message including the machine-intended content to the identified machine recipient, whereby the machine-intended content is processed for implementation by the identified machine recipient.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein analyzing the received voice input for human-intended content and machine-intended content includes analyzing the received voice input using natural language processing.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the voice interface is located onboard a vehicle, and wherein the voice input is received directly from a vehicle occupant at the voice interface.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the voice interface is located onboard a vehicle, and wherein the voice input is received indirectly from a human user at a remote voice interface communicatively linked to the voice interface.

12. The system of claim 8 , further including generating an audio file including the human intended content, and wherein the message includes the audio file.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the human intended content is not converted to text.

14. The system of claim 8 , further including converting the machine intended content into a format that is compatible for processing by the identified machine recipient.

15. A vehicle comprising:

a voice interface located onboard the vehicle, the voice interface being configured to receive voice inputs; and

a processor operatively connected to receive voice inputs from the voice interface, the processor being programmed to initiate executable operations comprising:

receiving a voice input from the voice interface;

analyzing, using natural language processing, the received voice input for human-intended content and machine-intended content;

when the voice input includes human-intended content:

identifying within the voice input a human recipient for the human-intended content;

generating an audio file including the human intended content of the voice input; and

sending a message to the identified human recipient, the message including the audio file, wherein the human intended content is not converted to text; and

when the voice input includes machine-intended content:

identifying within the voice input a machine recipient for the machine-intended content;

converting the machine-intended content into a format that is compatible for processing by the identified machine recipient; and

sending a message including the converted machine-intended content to the identified machine recipient, whereby the machine-intended content is processed for implementation by the identified machine recipient.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the voice interface is configured to receive voice inputs directly from a vehicle occupant at the voice interface.

17. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the voice interface is configured to receive voice inputs indirectly from a human user at a remote computing device communicatively linked to the voice interface.

18. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the voice interface includes one or more microphones.

19. A computer program product for processing voice inputs, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therein, the program code executable by a processor to perform a method comprising:

analyzing a received voice input for human-intended content and machine-intended content;

when the voice input includes human-intended content:

identifying within the voice input a human recipient for the human-intended content; and

sending a message to the identified human recipient, the message including the human-intended content in an audio form; and

when the voice input includes machine-intended content:

identifying within the voice input a machine recipient for the machine-intended content; and

sending a message including the machine-intended content to the identified machine recipient, whereby the machine-intended content is processed for implementation by the identified machine recipient.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 , wherein analyzing the received voice input for human-intended content and machine-intended content includes analyzing the received voice input using natural language processing.

21. The system of claim 8 , wherein analyzing the received voice input for human-intended content and machine-intended content is not performed in real-time.

22. The system of claim 8 , wherein the machine-intended content includes user payment information.

23. The system of claim 8 , wherein the machine-intended content includes user preference data.

24. The system of claim 8 , wherein analyzing the received voice input for human-intended content and machine-intended content includes comparing the received voice input to a predefined limited vocabulary.

25. The system of claim 8 , wherein the audio form is selected based on preference data associated with the identified human recipient.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 27, 2018
From: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 045359/0910 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 4, 2016
From: PROKHOROV, DANIL V.
To: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 038187/0122 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170270916A1 · Sep 21, 2017