Centralized voice recognition unit for wireless control of personal mobile electronic devices

Abstract

Described are a method and system for controlling the operation of personal mobile electronic devices disposed about a user. Each device is adapted to receive command according to a common wireless protocol. A voice signal is generated in response to a voice command spoken by the user. Command data are generated for one of the devices in response to the voice signal. The command data are transmitted through a wireless link to the respective device to control an operation of the device. There is no need for each device to have independent voice recognition capability. Instead, the burden of voice recognition is managed by the wearable command module that communicates with all the controlled devices through wireless links.

1 . A system for controlling the operation of a first personal mobile electronic device disposed proximate to a user and adapted to receive commands in accordance with a first command set and for controlling the operation of a second personal mobile electronic device disposed proximate to the user and adapted to receive commands in accordance with a second command set, the first and second personal mobile electronic devices being capable of operating independent of a control module, the system comprising:
 a microphone to generate a voice signal responsive to a voice command spoken by the user; and   a wearable command module comprising;
 a voice recognition unit in communication with the microphone, the voice recognition unit generating command data from the first and second command sets in response to the voice signal; and 
 a wireless data transmitter in electrical communication with the voice recognition unit and transmitting the command data from the first and second command sets encoded according to a wireless protocol to control an operation of the first and second personal mobile electronic devices, respectively. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the voice command comprises a device name assigned to the one of the personal mobile electronic devices. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the wearable command module is integrated in one of the personal mobile electronic devices. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the microphone is in communication with the voice recognition unit through a wireless link. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the microphone is in communication with the voice recognition module through an electrically conductive path. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the microphone is integral with the wearable command module. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a device status indicator to indicate to the user a status of one of the personal mobile electronic devices. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the device status indicator comprises a speaker. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the device status indicator comprises an optical source. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the device status indicator comprises an optical display. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second personal mobile electronic devices is addressable by a name and the encoded command data comprises the programmed name of the personal mobile device being controlled. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a personal mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a wireless data receiver in electrical communication with the voice recognition unit and configured to receive status and feedback data encoded in accordance with the wireless protocol.