WO1998042537A1

WO1998042537A1 - Method for improving accuracy of vehicle telecommunication equipment

Info

Publication number: WO1998042537A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/003907
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hollister Hartman; Robin Mihekun Miller
Original assignee: Lear Automotive Dearborn Inc.
Priority date: 1997-03-25
Filing date: 1998-02-26
Publication date: 1998-10-01

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for providing feedback to a vehicle operator of the number series which has been entered into a vehicle telephone. In one example, a control for the system captures the entered signal and provides audio feedback of the captured signal. If the audio feedback is not the number the operator intended to enter, then the operator may change the number. If the number is correct, then the operator completes the call. In one embodiment, the control is provided with access to a phone directory system, and the audio feedback includes identifiaction of the state, city and individual location which has been dialed. In further embodiments, the system is provided with voice recognition software such that the operator may enter a number by verbally requesting the number or location. In further modifications, the feedback may be visual rather than audio. In the visual feedback embodiments, the numbers are displayed at a location such that the operator may see the number without diverting attention from the road or looking at the telephone. The several embodiments provide feedback to the operator of a number which has been entered into a vehicle-based telephone system, without requiring the operator to divert attention from the road.

Description

METHOD FOR IMPROVING ACCURACY OF VEHICLE TELECOMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus for assisting an operator in checking the accuracy of the numbers dialed with a vehicle- based telephone.

More and more modern vehicles are being provided with telephones. The great preponderance of these telephones require manual entry of the telephone numbers. While speed dial may be provided for frequently called numbers, the driver must still actuate the proper speed dial number. Typically, a number series is entered, and the driver must then check the accuracy of the numbers. If the driver believes the number series is accurate, then a "send" switch is actuated. At that time, the call is placed.

The use of vehicle-based telephones has been identified as a safety concern in the operation of vehicles. Telephones are blamed for taking the driver's attention away from the road for an undesirable amount of time.

One task that distracts the driver is checking the accuracy of an entered number. At that time, the driver's thoughts, and eyes, must be diverted from the road. This is undesirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a disclosed method of this invention, a driver is provided with feedback of the number series that has been entered. The feedback is provided such that it does not require the driver's attention to be directed away from the road. In one embodiment, the feedback is provided as an audio restatement of the number dialed. In one specific embodiment, the driver enters each number in the series to be dialed. A control for the telephone audibly

"echoes" or repeats each number. If the repeated number is accurate, then the driver actuates the send switch. In a variation of this embodiment, the number feedback is provided in segments. With this variation, after each subset of numbers in the series (i.e., 1 and the area code for a long distance number) the subset is repeated audibly. Yet another variation of the audio feedback includes a control provided with access to a telephone directory database. As the area code is entered, the state may be audibly responded as feedback. When the first three digits of the seven digit telephone number are entered, the city may be audibly responded. Once the entire number is entered, the person or business that has been selected is audibly responded. In this way, the operator is provided with audio feedback, and need not divert attention from the road to check the accuracy of the number series which has been entered.

In a further variation, rather than audibly repeating the numbers, the system visually displays the numbers at a location where the driver can see the numbers without diverting attention from the road. A panel display may carry the information in the approximate location of the standard instrument panel.

Alternatively, a heads-up display may display the information on the windshield. This variation provides the operator with the ability to check the numbers as they are entered. Further, if the visual feedback control is provided access to a phone directory, the displayed information can include the state, city, and business or person whose number has been dialed.

In one further variation, the system may be provided with voice recognition software such that the driver need not manually enter the number series. Instead, the driver verbally requests a particular number to be dialed, which is captured and analyzed by the control. The system then repeat the number recognized, either audibly or visually, and the operator may then determine whether the system has accurately captured the audible direction. A further variation of this system would include the driver asking for directory assistance by stating the city, state, and person or business that the drive wishes to contact. The system then responds with appropriate choices. As an example, if the driver were to say: "New York, New York, a residence for

Doe, John", then the system searches for the matching numbers. If more than one match is identified, the control may respond "John Frederick or John Samuel", (assuming these are the two available choices). The driver is then able to select the appropriate choice.

The necessary phone directory databases and the necessary voice recognition software are commercially available. The same is true for the necessary voice synthesis systems and the display systems as disclosed above.

Standard systems of this sort may be utilized to support the inventive methods and apparatus.

These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specifications and drawings, of which the following is a brief description.

DETAΠJED DESCRΠTIQN OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a highly schematic view of a vehicle telephone system incorporating the present invention.

Figure 2 is a variation of the system shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows an alternative visual display.

Figure 4 A shows another alternative visual display. Figure 4B shows an alternate display.

DETAHJED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Figure 1 shows a vehicle 20 somewhat schematically. A telephone receiver 22 includes a keypad 26 as is known. In the prior art, an operator typically enters numbers on keypad 26 to dial a telephone number. The operator then visually checks the entered number for accuracy before sending the call. The present invention improves upon this method.

As a number is entered through the keypad 26, a speaker 28 is utilized to "echo" or repeat the entered number as feedback. The operator is then able to check the accuracy of that entered number. To provide this feedback, a control 30 captures the entered number and includes known voice synthesis software which is then operable to send a signal to the speaker 28 and to echo the entered number. The speaker 28 may be included adjacent the telephone or may be part of another system in the vehicle, such as the stereo speaker system.

As the operator enters the number through the keypad 26, the numbers are audibly repeated to the operator who may then check the entered number for accuracy before sending the number. The numbers may be echoed after each number is entered, or once the entire series has been entered, or echoed in subset segments. As an example, once the operator has entered a " 1" and the area code, that subset of the number may be responded as feedback to the operator to check the accuracy.

