US20020161586A1 - Voice control module for controlling a game controller - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a voice control module for controlling a game controller comprising: a microphone for inputting voice signals, a first voice recognition device of command mode for converting the voice signals inputted from the microphone within a time period into a corresponding game command, and a second voice recognition device of continuous mode for converting the voice signals continuously inputted from the microphone into a corresponding switch command. Wherein after the switch command is converted, the second voice recognition device initiates the first voice recognition device to convert the voice signals inputted from the microphone within the time period into a corresponding game command to control the game controller.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This is a division of application Ser. No. 9/231,711 filed, Jan. 13, 1999[0001]
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
• 1. Field of the Invention[0002]
• The present invention relates to a voice control module, and more particularly, to a voice control module for controlling a game controller.[0003]
• 2. Description of the Prior Art[0004]
• The user interface of a computer game such as a computer joystick commonly comprises a movable control handle and a plurality of control buttons. The advantage of the control handle and control buttons is ease of operation. However, the various setup and functions of the control buttons vary from game to game. This is obviously not user-friendly as it requires the user to remember different functions for each control button depending on which program is being used. Also, while engrossed in game play, a user may inadvertently press the wrong button as he is unable to watch the keypad and the screen at the same time. This disrupts game play and causes user frustration.[0005]
• With the advent of voice recognition technology, it can be applied to solve the above mentioned problem. There are currently several voice recognition modules on the market including continuous mode voice recognition and command mode voice recognition devices. As the names imply, the continuous mode voice recognition device recognizes voice input continuously and the command mode voice recognition device does so only intermittently.[0006]
• In continuous mode, any time voice signals are inputted through the microphone, recognition signal processing occurs immediately. In this process, the input voice signals are compared with pre-existent commands stored in the memory. If an input voice signal is identical to one of the stored commands, the corresponding command will be executed. If there are too many pre-existent commands, it will take too long to compare each one individually. If the time interval between two input voice signals is not long enough, the commands will not be executed at once.[0007]
• In command mode, a specific button should be pressed first before each voice command is inputted. This alerts the controller to expect an input voice signal. If the input voice command is identical to one of the pre-existent commands, it will be executed. Here, recognition occurs only when a button is pressed so the storage capacity of commands is high. However, it is not convenient for users.[0008]
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
• It is therefore a primary objective of the present invention to provide a voice control module for controlling a game controller, which combines continuous mode and command mode in voice recognition to solve the above mentioned problem.[0009]
• In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a voice control module for controlling a game controller comprising:[0010]
• a microphone for inputting voice signals;[0011]
• a first voice recognition device for converting the voice signals inputted from the microphone within a time period into a corresponding game command; and[0012]
• a second voice recognition device for converting the voice signals continuously inputted from the microphone into a corresponding switch command;[0013]
• wherein after the switch command is converted, the second voice recognition device initiates the first voice recognition device to convert the voice signals inputted from the microphone within the time period into a corresponding game command to control the game controller.[0014]
• It is an advantage of the present invention that the voice control module will distinguish each voice signal automatically without the need for pressing any button, hence it is very easy to use and game play is more fluent.[0015]
• This and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after having read the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment which is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.[0016]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the voice control module used in a computer game system in the present invention.[0017]
• FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the computer joystick shown in FIG. 1.[0018]
• FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the voice control module shown in FIG. 2.[0019]
• FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the continuous mode voice recognition device.[0020]
• FIG. 5 is a preferred embodiment of the various command files showed in FIG. 3.[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram a[0022]voice control module12 used in acomputer game system10 in the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of thecomputer joystick18 shown in FIG. 1 . Thecomputer game system10 comprises agame controller16, avoice control module12 for controlling the input voice signals for controlling thegame controller16, adisplay device14 used for displaying a screen of images, and acomputer joystick18 used for producing cursor signals as well as input signals from the keyboard for controlling thegame controller16. Thegame controller16 may be a PC or a PC game box. Thevoice control module12 comprises amicrophone28 used for inputting voice signals and a speaker used for indicating the result of each conversion made by voice recognition devices to the user.
• The[0023]computer joystick18 comprises ahousing22, acontrol circuit20 installed inside thehousing22 for controlling thegame controller16, amovable handle24 installed on thehousing22 and connected to thecontrol circuit20 for producing displacement signals for controlling the displacement of the object of the game, a plurality offunction keys26 installed upon thehousing22 and connected to thecontrol circuit20 for producing a plurality of key-pressed signals, and avoice control module12 electrically connected to thecontrol circuit20 for processing the input voice signals.
• Please refer to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the[0024]voice control module12 shown in FIG. 2. Thevoice control module12 comprises a command modevoice recognition device32 for performing recognition in command mode, a continuous modevoice recognition device34 for performing recognition in continuous mode, i.e. continuously, and aswitch36 used for sending the voice signals inputted from themicrophone28 to the continuous modevoice recognition device34 or command modevoice recognition device32. The continuous modevoice recognition device34 comprises amemory35 for storing acontrol command file38 which will be executed if the input voice signal is identical to the predetermined command stored in thecontrol command file38. The predetermined commands stored in thecontrol command file38 can be divided into two categories, either execution commands for direct execution or switch commands for switching recognition modes. The command modevoice recognition device32 also comprises amemory33 for storing a plurality ofgame command files40 each corresponding to a switch command of thecontrol command file38. The continuous modevoice recognition device34 converts the voice signals inputted through themicrophone28 into a corresponding switch command according to thecontrol command file38, then triggers the command modevoice recognition device32 to convert the voice signals into a corresponding game command according to thegame command file40 corresponding to the converted switch command of thecontrol command file38 so as to control thegame controller16.
