System for controlling electronic devices by means of voice commands, more specifically a remote control to control a plurality of electronic devices by means of voice commands

A remote control for generating output signals apt at controlling one or more electronic device, characterized in that said remote control includes a sound transducer, a speech recognition unit for recognizing voice commands, a memory for storing information relative to available content of said one or more electronic device and a control signal generating and receiving unit for generating control signals corresponding to said voice commands, for controlling said one or more electronic device.

The present application claims priority from International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2013/066505 filed on Aug. 6, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system for controlling electronic devices by means of voice commands. More specifically the present invention relates to a remote control to control a plurality of electronic devices by means of voice commands.

As is known, remote controls are designed to generate control signals so as to control other electronic devices such as television apparatus, radios, audio systems, DVD players, set top boxes and the like. It is also known that with each of the above devices a specific remote control device is included in the packaging. This generates a proliferation of remote controls in the user's home. More recently, some of these remote controls require predetermined voice commands in order to operate, as a result of either directly receiving and processing voice commands or by sending voice commands to a corresponding device for speech recognition and generating control signals so as to control the electronic device.

The known solutions are subject to many disadvantages, such as the need for many remote controls, each being dedicated to a specific device. This causes an inconvenience for the user and complicates their use and increases the time necessary for finding the correct remote control. Consequently the costs for the user are also increased if a speech recognition unit has to be provided for each remote control of the electronic device. In addition pronouncing predetermined voice commands, established by the manufacturers for each individual device, thus increasing the number of user interactions, due to the increasing number of non-organized content, such as type of video, audio, TV channels, radio channels, Internet sources, photos, etc., in parallel with the increasing number of devices in a typical family that produces a lot of problems and many other inconveniences.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is therefore to indicate a system, as well as a remote control device, that solves at least one of the above mentioned problems and/or at least improves the existing solutions.

These and other aims of the present invention are achieved by way of a system for controlling electronic devices by means of voice commands. In addition the present invention also relates to a remote control to control a plurality of electronic devices by means of voice commands.

In summary, the present invention relates to a system and/or a remote control for generating a plurality of output signals apt at controlling one or more electronic devices, characterized in that said remote control includes a sound transducer, a speech recognition unit for recognizing voice commands, a memory for storing information relative to available content of said one or more electronic devices and a control signal generator unit for generating control signals corresponding to said voice commands, for controlling said one or more electronic devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

With reference toFIG. 1some of the features are schematically illustrated according to a plurality of advantageous embodiments of the present invention comprising a remote control1, wherein each of the features, or a combination of which, may present the subject matter of one single advantageous embodiment.

The remote control1comprises a sound transducer3for receiving a voice command5,25and conveying it to a speech recognition unit4for further processing. It is clear that other processing units or methods, not illustrated inFIG. 1, can be deployed in order to process the voice command5,25after receiving or before recognition of the same. The remote control1comprises a memory6wherein information7,27,37relative to available content8,28,38of electronic devices2,22,32is stored. The electronic devices2,22,32can be of different types, such as television sets, audio systems, set-top-boxes, blue-ray disc readers etc., and the available content8,28,38corresponds to said different types of electronic devices2,22,32.

In accordance to a first embodiment of the present invention the information7,27,37relative to the available content8,28,38enables the remote control1to access the available content8,28,38depending on the received voice command5or25and to call up the available content8,28,38by generating a control signal10by way of a control signal generating and receiving unit9that in turn is also able to receive data from the electronic devices2,22,32, in particular coming from the memory6.

In accordance to a second embodiment of the present invention the remote control1periodically and automatically connects to the electronic devices2,22,32and downloads and updates the information7,27,37relative to the available content8,28,38in its memory6. In this way the remote control1and the memory6know in every moment the updated available content8,28,38of the various electronic devices2,22,32. Thanks to the fact that the memory6of the remote control1stores the updated information7,27,37of the available contents8,28,38of the electronic devices2,22,32whenever the user pronounces a voice command5,25relative to available content8,28,38of an electronic device2,22,32, that in such moment is in stand-by mode, knowing where the required content is located, the remote control1is able to switch on the relevant electronic device2,22,32where the required content8,28,38can be found. The information7,27,37consists of different data providing different information relative to the available content8,28,38such as name, length of time, source name, broadcaster, size, storage location, date of recording, type of data such as audio, video, photos and the like.

The information7,27,37can also be manually input by a user of the remote control1or by means of a receiver unit11for periodically and automatically retrieving such information7,27,37relative to the available content8,28,38while communicating with said electronic devices2,22,32. Such different contents can be of any type and eventual events that could lead to a variation in the available content8,28,38and the corresponding information7,27,37, such as turning on or off the devices2,22,32, inserting or ejecting data medium, searching or tuning channels, receiving additional information from other sources such as EPG, Internet, media libraries and the like.