In another feature of this invention, the control 30 may communicate with a phone directory database 32. Database 32 may be available remotely through a satellite or may be a dedicated database on the vehicle, which is periodically updated. Control 30 communicates with database 32 to identify the state, city, and person or business identified by the number which has been properly entered into the keypad 26. With this variation, when the operator has entered a number, the speaker 28 and the voice synthesis software may do more than simply respond or repeat the number entered. Instead, as the operator is entering the number, the control 30, database 32 and speaker 28 may respond audibly with the state, city and finally the business or person whose number has been entered. In this way, the operator is able to determine whether the proper number has been entered before sending the number. The drivers attention is not diverted from the road during the accuracy check.

Figure 2 shows yet another variation, with receiver 34 to capture audio signals from the operator, and transmit those signals to the control 30. The control 30 is provided with voice recognition software. With the Figure 2 embodiment, an operator is able to audibly request the dialing of a particular number, and the control 30 is able to recognize the number. The control 30 then responds the identified number as feedback through the speaker 28. If the recognized number is proper, then the operator actuates the send button, or alternatively sends an audio send signal that is also be captured by the receiver 34 and transmitted to control 30. At that time, the call is sent by the control 30. If the directory database is included, then the Figure 2 system may respond with state, city and name of the business or individual who has been dialed.

Figure 3 shows another embodiment wherein the feedback provided to the operator is visual rather then audio. A display 40 may be a reconfigurable instrument display panel and includes an area 42 wherein the entered number is displayed. The display may any type reconfigurable display, such as LED,

LCD, or electro luminescent displays. As shown, the display can be the entered number. If access to the directory database is provided, the display could be configured to include the city, state and individual or business whose number has been entered. The driver is able to easily check this display as it may be positioned forwardly of the driver sent. If the number is accurate, the operator is able to actuate the send signal.

Figure 4A shows yet another embodiment wherein a heads-up display 44 displays the entered number feedback on the windshield 45. The operator is easily able to see the feedback number 46 as it is in the operator's line of vision while still monitoring the road.

Figure 4B shows a variation 50 of the heads-up display system of this invention. As shown, the heads-up display will display a number 52 which "echoes" the numbers as feedback. This is similar to the earlier audio embodiment wherein the numbers are echoed individually after the driver has requested each particular numeral. By utilizing the single echo, larger numerals may be available to the inventive system.

The visual display such as shown in Figures 3, 4 A and 4B may also be provided with the ability to incorporate voice recognition software such that the operator can enter the signals audibly instead of manually. In addition, these visual display systems may be provided with the phone directory database as in the Figure 1 embodiment. One main feature of the present invention is that the operator is able to confirm the number series which was dialed is proper without diverting attention from the road. This is a major improvement over the prior art systems. For purposes of this application and claims, the term "telephone address" will be utilized to identify a particular location which is to be called by the operator. Thus, both the embodiments wherein the number is entered, and the embodiments where the operator may audibly request a particular state, city, and individual location, will be referred to as entering an "address. " The individual or business whose number is being dialed will be identified in this application and claims as the "individual location."

Preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed. However, a worker of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.

Claims

1. A method of utilizing a telephone in a vehicle comprising the steps of:

(1) entering a telephone address to be dialed;

(2) capturing said address at a control;

(3) providing feedback to the operator of the vehicle of the address which has been captured, without the operator having to look at the telephone; and

(4) placing a call to the address

2. A method as recited in Claim 1, wherein the entry of the address in step (1) is done verbally, and a control includes voice recognition software to recognize the address the operator enters verbally.

3. A method as recited in Claim 1, wherein the feedback of step

(3) is provided audibly.

4. A method as recited in Claim 1, wherein a control for said system is provided with access to a telephone directory, and said control compares said captured address to said directory and said feedback includes information on the city, state and individual location associated with the telephone address which has been entered in step (1).

5. A method as recited in Claim 4, wherein said feedback of step (3) is provided visually.

6. A method as recited in Claim 1, wherein said feedback of step (3) is provided audibly.

7. A method as recited in Claim 6, wherein said audio feedback includes the city, state and particular locations which has been entered in step

(1).

8. A method as recited in Claim 1, wherein said feedback of step

(3) displays said entered address at a location where the operator may easily see the feedback.

9. A vehicle mounted telephone and control comprising: a telephone to be mounted within a vehicle; a control for said telephone, said control being operable to capture an entered address to be called by said telephone; and a response mechanism for communicating feedback to the operator of the address which has been entered, such that an operator need not look at the telephone to receive the feedback.

10. A system as recited in Claim 9, wherein said response mechanism provides audio feedback.

11. A system as recited in Claim 10, wherein said response mechanism audibly responds the numbers which have been entered into the system by the operator.

12. A system as recited in Claim 9, wherein said control communicates with a telephone directory database, and said response mechanism provides information on the city, state and particular location which has been entered by the operator.

13. A system as recited in Claim 9, wherein said response mechanism provides visual feedback to the operator.

14. A system as recited in Claim 13, wherein said visual information is provided on the vehicle windshield, by a heads-up display.

15. A system as recited in Claim 13, wherein said visual feedback is provided on a reconfigurable display panel positioned forwardly of the operator.

16. A system is recited in Claim 9, wherein said control including voice recognition software, such that an operator may enter the address verbally, and said voice recognition software and said control are operable to capture said verbal address, and recognize the entered address.

17. A vehicle mounted telephone and control comprise: a telephone to be mounted in a vehicle; a control for said telephone, said control being operable to capture an entered address to be dialed by said telephone; and a response mechanism including a speaker, said response mechanism communicating with said control, said control sending a signal to said response mechanism to audibly provide feedback on the address which has been entered by the operator.