Wearable Device Voice to DTMF Conversion for Service Calls

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wearable devices lack a dial pad and have small screens, making it difficult for users to enter digits or symbols during service calls, leading to potential misoperations when using DTMF input.

Innovation Solution

A method that converts voice information into dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) tones for sending to communication peer devices during service calls, allowing users to enter digits or symbols accurately by voice input, with a voice assistant icon enabling this feature on the call screen.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a dial pad is disposed on the wearable device for manual digit entry, then the user can enter service numbers, but the device complexity increases and the screen space is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedigit entry capabilityVSAvoiddial pad structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical dial pad system with a voice recognition system. The wearable device captures voice signals through its microphone, processes them to recognize digits, and converts them to DTMF tones for transmission. This eliminates the need for a physical or on-screen dial pad while maintaining digit entry functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces voice recognition technology as an intermediary between the user's intent to enter a digit and the actual DTMF tone transmission. The voice processing module acts as a mediator that translates spoken digits into the appropriate frequency signals, bypassing the need for direct manual input through a dial pad.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the wearable device screen is made larger to improve digit selection, then the user can better select digits, but the wearable device becomes less portable and more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedigit selection accuracyVSAvoiddevice size
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the visual interaction system (requiring a larger screen for digit selection) with a voice-based interaction system. Users speak digits directly, and the voice recognition module processes these inputs, eliminating the need for a large display area for digit selection while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the digit selection function from the visual display domain and relocates it to the audio domain. By taking out the requirement for visual digit selection from the screen, the device can maintain a small form factor while preserving accurate digit entry capability through voice commands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If manual digit entry is used on the wearable device, then the user can input service information, but misoperations easily occur due to small screen and lack of dial pad

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinput capabilityVSAvoidinput accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual manual entry system with an automated voice recognition system. The voice processing module automatically captures, processes, and converts spoken digits to DTMF tones, eliminating manual manipulation errors while maintaining input capability. This automation improves both productivity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The voice recognition system provides self-service by automatically processing the user's spoken input without requiring manual dial pad operations. The system independently handles digit recognition, validation, and conversion to DTMF tones, reducing user burden and minimizing misoperations while maintaining accurate input.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Ensures accurate entry of digits or symbols during service calls on wearable devices, enhancing user experience by preventing misoperations and improving input accuracy.

Implementation Method 1

voice information of a user is converted into a dual tone multi frequency tone so as to be sent to a communication peer device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVoice to DTMF conversion:

Data Source

PatentEP3454535B1Method and device for interaction in call
Publication Date: 2021.10.20 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3454535B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3454535B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3454535B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention provides an interaction method in a call and a device, where the method includes: displaying a voice assistant icon on a call screen of the wearable device when a phone number of a communication peer device is a service number; converting received voice information into a dual tone multi frequency DTMF tone when the voice assistant icon is activated; and sending the DTMF tone to the communication peer device. Therefore, in a process of making or answering a service call by using the wearable device, under a specific trigger condition, voice information of a user is converted into a dual tone multi frequency tone so as to be sent to the communication peer device. In this way, when the user needs to enter a digit or a symbol in a call process, it can be ensured that the user enters correct information, and user experience is improved.