Patent Publication Number: US-2002010005-A1

Title: Method for performing voice dialing through ear-microphone in a mobile terminal

Description:
PRIORITY  
     [0001] This application claims priority to an application entitled “Method for Performing Voice Dialing Through Ear-microphone in a Mobile Terminal” filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Nov. 29, 1999 and assigned Ser. No. 99-53626; and an application entitled “Method for Performing Voice Dialing Through Ear-microphone in a Mobile Terminal” filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Dec. 3, 1999 and assigned Ser. No. 99-54733, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] The present invention relates generally to a mobile terminal with an ear-microphone, and in particular, to a method for performing voice dialing through an ear-microphone.  
       [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0005] In general, a mobile terminal may be provided with a voice dialing function. In a voice dialing mode, a user inputs (or utters) a specific voice signal rather than manually dialing a phone number. The mobile terminal then compares the input voice signal with previously stored (or registered) voice signals and automatically dials a phone number corresponding to the registered voice signal identical to the input voice signal. This voice dialing function, however, is very susceptible to problems resulting from surrounding noises. That is, when the surrounding noise increases, the mobile terminal may not correctly recognize the input voice signal and an error in dialing may occur.  
       [0006] As shown in FIG. 2, recent developments in mobile terminals include the provision of an ear-microphone to enable the user to conduct a telephone conversation without using the microphone and speaker included in the terminal itself. Such an ear-microphone  102  includes a speaker  105  for outputting a voice sound, a microphone  106  for receiving an input voice and a key input section  103 . The key input section  103  includes a SEND/END key for forming and blocking a communication path.  
       [0007] The ear-microphone  102  is typically used in such a situation where the user drives a car or conducts an important affair, so that he cannot concentrate his attention on the telephone conversation. In this situation, the mobile terminal  101  is generally put in the user&#39;s pocket or placed in the car. In this case, in order to conduct a telephone conversation by manipulating a keypad of the mobile terminal, the user must take the mobile terminal out of his pocket or pick it up to perform the corresponding key operation. Alternatively, the user can also conduct the telephone conversation using the voice dialing function, if provided, rather than manipulating the keypad of the mobile terminal. As mentioned above, however, the voice dialing function may erroneously operate due to possible surrounding noises. That is, when the surrounding noises are very significant, the voice dialing function may be rendered useless due to a decrease in efficiency of the memory in which the voice data is stored.  
       [0008] As an alternative, it is also possible to additionally provide the ear-microphone with a plurality of keys such as a voice dial mode enter key and a voice dial search key. However, this inevitably causes an increase in the complexity of the ear-microphone and the number of steps that user is required to perform.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a method for readily dialing a phone number registered for voice dialing in a mobile terminal with an ear-microphone.  
       [0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for preventing malfunction of a voice dialing function performed through an ear-microphone in a mobile terminal.  
       [0011] It is further another object of the present invention to provide a method for dialing a phone number using voice dial information stored in a voice memory without inputting a voice.  
       [0012] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method for dialing a phone number using voice dial information stored in a voice memory even in places where the surrounding noises are significant.  
       [0013] To achieve the above and other objects, there is provided a method for performing voice dialing through an ear-microphone in a mobile terminal with an ear-microphone having a voice dialing function. The method comprises the steps of entering a voice dial mode, upon receipt of key data generated by a user&#39;s pressing a specific key provided on the ear-microphone; outputting an outgoing message for performing voice dialing; after outputting the outgoing message, sequentially demodulating voice data for voice dial phone numbers and outputting the demodulated voice data; and dialing a voice dial phone number selected by the user during the output of the voice data.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0014] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
     [0015]FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a mobile terminal with an ear-microphone according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0016]FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a mobile terminal with an ear-microphone according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0017]FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a procedure for performing voice dialing through an ear-microphone according to an embodiment of the present invention; and  
     [0018]FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a procedure for performing voice dialing through an ear-microphone according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0019] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.  
     [0020] A structure of a mobile terminal with an ear-microphone according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1.  
