US5230023A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for controlling an external machine by a voice command
Assignee: NEC Corp
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Filing: 1991-01-30
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Granted: 1993-07-20
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Expires: 2011-01-30
Abstract
Abstract In a method for controlling an external machine by a voice command, a voice pattern which is extracted from a voice supplied through a microphone is compared with reference voice patterns to pick up one of them which corresponds to a certain voice command to control an external machine, and a similarity between the voice pattern and the reference voice pattern is calculated. Then, a control signal is supplied to the external machine after a waiting time passes. The waiting time is determined dependent on the similarity such that the waiting time is relatively long when the similarity is low and is determined relatively short when the similarity is high, so that an operator has a sufficient time to judge whether the voice command is the desired one.
Inventors
- 👤 Fumio Nakano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 17:25
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10L; G10L15/00; G10L15/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for controlling an external machine by a voice command, comprising steps of: detecting a voice to be converted into an electric signal; extracting a voice pattern from said electric signal; comprising said voice pattern with reference voice patterns to pick up a certain reference voice pattern which corresponds to said voice pattern; calculating a similarity between said voice pattern and said reference voice pattern; and supplying a control signal to said external machine to be operated unless a halt command is generated in a waiting time dependent on a calculating result of said similarity.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for controlling an external machine by a voice command, comprising steps of: detecting a voice to be converted into an electric signal; extracting a voice pattern from said electric signal; comprising said voice pattern with reference voice patterns to pick up a certain reference voice pattern which corresponds to said voice pattern; calculating a similarity between said voice pattern and said reference voice pattern; and supplying a control signal to said external machine to be operated unless a halt command is generated in a waiting time dependent on a calculating result of said similarity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method for controlling an external machine by a voice command, according to claim 1: wherein said comparing step comprises the step of carrying out the Dynamic Program method.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method for controlling an external machine by a voice command, according to claim 1: wherein said supplying step comprises the step of setting said waiting time to be a first time when said similarity is high, and setting said waiting time to be a second time longer than said first time when said similarity is low.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method for controlling an external machine by a voice command, according to claim 1: wherein said supplying step comprises the step of setting said waiting time to be long when said similarity is over a higher predetermined limited, and setting said waiting time to be short when said similarity is below a lower predetermined limit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method for controlling an external machine by a voice command, according to claim 1: wherein said supplying step comprises the step of setting said waiting time to be almost null when said similarity is over a higher predetermined limit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method for controlling an external machine by a voice command, according to claim 1: wherein said supplying step comprises the step of includes a step of halting of supplying said control signal to said external machine when said similarity is below a lower predetermined limit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method for controlling an external machine by a voice command, according to claim 6: wherein said halting step comprises the step of carrying out said halting by one of signals selected from a first signal generated by a voice command and a second signal generated by a key operation.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
127 words
A system for controlling an external machine by a voice command, comprising: means for detecting a voice to be converted into an electric signal; means for extracting a voice pattern from said electric signal; means for storing reference voice patterns which correspond to control commands of an external machine to be controlled; means for comparing said voice pattern with said reference voice patterns to pick up one of said reference voice patterns which is similar to said voice pattern; means for calculating a similarity between said voice pattern and said reference voice pattern; and means for controlling said external machine to be operated by supplying a control signal thereto unless a halt command is generated in a waiting time dependent on a calculating result of said similarity.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
127 words
A system for controlling an external machine by a voice command, comprising: means for detecting a voice to be converted into an electric signal; means for extracting a voice pattern from said electric signal; means for storing reference voice patterns which correspond to control commands of an external machine to be controlled; means for comparing said voice pattern with said reference voice patterns to pick up one of said reference voice patterns which is similar to said voice pattern; means for calculating a similarity between said voice pattern and said reference voice pattern; and means for controlling said external machine to be operated by supplying a control signal thereto unless a halt command is generated in a waiting time dependent on a calculating result of said similarity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system for controlling an external machine by a voice command, according to claim 8: wherein said comparing means comprises means for carrying out using the Dynamic Programming method.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
A system for controlling an external machine by a voice command, according to claim 8: wherein said controlling means comprises: means for judging whether said similarity is higher than a predetermined level; means for determining a waiting time dependent on an output signal of said judging means; and means for generating said control signal unless said halt command is generated in said waiting time dependent on said output signal.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for controlling an external machine by a voice command, comprising the steps of: detecting a voice to be converted into an electric signal; extracting a voice pattern from said electric signal; comparing said voice pattern with reference voice patterns to pick up a certain reference voice pattern which corresponds to said voice pattern; calculating a similarity between said voice pattern and said reference voice pattern; and supplying a control signal to said external machine to be operated unless a halt command is generated in a waiting time selectively set to a fixed value regardless of dependency on said calculating result.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for controlling an external machine by a voice command, comprising the steps of: detecting a voice to be converted into an electric signal; extracting a voice pattern from said electric signal; comparing said voice pattern with reference voice patterns to pick up a certain reference voice pattern which corresponds to said voice pattern; calculating a similarity between said voice pattern and said reference voice pattern; and supplying a control signal to said external machine to be operated unless a halt command is generated in a waiting time selectively set to a fixed value regardless of dependency on said calculating result.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4593403A
Cited
US4945570A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-07-19 | 1997-01-18 | 1997-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-07-19 | 2001-01-18 | 2001-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-07-19 | 2005-01-18 | 2005-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |