IP Library Granted Patent US 9,990,921
Granted Patent B2
US 9,990,921 · App. 14/964,078 · Granted Jun 5, 2018

User focus activated voice recognition

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,990,921
App. No.
14/964,078
Granted
Jun 5, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

One embodiment provides a method, involving: receiving, at a device, voice input comprising at least one command; identifying, using an image of the user, a direction of user focus; and responsive to the identifying that the direction of user focus is directed toward the device, performing an action based on the at least one command. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Claims (41)

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a device, voice input comprising at least one command;

thereafter identifying, using an image of the user, a direction of user focus, wherein the direction of user focus is identified as not being directed toward the device;

detecting a shift in user focus directed toward the device after the voice input is at least partially received; and

responsive to detecting the shift in user focus, performing an action based on the at least one command.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the image of the user is derived using at least one sensor; and

wherein the at least one sensor is selected from a group consisting of: an image capture device, a video capture device, a range imaging device, and a 3D scanning device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying a direction of user focus is based on a head location of the user.

4. The method claim 1 , wherein the identifying a direction of user focus is based on a gaze location of a user.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the image of the user is derived from a plurality of sensors.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

placing the device in a low power state based on identifying that the direction of user focus is not directed toward the device for a predetermined time.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising

waking up the device from a low power state based on identifying that the direction of user focus is directed toward the device.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising changing a visual characteristic of the audio capture device in response to the user focus being directed toward device.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising playing an audible notification in response to the user focus being directed toward the device.

10. An information handling device, comprising:

a processor;

an audio capture device operatively coupled to the processor; and

a memory that stores instructions executable by the processor to:

receive, at the audio capture device, voice input comprising at least one command;

thereafter identify, using an image of the user, a direction of user focus, wherein the direction of user focus is identified as not being directed toward the device;

detect a shift in user focus directed toward the device after the voice input is at least partially received; and

responsive to detecting the shift in user focus, performing an action based on the at least one command.

11. The information handling device of claim 10 , wherein the image of the user is derived using at least one sensor; and

wherein the at least one sensor is selected from a group consisting of: an image capture device, a video capture device, a range imaging device, and a 3D scanning device.

12. The information handling device of claim 10 , wherein the identifying a direction of user focus is based on a head location of the user.

13. The information handling device claim 10 , wherein the identifying a direction of user focus is based on a gaze location of a user.

14. The information handling device of claim 10 , wherein the image of the user is derived from a plurality of sensors.

15. The information handling device of claim 10 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

place the information handling device in a low power state based on identifying that the direction of user focus is not directed toward the information handling device for a predetermined time.

16. The information handling device of claim 10 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

wake up the information handling device from a low power state based on identifying that the direction of user focus is directed toward the information handling device.

17. The information handling device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

change a visual characteristic of the audio capture device in response to the user focus being directed toward the audio capture device.

18. A product, comprising:

a storage device having code stored therewith, the code being executable by the processor and comprising:

code that receives, at a device, voice input comprising at least one command;

code that thereafter identifies, using an image of the user, a direction of user focus, wherein the direction of user focus is identified as not being directed toward the device

code that detects a shift in user focus directed toward the device after the voice input is at least partially received; and

code that performs, responsive to detecting the shift in user focus, an action based on the at least one command.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2025
From: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 069870/0670 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2019
From: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 049693/0914 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2015
From: VANBLON, RUSSELL SPEIGHT; WEKSLER, ARNOLD S.; MESE, JOHN CARL; PETERSON, NATHAN J.
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 037251/0719 →