Parallel Touch and Voice Command Processing in Speech Recognition

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing speech recognition systems in navigation devices face challenges in noisy environments, requiring endpoint indicators for voice commands, which can be distracting and prone to errors when using soft buttons or additional hardware, especially while driving.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that allow parallel processing of touch and voice commands by detecting touch-down and touch-up events on a touch-sensitive screen to activate and deactivate voice recognition, enabling voice commands to be given anywhere on the screen without needing a specific button, thus reducing distraction and improving accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a special hardware button is used to indicate voice command endpoints, then voice command recognition accuracy is improved, but device cost and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoice command recognition accuracyVSAvoiddevice cost and complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the existing touch-sensitive screen as an intermediary to indicate voice command endpoints. Instead of adding a special hardware button, the system utilizes the screen's touch capability where any touch location serves as an endpoint indicator, thereby avoiding increased device complexity while maintaining recognition accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The touch-sensitive screen is made multi-functional by allowing it to serve both as a command input interface and as a voice command endpoint indicator. This universal usage eliminates the need for dedicated hardware buttons, reducing device complexity and cost while preserving the ability to accurately identify voice command boundaries

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If a soft button on the screen is used to indicate voice command endpoints, then device cost is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to small target area and search time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice costVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The entire touch-sensitive screen is made functional as an endpoint indicator, allowing users to touch anywhere on the screen to indicate voice command boundaries. This eliminates the need to search for a specific soft button location, making operation as easy as any touch while maintaining low device cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the screen into multiple selectable areas, each corresponding to different voice command functions. This segmentation allows users to intuitively indicate different command types by touching different regions, improving ease of operation without requiring a single large button area

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the entire screen is made selectable for voice command indication, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to inadvertent presses of other functions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidreliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different functional qualities to different regions of the screen. Certain areas are designated specifically for voice command endpoint indication, while other areas maintain their original functions. This local differentiation allows the system to distinguish between intentional voice command triggers and inadvertent presses of functional buttons, thereby improving reliability while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Measurement precision

If the user must search for a special button before issuing a voice command, then command precision is improved by ensuring intentional input, but loss of time increases due to distraction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommand precisionVSAvoidloss of time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The screen is segmented into functionally distinct regions, with specific areas designated for voice command endpoint indication. This segmentation allows users to quickly identify and touch the appropriate area without searching, eliminating distraction and time loss while maintaining the precision of intentional command input

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8294683B2Method of processing touch commands and voice commands in parallel in an electronic device supporting speech recognition

Publication Date: 2012.10.23 MITAC INT CORP

AI summary

A method of processing touch commands and voice commands in parallel in an electronic device supporting speech recognition includes detecting a touch-down event on a touch-sensitive screen of the electronic device when touch input is sensed on the touch-sensitive screen, the touch-sensitive screen displaying one or more soft buttons, each soft button executing a corresponding command upon activation of the soft button. A microphone of the electronic device is activated to receive voice instructions in response to detecting the touch-down event. A touch-up event is detected when touch input is no longer sensed on the touch-sensitive screen, and it is determined whether a voice command was detected in a time period between the touch-down event and the touch-up event. The voice command is then executed if the voice command was detected.