Therefore the present invention can be summarized by the fact that a system and/or a remote control1provides for generating output signals10apt at controlling one or more electronic devices2,22,32, characterized in that said remote control1includes a sound transducer3, a speech recognition unit4for recognizing voice commands5,25, a memory6for storing information about the available content8,28,38of said one or more electronic devices2,22,32and a control signal generating and receiving unit9for generating control signals10corresponding to said voice commands5,25, for controlling said one or more electronic devices2,22,32.

The electronic device2,22,32may be a television set, HbbTV, smart TV, radio, audio system, CD player, DVD player, Blu-ray player, 3D Blu-ray player, set-top box, notebook, laptop, ultrabook, portable audio system, satellite receiver, stereo, hi-fi, media center or any other electronic device capable of delivering multimedia content and entertainment that can be controlled directly or indirectly by means of a remote control. The sound transducer3is a device or sensor capable of receiving sound, voice, speech or acoustic waves and transforming them into electronic signals, as occurs when the transducer3is suitable to be incorporated within a microphone or other acoustic sensor. The speech recognition unit4processes voice commands and recognizes a specific meaning of such voice command that corresponds to a control signal10which is generated by the remote control1. The memory6used to store information about available content may be any type of memory unit such as RAM, DRAM, SDRAM, SSD or any other type of memory chip, memory module or the like. The memory6is adapted to store for instance the name of the services available on a television set or radio broadcasters, as well as the name of the programs available on said television services extracted from an EPG (Electronic Program Guide), the name of the tracks and/or artist available on a CD or DVD, the titles of movies, video, music and photos stored on the electronic devices, and the like. The memory6is generally adapted to store all the possible information7,27,37that may be used by a user to specify and choose any type of data or content8,28,38in the controlled electronic devices2,22,32. The control signal generating and receiving unit9generates an output signal10to control the electronic device2,22,32. The output signal10generated depends on the recognized voice command5,25. The remote control1can also be adapted to contain information7,27,37related to the operation of the electronic device2,22,32(such as tuning information, location of a certain track or address in the memory of stored media data) to assign to such voice commands5,25predefined models of operation and therefore obtaining from the received signals corresponding outputs. The aforementioned related information7,27,37is also adapted to be stored in the memory unit6or in an additional memory unit. The matching information7,27,37can be organized in a list or any other type of structure for managing information.

As a consequence of that mentioned herein above, the system and/or remote control1includes a receiving unit11to retrieve information7,27,37on the available contents8,28,38from at least one said memory unit contained in said at least one electronic device2,22,32. Consequently, the receiving unit11is able to retrieve information7,27,37from at least one electronic device2,22,32. The receiving unit11is an interface that enables communication with other electronic devices2,22,32for receiving information7,27,37about the available contents8,28,38such as services available on a television set or radio broadcasters, as well as the name of the programs available on said television services extracted from an EPG (Electronic Program Guide), the name of the tracks and/or artist available on a CD or DYD, the titles of movies, video, music and photos stored on the electronic devices, and the like. In general, any information7,27,37relating to the type of content8,28,38, that can be played, streamed and/or stored in said one or more electronic devices2,22,32, is able to be retrieved by the receiving unit11. The receiving unit11can make use of any type of interface such as Bluetooth, infrared, wireless interface or the like.

Additionally the receiving unit11retrieves information from said electronic devices2,22,32and/or the Internet. Retrieving information from the Internet provides an advantageous possibility for gathering information relating to available content8,28,38on the basis of local and geographical criterion and having a list of broadcasters in a specific area, such as a country, city or region or of an EPG website.

Based on an advantageous aspect of the present invention the remote control1recognizes at least two different voice commands5,25, as a consequence of synonymous words, corresponding to one said control signal10. This possibility enables the user to define several voice commands5,25to the same control signal10and available content respectively. In addition, it is possible to define several voice commands5,25by different users so as that each user is able to define a preferred voice command without being limited to unique voice commands, in order to solve the problem of synonymous commands, such as “increase volume of TV” and “turn up the volume of TV”. Such operation allows for easily memorizing a voice command5,25on the one hand and enhances speech recognition by way of the speech recognition unit4on the other.

