Patents Portfolio
U.S. Patent: 10,140,072
Patent Title
Sound output system or internet appliance that supports voice activated commands, and that plays audio data received from a service over a network
Meta Information
Issued Date: November 27, 2018
Inventor: William Ho Chang et al
External Links: UPSTO, Google Patents
Technical Fields
Abstract
An output system, such as a wireless speaker or an Internet appliance, that supports voice activated commands is herein disclosed and enabled. The output system is wirelessly connectable to a service operated over a network (e.g., Internet) for receiving output data from the service. The setup of the output system includes: (1) wirelessly discovering the output system using a smart phone, (2) establishing a wireless communication link between the smart phone and the output system (e.g., via Bluetooth); (4) provide information, such as security and/or authentication information, from the smart phone to the output system via the wireless communication link. Thereafter, the output system, using the information received from the smart phone, establishes a wireless local area network connection and also connects itself to the service over the network. The output system is operable to receive voice activated commands from the user when connected to the service.
Sample Claim
1. A sound output system that is wirelessly connectable to one or more servers over a network for
receiving audio output data from the one or more servers for outputting or playing the received audio
output data at the sound output system, the sound output system includes:
a voice activated command interface for interacting with a user,
memory storing software or firmware, one or more processors,
at least one sound output device or speaker,
a microphone, and
wireless communication circuitry for wireless communication; wherein, when the one or more processors execute at least part of the software or firmware at the sound output system, the sound output system:
(1) wirelessly receives, using the wireless communication circuitry of the sound output system, data from a portable wireless device via a short range wireless communication link, the portable wireless device being a distinct device from the sound output system;
(2) processes an authentication procedure, at the sound output system, by detecting identification information or other information provided by the portable wireless device via the short range wireless communication link, and wherein, subsequent to processing the authentication procedure, the sound output system further:
(3) establishes, using the wireless communication circuitry at the sound output system, a wireless connection to the one or more servers over the network, the network includes a wireless local area network;
(4) receives, using the microphone and using the voice activated command interface, a voice activated command from the user;
(5) sends, using the wireless communication circuitry, a digital content object from the sound output system to the one or more servers over the network for processing at least part of audio digital content included in the digital content object, the sending of the digital content object is based on having received the voice activated command from the user;
(6) receives, using the wireless communication circuitry, audio output data from the one or more servers over the network, the audio output data includes audio data or sound data for output or playing at the sound output system, and the audio output data having a relationship, at least in part, to the audio digital content included in the digital content object sent from the sound output system to the one or more servers; and
(7) outputs or plays, using the at least one sound output device or speaker of the sound output system, at least part of the audio output data received from the one or more servers.