Voice-activated tuning of channels

Abstract

A method for voice-activated tuning of broadcast programs. A system architecture of an embodiment of the present invention comprises a microphone, a signal converter, a digital signal processor (DSP), a memory, a tuner, and an output device. A method for implementing an embodiment of the present invention comprises the following steps. First, the relationships between voice commands and channels are created. The relationships are preferably stored in the memory. Second, when a speech segment (comprising one or more words) is spoken by a user, the speech segment is captured by the microphone. Third, the microphone transforms the speech segment into an analog signal. Fourth, the signal converter converts the analog signal to a digital signal. Fifth, the DSP receives the digital signal and determines whether the speech segments matches one of the voice commands. Sixth, if the speech segment is determined to comprise a voice command, the DSP instructs the tuner to tune in to the channel or channels that have been previously associated with the voice command.

1 . A programming receiver comprising: 
 a microphone for capturing a speech segment from a user of the receiver and generating an analog signal representative of the speech segment;    a converter for converting the analog signal into a digital signal representative of the speech segment;    a processor for interpreting the digital signal and determining whether the speech segment comprises a voice command;    a tuner for tuning in to a channel associated with the voice command; and    an output device for reproducing programming on the channel.    
   
   
       2 . The receiver of  claim 1 , further comprising a memory in communication with the processor, wherein the memory comprises an association of the voice command and the channel.  
   
   
       3 . The receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the voice command is exclusively associated with the channel.  
   
   
       4 . The receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is associated with the voice command and at least one other voice command.  
   
   
       5 . (canceled)  
   
   
       6 . (canceled)  
   
   
       7 . The receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the voice command is associated with a genre comprising the channel.  
   
   
       8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . The receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver is a radio.  
   
   
       11 . A method for operating a programming receiver comprising the steps of: 
 associating a plurality of voice commands with a plurality of channels;    storing a result of the associating step in a memory of the receiver;    capturing a speech segment from a user using a microphone of the receiver;    determining whether the speech segment matches one of the plurality of voice commands using a processor of the receiver;    tuning in to one or more of the plurality of channels that are associated with the speech segment using a tuner of the receiver; and    outputting a program of the one or more of the plurality of channels tuned into using an output device of the receiver.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a voice command of the plurality of voice commands is exclusively associated with one channel of the plurality of channels.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a channel of the plurality of channels is associated with two or more voice commands of the plurality of voice commands.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a voice command of the plurality of voice command comprises one or more words.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a voice command of the plurality of voice commands is associated with a genre comprising one or more channels of the plurality of channels.  
   
   
       16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . (canceled)  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of capturing a second speech segment from the user.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of tuning in to a specific channel associated with the genre if the second speech segment is recognized by the processor as a voice command of the plurality of voice commands.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the receiver is a radio.  
   
   
       21 - 25 . (canceled)  
   
   
       26 . A method for operating a programming receiver comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a first speech segment using a microphone of the receiver;    checking whether the first speech segment matches at least one triggering word stored in a memory of the receiver;    capturing a second speech segment using the microphone if the first speech segment matches the at least one triggering word;    determining whether the second speech segment matches one of a plurality of voice commands stored in the memory;    tuning in to one or more of a plurality of channels that are associated with the second speech segment using a tuner of the receiver if the second speech segment matches one of the plurality of voice commands; and    outputting a program of the one or more of the plurality of channels tuned into using an output device of the receiver.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising the step of returning to the receiving step if the second speech segment does not match one of a plurality of voice commands stored in the memory during the determining step.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the capturing step and the determining step repeat for a duration before the returning step is executed.  
   
   
       29 . (canceled)  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising the step of returning to the receiving step after the tuning step.  
   
   
       31 . The receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the microphone is directly connected to the converter.