It is a further aspect of the present invention to manage and/or memorize said available content8,28,38based on different categories. Such categories may be for example audio, music tracks, video, television services and programs, movies, radio services or the like. In addition it is also advantageous to provide further categories and/or sub-categories such as artists, actors, video classification such as action, thriller, comedy, serial, sport, movie, news, reality, soap, documentary, audio classification such as R&B, hip-hop, pop, rock, recording time, location and the like.

Based on another further aspect of the present invention said remote control1provides multi-language speech recognition. The language settings further enhances speech recognition among other advantages of personalized usage of the remote control1. For instance, the language settings may be performed through the menu facility the moment in which the general setting of the electronic device is carried out. In order to reduce costs to embody the remote control1according to the present invention, the software, for allowing the remote control multi-language speech recognition, can be downloaded from the electronic device2,22,32through use of the Internet and uploaded to the remote control1.

It is another aspect of the present invention to provide the user with feedback, such as audio, visual and/or sensory, the latter being an integral feature of the remote control1. Such advantageous feature may be used for helping the user when for instance the remote control1informs the user of the necessity to repeat a voice command5,25due to it being unable to recognize such voice command5,25. Moreover, whenever means are provided for a visual feedback, said feedback may also be used for providing the user with an overview of the categories, subcategories and available contents.

Another aspect of the present invention is that of providing a control signal10that comprises a group of control signals. This advantageous feature is used when a voice command5,25requires more than one control signal10to perform the desired voice command5,25. For instance, when a user pronounces the name of a movie which is in a specific subcategory it is necessary to navigate through several categories to reach the subcategory in order to play the movie. In such a case the remote control1is able to automatically produce a group of control signals in order to assist the user. It is also possible to direct a group of control signals to more than one electronic device2,22,32when a single voice command5,25needs to be performed by at least two different electronic devices2,22,32. For example when the voice command5,25is directed to select a service provided by a satellite receiver; it may be necessary to initially turn the satellite receiver on, to turn on the television set and then to select the desired service, all of which is accomplished by a group of control signals consisting of three control signals. In addition it is advantageous to generate a group of control signals directed at two different electronic devices2,22,32for controlling the electronic devices2,22,32interdependently. For instance, automatically turning off a hi-fi system or decreasing the volume when choosing a television service or a movie by way of a voice command.

Another advantageous aspect of the present invention provides for incorporating operational software in said electronic device2,22,32and said remote control1. For example updating of the operational software can be performed by the manufacturer, or third parties, which is used by the remote control1to allow communication between the remote control1and the corresponding electronic device2,22,32thus improving communication and/or enhancing the overall controllability of the electronic device2,22,32.

It is a further aspect of the present invention to propose a remote control1which automatically recognizes different users and provides personalized features. The recognition of the user can be achieved by way of user inputs such as voice, passwords or the like so as to provide personalized areas such as favorite categories, contents or even blocking contents that are considered unsuitable for specific users, such as children.

According to another aspect of the invention the remote control1comprises a display. The display may be used for providing visual feedback, thus improving and simplifying interaction for the user.

It is a further aspect of the present invention to propose a remote control1that is adapted to generate an on screen display function on said remote control1and/or on other electronic devices2,22,32having a display The aforementioned on screen display function has the aim of simplifying navigation while using a display such as a television screen or monitor or even when the on screen display function is directed to an electronic device2,22,32which normally has no display, such as a CD player or radio. The generated on screen display function of the remote control1is adapted to display information7,27,37relative to available content8,28,38of any electronic devices2,22,32, such as an electronic device2,22,32comprising a master memory containing different types of multimedia content.

InFIG. 2a system according to the present invention is illustrated wherein reference number40represents a television set (electronic device), connected to the remote control1byway of control signals10. The system according to the present invention converts received voice commands (5,25inFIG. 1) by way of voice recognition means contained in said remote control1into said command signals10. Said television set40comprises a remote control interface48, making use of Bluetooth, infrared, wireless interface technology or the like, connected to a microprocessor47which in turn comprises a data acquisition unit for receiving and managing said control signals10from said remote control interface48. The microprocessor47processes said control signals10then sends the processed signals to a memory unit46. The microprocessor47also controls the functioning of a tuner43that in turn supplies television signals to a video decoder42also controlled by said microprocessor47. Said television set40also comprises a display means for displaying the transmitted television signals received from said tuner43and decoded by said video decoder42. An electronic program guide (EPG), containing a list of available and future broadcasted programs displayed in a chronological order, is connected by way of traditional means to said memory46for downloading its data into said memory46always under the control of said microprocessor47, even if not illustrated in the figure. Reference number45represents a program memory, where information relative to television services are stored, that is also connected to said memory46.