• As depicted in FIG. 3, the control line used by the continuous mode[0025]voice recognition device34 to control theswitch36 is indicated by the connectingline44 in thevoice control module12, the control line used by the command modevoice recognition device32 to control theswitch36 is indicated by theconnecting line46, the voice carrying line between the continuous modevoice recognition device34 and theswitch36 is indicated by theconnecting line41, the voice carrying line between the command modevoice recognition device32 and theswitch36 is indicated by theconnecting line42, and the control line used by the continuous modevoice recognition device34 to control the command modevoice recognition device32 is indicated by theconnecting line48.
• During recognition of the[0026]voice control module12, theswitch36 is first directed to deliver the voice signals inputted from themicrophone28 to the continuous modevoice recognition device34. If this voice signal is identical to one of the execute commands in thecontrol command file38, then the continuous modevoice recognition device34 will transmit this execute command to thegame controller16 to be executed directly via thecontrol circuit20. If the voice signal received by the continuous modevoice recognition device34 is identical to one of the switch commands in thecontrol command file38, then the continuous modevoice recognition device34 will initiate the command modevoice recognition device32 and at the same time control theswitch36 viacontrol line44 to deliver the voice signals inputted from themicrophone28 to the command modevoice recognition device32 for 3 seconds.
• When the command mode[0027]voice recognition device32 is initiated, it will choose a correspondinggame command file40 according to the switch command converted by the continuous modevoice recognition device34, and then convert the voice signals into a corresponding game command according to the chosengame command file40.
• After 3 seconds, the command mode[0028]voice recognition device32 will direct theswitch36 to deliver the voice signals back to the continuous modevoice recognition device34 via thecontrol line46. When the voice signal of the user is successfully converted into a command, thevoice control module12 sends a signal such as two high beeps to the user through thespeaker30 that input was successful. When the voice signals cannot be converted into any command, thecontrol module12 emits a signal such as a low beep through thespeaker30 to the user that the input was unsuccessful.
• Please refer to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the continuous mode[0029]voice recognition device34. It comprises the following steps:
• Step[0030]52:
• Receive voice signals delivered from[0031]switch36;
• Step[0032]54:
• Recognize whether the voice signal is a control command or not according to the[0033]control command file38; if not, go back to step52 and wait for a new input;
• Step[0034]56:
• Covert the inputted voice signal into a corresponding control command and determine whether or not it is a switch command; if it is, go to step[0035]60;
• Step[0036]58:
• Deliver the command to the[0037]game controller16 viacontrol circuit20 to enable thegame controller16 to execute this command, also inform the user that input is correct by usingspeaker30, then go back to step52 and wait for a new input;
• Step[0038]60:
• Initiate the command mode[0039]voice recognition device32 by use of thecontrol line46, and control theswitch36 to deliver the voice signals inputted from themicrophone28 within3 seconds to the command modevoice recognition device32; after 3 seconds, go back to step52 and wait for a new input.
• Please refer to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a preferred embodiment of the various command files shown in FIG. 3. The control command file[0040]62 comprises two execute commands and two switch commands. “Start” and “quit” are execute commands and “change weapon” and “change vehicle” are switch commands64,66. Each switch command corresponds to a game command file. For example, switchcommand64 “change weapon” corresponds to thegame command file68 which contains game commands such as “rocket” and “machine gun”, and theswitch command66 “change vehicle” corresponds to agame command file70 which contains game commands such as “motorboat” and “helicopter”. Once voice signal “change weapon” is input, it will be successfully converted into aswitch command64 via the continuous modevoice recognition device34. If voice signal “rocket” is input within 3 seconds, the command modevoice recognition device32 will covert it into a game command according to thegame command file68. This game command will then be sent to thegame controller16 to be directly executed. However, if “motorboat” is input after “change weapon”, the command modevoice recognition device32 will cause a low beep signal to be emitted from thespeaker30 because “motorboat” is not in thegame command file68. This signal informs the user to re-input the voice command.
• In the present invention, the[0041]voice control module12 controls the game controller via the voice commands inputted from themicrophone28. The continuous modevoice recognition device34 recognizes whether or not the voice is a switch command. If it is, then after the switch command is converted, the continuous modevoice recognition device34 will initiate the command modevoice recognition device32 to convert the voice signals inputted from the microphone within a specified time period into a corresponding game command to control the game controller. Hence, no buttons need to be pressed and thevoice control module12 automatically distinguishes signals. This makes usage of thevoice control module12 easy and game play more fluent.
• Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device may be made while retaining the teaching of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.[0042]

Claims (5)

What is claimed is:

1. A voice control module for controlling a game controller comprising:

a microphone for inputting voice signals;

a first voice recognition device for converting the voice signals inputted from the microphone within a time period into a corresponding game command; and

a second voice recognition device for converting the voice signals continuously inputted from the microphone into a corresponding switch command;

wherein after the switch command is converted, the second voice recognition device initiates the first voice recognition device to convert the voice signals inputted from the microphone within the time period into a corresponding game command to control the game controller.

2. The voice control module ofclaim 1 further comprising a switch for delivering the voice signals inputted from the microphone to the first or second voice recognition device wherein after the switch command is converted, the second voice recognition device controls the switch to deliver the voice signals inputted from the microphone to the first voice recognition device so as to enable the first voice recognition device to convert the voice signals into the corresponding game command.

3. The voice control module ofclaim 1 further comprising an output device for acknowledging the result of each conversion made by the first or second voice recognition device.

4. The voice control module ofclaim 4 wherein the output device is a speaker.

5. The voice control module ofclaim 1 wherein the first and second voice recognition devices are installed in a computer joystick which is used for generating pointing and key command signals to control the game controller.

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