     [0021] A controller  100  controls the overall operation of the mobile terminal  101 , including an operation for performing voice dialing through an ear-microphone  102  according to an embodiment of the present invention. A memory device  150  includes a ROM (Read Only Memory; not shown) for storing an operating program, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM; not shown), and a voice memory  151  for storing voice data. A voice recognizer  105 , which is included in controller  100 , analyzes features of a voice signal input through a microphone MIC ( 106 ,  108 ) and compares the input voice with stored (or registered) voice data. A display  120 , preferably an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), displays a status of the mobile terminal  101  and the progress of the operating program under the control of the controller  100 . A key input section  130 , such as a keypad, includes a plurality of numeric keys and function keys for performing various functions, and provides key data to the controller  100  according to the user&#39;s input key operation. A signal processor  170 , under the control of the controller  100 , exchanges various data with a base station through an antenna ANT. A voice processor  160  modulates a voice signal input from the microphone MIC ( 106 ,  108 ) into voice data, and demodulates voice data input from the signal processor  170  into a voice signal, which will be output as a voice through a speaker SPK ( 107 ,  109 ). A dialing section  111  dials a phone number under the control of the controller  100 . A switching section  180  switches a voice signal path to either the ear-microphone  102  or the speaker SPK  109  and microphone MIC  107  of the mobile terminal  101 , depending on whether or not the ear-microphone  102  is connected to the mobile terminal  101 . A jack/connection sensor  190 , which comprises a terminal for connecting the mobile terminal  101  to the ear-microphone  102 , mechanically and electrically detects whether the ear-microphone  102  is connected to the mobile terminal  101 . A signal detected by the jack/connection sensor  190  is used to control the switching section  180 . A key input section  103  of ear-microphone  102  is used to perform a function of sending or blocking a call (i.e., SEND/END key function) and a scroll key function for scrolling the voice data stored in the voice memory  151 . A connector  104  connects a signal output from the ear-microphone  102  to the controller  100  and the voice processor  160  through the jack/connection sensor  190  of the mobile terminal  101 .  
     [0022] Now, with reference to FIGS.  1  to  3 , a detailed description will be made of the operation of performing voice dialing through the ear-microphone according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0023] First, in an idle state, the user sets the terminal to a voice dial mode through the key input section  130  of the mobile terminal  101 . Thereafter, if it is determined in step  300  that the terminal is in voice dialing mode, it is determined in step  301  whether the ear-microphone  102  is connected to the mobile terminal  101  through the jack/connection sensor  190 . If the ear-microphone  102  is connected to the mobile terminal  101 , the controller  100  determines in step  302  whether a key input is received from the key input section  103  of the ear-microphone  102 . If any of steps  300 ,  301  or  302  are answered in the negative, that is if the terminal is not in voice dialing mode at step  300 , or if the ear-microphone microphone  102  is not connected to the terminal at step  301 , or if there is no key input received at step  302 , then the process proceeds to step  390 , and some other function may be performed by the terminal, such as normal operation.  
     [0024] Upon receipt of the key input, the controller  100  transitions the mobile terminal  101  from the idle state and then automatically performs the voice dial function, in step  310 . At this point, the controller  100  reproduces an outgoing message stored in the voice memory  151  and outputs the reproduced outgoing message through the speaker SPK  107  of the ear-microphone  102 . For example, the outgoing message may be “When you hear a desired voice, please press a key”.  
     [0025] In step  320 , the controller  100  reproduces first voice data stored in the voice memory  151  and outputs the reproduced voice data through the speaker SPK  107  of the ear-microphone  102 . In step  330 , the controller  100  determines whether the SEND/END key located on the key input section  103  of the ear-microphone  102  is input (or pressed). If the SEND/END key is not input for a predetermined time, the controller  100  proceeds to step  340 . Otherwise, if the SEND/END key is input within the predetermined time, the controller  100  proceeds to step  360  and outputs again the voice data which was output when the SEND/END key is input. Subsequently, the controller  100  outputs a confirmation request message for requesting the user to confirm the selected voice dial phone number. For example, the confirmation request message may be “The phone number you have selected is ‘1112223333’ for John. If it is correct, please press the SEND/END key long”. At this point, if the user presses the SEND/END key, the controller  100  sends the corresponding phone number in step  380 .  