In order to periodically and automatically update the memory6of the remote control1with the contents relative to the memory46of the television set40, the microprocessor47sends them to the remote control interface48for being in turn transmitted to the remote control1and stored in its memory6. Therefore the communication between the television set40(electronic device) with the remote control1is truly bidirectional.

Similarly, reference number50represents an audio system (electronic device) connected to a remote control1byway of control signals10. Said audio system comprises a remote control interface58, making use of Bluetooth, infrared, wireless interface technology or the like, connected to a microprocessor57which comprises a data acquisition unit for receiving and managing said control signals10. The microprocessor57processes said control signals10, then sends the processed signals to a memory unit56containing, inter alias a list of songs, artists, etc., (as explained in the following). The microprocessor57is also connected to a player I and a player II in order to control their functioning and to receive from them data to be stored into said memory56. Said players I and II may comprise external devices such as USB memory sticks, MP3 players, etc. Players I and II are in turn connected by way of traditional means to output sources59,60(that may comprise amplifiers and loudspeakers). A CD player55is connected to said memory56as well as to said output source59by way of player I, likewise a multimedia device54is connected to said memory56and output source60by way of player II. A radio receiver53, being part of the audio system50, is also connected to said memory56as well as to said output source60. It is clear that the functioning of said players I and II, said multimedia player54, CD player55, output sources59and60, and the memory56is under the control of said microprocessor57even if the relevant connections are not illustrated in the figure.

In order to periodically and automatically update the memory6of the remote control1with the contents relative to the memory56of the audio system50, the microprocessor57sends them to the remote control interface58for being in turn transmitted to the remote control1and stored in its memory6. Therefore the communication between the audio system50(electronic device) with the remote control1is truly bidirectional.

According to the system of the present invention, further additional electronic devices can be remotely controlled by the same said remote control1controlling said television set40and said audio system50, object of the present invention, such as for instance a Blu Ray player70, schematically illustrated as an example.

Said system allows for a user or users to pronounce a wide variety of voice commands that not only enables the devices40,50,70to carry out traditional functions, such as program change, increase and/or decrease of volume, song selection, etc. but also enables vocal search facilities of the contents of said devices40,50,70, such as “locate Pavarotti”. In this example all contents (video, audio and photos) relative to said given vocal command “Pavarotti” may be displayed on the display unit of said remote control1and/or on the display means of the devices40,50,70for subsequent selection of the desired media.

In other cases of voice command, when there is a univocal relationship between the command and the function to be performed, such as “ARD TV” or “ZDF TV” (television services), the system understands that this command is relative to said television set40and controls the tuning of the same in order to change the tuning and display to said desired service, or if said television set40is in stand-by mode, it will provide for turning on the set and tuning the same to the desired service.

More in particular, if the voice command is of the following type “Tageschau/ARD” the system first of all will look into the data of the EPG44and in the case that the required program is being aired, the system will immediately provide for the display of the required program; in the case the desired program is not yet being aired, the system will provide for programming the tuning and display of it when it is aired. Eventually, another solution provides that in the event the user is viewing another program when the desired program becomes available, the system will show a prompt indicating that the desired program is now being aired, rather than automatically changing the program.

Recently television sets are equipped with a storage memory made of a hard disk, a flash memory or SSD memory and the like, where it is possible to record television contents or videos obtained through the Internet. Also in this case, information related to this recorded content, such as title, date of recording, author and the like can be stored in the memory6and made available to the remote control1.

Similarly, when the voice command5,25is of the type, such as “My Way Frank Sinatra”, the system will identify said voice command as being relative to the audio system50and will provide for turning it on in the case it is off and select the desired song and reproduce it. Obviously, the same will apply to the BluRay disc player70in the case the voice command5,25is of the type such as “The Godfather”.

There are numerous possible variants to the system for controlling electronic devices2,22,32and40,50,70by means of voice commands5,25, more specifically a single remote control1to control a plurality of electronic devices2,22,32, and40,50,70by means of voice commands5,25, without for this departing from the principles of novelty inherent in the inventive idea, as it is also clear that in its practical forms of implementation the illustrated details may be different, and the same may be replaced with technically equivalent elements.

For instance, the remote control1can be a implemented by way of a smart phone or tablet PC in which the dedicated software can downloaded in various ways, such as Internet, USB memory and the like.

Therefore it is easy to understand that the present invention is not limited to a system for controlling electronic devices2,22,32, and40,50,70by means of voice commands5,25, more specifically a remote control1to control a plurality of electronic devices2,22,32,40,50,70by means of voice commands5,25, but is subject to various modifications, improvements and being substituted with equivalent parts and elements without however departing from the inventive idea, as is better defined in the following claims.