Patent · US Active

Information access and device control using mobile phones and audio in the home environment

US8825020B2 · kind B2 · utility

36Cited by
6References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 8, 2012
Grant dateSep 2, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 4, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG10L15/26
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward systems, methods and devices for improving information access to and device control in a home automation environment. Functionality of multiple household device, such as lights, sound, entertainment, HVAC, and communication devices can be activated via voice commands. The voice commands are detected by a nearby control device and relayed via a network communication medium to another control device to which the desired device or system that the user wants to operate is connected. Each control device, disposed throughout the home, can detect a voice command intended for another control box and household device and relay the voice command to the intended control box. In such systems, a user can initiate a telephone call by saying a voice command to a local control box that will forward on the control signal to a mobile phone connected to another control box.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.