     [0026] In step  340 , the controller  101  determines whether the output voice data is the last data stored in the voice memory  151 . If the voice data is the last data, the controller  110  proceeds to step  370  and otherwise, proceeds to step  350 . If a voice dial end key is input in step  370 , the controller  100  ends the program and otherwise, returns to the step  320 . For the voice dial end key, it is possible to use either a separate key positioned on the key input section  103  or the existing SEND/END key.  
     [0027] In step  350 , the controller  100  demodulates the next voice data and outputs the demodulated voice data through the speaker SPK  107  of the ear-microphone  102 , and then returns to the step  330 .  
     [0028] Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. In this embodiment, the controller  100  performs the voice dial function upon receipt of key data generated by the user&#39;s pressing the SEND/END key positioned on the ear-microphone  102 , and outputs an outgoing message for performing voice dialing. After outputting the outgoing message, the controller sequentially demodulates voice data for the voice dial phone numbers and outputs the demodulated voice data. If the user selects a voice dial phone number by pressing the SEND/END key during the output of the voice data, the controller dials the selected voice dial phone number. A detailed description of this embodiment will be given below with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and  4 .  
     [0029] Table 1 shows, by way of example, the voice data and its associated phone numbers, stored in the voice memory  151 .  
                       TABLE 1                       Address   Voice Data   Phone Number                  1   John   111-222-3333       2   Headquarters   222-333-4444       3   Silver Bell   000-000-0000       •   •   •       •   •   •       •   •   •                  
 
     [0030] In Table 1, voice data “John” and its associated phone number “111-222-3333” are stored in a first address; voice data “Headquarters” and its associated phone number “222-333-4444” are stored in a second address; and voice data “Silver Bell” and its associated phone number “000-000-0000” are stored in a third address.  
     [0031] With reference to FIG. 4, the controller  100  determines in step  400  whether a scroll key input is received from a scroll key positioned on the ear-microphone  102 . Upon receipt of the scroll key input, the controller  100  proceeds to step  410 . The scroll key can be implemented by a rotatable circular key or an UP/DOWN key.  
     [0032] In step  410 , the controller  100  enters the voice dial mode, and then determines in step  420  whether the scroll key is input (or pressed). If the scroll key is not input, the controller  100  determines in step  421  whether a predetermine time has elapsed. If the scroll key is not input for the predetermined time, the controller  100  ends the voice dial mode.  
     [0033] If the scroll key is input in step  420 , the controller  100  proceeds to step  430  where the voice processor  160  reproduces the voice data stored in the first address of the voice memory  151  and outputs the reproduced voice data through the speaker SPK  107  of the ear-microphone  102 . Thereafter, the controller  100  determines in step  440  whether the SEND/END key is input to select the output voice data. If the SEND/END key is input, the controller  100  proceeds to step  450  and otherwise, proceeds to step  441 .  
     [0034] In step  450 , the controller  100  sends the phone number corresponding to the selected voice data. If the SEND/END key is not input in step  440 , the controller  100  determines in step  441  whether a voice dial mode end key is input. If the voice dial mode end key is input, the controller  100  ends the voice dial mode, and otherwise, returns to step  420  to receive the next key input. Here, based on the next key input, the controller  100  outputs the voice data stored in the higher or lower address as compared with the address of the previously output voice data. Table 2 below shows, by way of example, the voice data output according to the key input (from the UP/DOWN key) for the case where the voice data is stored in the addresses 0 to 10.  
                       TABLE 2                       Sequence   Key Input   Address of Output Voice Data                  First Key Input   UP   1       2   UP   2       3   DOWN   1       4   DOWN   10        5   DOWN   9       •   •   •       •   •   •       •   •   •                  
 
     [0035] To sum up, the mobile terminal reproduces the previously stored voice data at the user&#39;s request, and outputs the reproduced voice data. When the user selects specific output voice data, the mobile terminal dials a phone number corresponding to the selected voice data.  
     [0036] While the invention has been shown and described with reference to a certain preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.