ES2644887B1 - INTERACTION METHOD BY VOICE FOR COMMUNICATION DURING VEHICLE DRIVING AND DEVICE THAT IMPLEMENTS IT - Google Patents

Abstract

Voice interaction method for communication while driving vehicles and device that implements it. # A procedure and a device that allow voice interaction for communication while driving vehicles are described in this document. In this way there is the possibility of eliminating the need for the driver to divert his attention from the road or the controls of the vehicle, since all the interaction is carried out using the voice; For this purpose, a series of modules are used that allow the generation of text from audio and vice versa and that are managed by a control unit that generates the necessary commands in the light of the steps of the described method that implements a series of characteristics that They allow you to wait for an answer and send it.

Description

INTERACTION METHOD BY VOICE FOR COMMUNICATION DURING VEHICLE DRIVING AND DEVICE THAT IMPLEMENTS IT

D E S C R I P C I Ó N

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OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is framed in the field of information technologies, more specifically in the field of telecommunications and the information process.

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The invention described herein refers to a method that allows you to answer messages of any kind, whether SMS, emails and social networks while driving without diverting the attention of the driver. Likewise, a device that allows carrying out said method is subject of the invention.

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In 2014, the figure of 1,200 million cars was reached in the world. The number of vehicles in circulation does not stop growing. As the number of vehicles on the roads increases, there is an increasing risk of accidents. Among the triggers of these risks, one of the main factors is that caused by the use of the mobile phone behind the wheel.

During the previous years and decades, the use of hands-free systems has been extended. These reduce distractions when using phones to answer phone calls. With the rapid expansion of the internet in mobile phones and the emergence of smartphones normally referred to by their English name "smartphones", new forms of communication have emerged. These new ways, such as email or social networks, require the attention of users when they need interaction as text. This causes even greater distractions if drivers use their phones behind the wheel. This area of human interaction has not been properly addressed until today, and the market has not reacted to this need by solving the problem as a whole.

Currently there are solutions that detect the problem choose to limit it, or require manual interaction with the driver.

The solutions that limit the interaction completely block the use of the 5 telephones at the wheel, providing in some cases the option of an automatic response.

This way of addressing the problem has the disadvantage that many users will resort to using the Smartphone to check the reception of messages or calls. These systems do not solve the problem since they only reduce the interaction.

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Another way to deal with the problem is to limit this interaction. The solutions that do so, inform the user of the reception of messages or social interaction. These make it easier for the driver to receive messages, but not respond to them in a way that does not force him to divert his attention from the road.

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Among these solutions are those listed below:

1. AT&T Drive mode: It is a system that blocks the phone (calls, messages, etc ...) while driving; is able to send auto messages previously defined to

20 template mode.

2. DriveSafe.ly: It is a system that allows you to read messages and warns of calls out loud. It does not allow generating responses.

25 3. Textecution: It is a system that blocks the use of the telephone if it is circulated to a

speed greater than 10 km / h.

4. Text-STAR: It is a system that allows autoresponder messages if it circulates at more than 10 km / h

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5. DriveScribe: It is a system that evaluates the way you drive and gives you points if you drive correctly. In this sense you have to use the mobile while driving leads to loss of points.

6. Google voice assistant called Ok Google: It is a system that implements the functionality of reading the last 5 messages received.

7. Apple voice assistant called Siri: It is a system that reads the last 5 messages and allows us to respond if we want.

8. Android Auto: It is a system that reads messages and responds through Ok google; implements the Google voice assistant called Ok Google.

10 9. Touchless chat: It is a system that allows you to respond to all messages

received and send new messages through Ok Google which also adds dedicated custom commands.

10. Hatomico: It is a system that reads the incoming notifications of several 15 technologies, has a system of auto answering calls, and ways of not receiving messages except for certain contacts.

Due to the above, a solution that allows a driver to interact with the messages he receives while paying attention to driving is necessary.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The main advantage of the invention starts from eliminating the need for the driver 25 to divert his attention from the road or the controls of the vehicle, since all the interaction is carried out using the voice.

In a first aspect of the invention a method is proposed that makes use of voice interaction for communication while driving vehicles that allows solving the previously proposed problem, for this and in a possible configuration thereof the device of the second aspect of The invention, which is governed by a process unit: at least one wireless communications module that allows establishing communication channels with other devices or accessing communication and data networks, a human interaction module that allows a user of the

device interacting with it to launch different functionalities thereof, a message reader module preferably based on a TTS (Text To Speech) engine, a waiting and listening module for answers, a module for sending responses.

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In order for the entire invention to allow the driver to interact with messages, SMS or social networks, the entire set must have internet connectivity and access data or communications networks using the corresponding wireless communications module, this component makes it easy for the solution can connect to the internet to receive messages of all kinds and send the answers that the user has decided to give them. Likewise, the aforementioned wireless communications module can be used to send and / or receive data referring to voice captures and / or corresponding texts, so that TTS processing can be carried out in a remote entity accessible from the device through the wireless communications module.

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On the other hand, the human interaction module module that has the function of managing the interaction with the driver is housed in the process unit or in a central process unit accessible from the process. Among its functions will be to analyze the messages received, evaluate through a series of actions that include waiting, active listening and real-time audio analysis if the user would be interested in responding, question the user about the actions to be taken and prepare a adequate response or send a response generated through the user's voice. A message reader module is responsible for reading to the driver those messages chosen through the human interaction module. The device, and therefore the method of the invention, preferably makes use of a response module that will allow the user to dictate a response that he deems appropriate to the message received. Likewise, there is a module for sending responses in charge of generating the most appropriate way in which the driver's response will be sent to his interlocutor.

Logically, the device of the second aspect of the invention has audio reproduction means, such as loudspeakers, and audio capture means, such as microphones, which allow, on the one hand, to reproduce audio files or files and generate alarms. and, on the other hand, capture and collect audio from external sources, such as a user's voice, and generate the corresponding audio files to

that can be processed by the process unit to which they are connected.

In a third aspect of the invention there is a physical data carrier comprising a series of instructions sufficient for the method of the first aspect of the invention to be carried out.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the invention there is a method in which, by means of commands generated by a process unit, an audio file corresponding to a text of a message received from a sender and presented in a screen of an electronic device, which can be portable, to later reproduce the audio generated by means of audio reproduction means 15.

Once it is determined that the generated audio has been reproduced, corresponding to the text of the received message, a waiting period is established that begins once the generated audio has been reproduced during which the audio capture means 20 remains capturing audio and the process unit remains active to process said audio. This task activates 0.4 seconds and waits 1.5 seconds, both to be answered and to know if you have finished, although it depends on the capacity of the device's processor.

25 If a live voice response is produced by the user, it is detected and an answer audio is taken that has a value to subsequently proceed to process said response audio to establish a response, where said process comprises extracting voice from said response audio. To carry out said detection, a threshold value is estimated by capturing a response audio of 30dB in such a way that a response audio having a value greater than said threshold value is captured.

Once this is done, the voice is converted into text to send the text to the sender in response to the message presented on the device screen

electronic, preferably a portable electronic device.

In a first embodiment of the second aspect of the invention there is a single device that allows a driver to read and respond to messages, emails and 5 social networks, while driving without diverting attention from driving. In this preferred embodiment the device comprises all the elements necessary to carry out the method of the first aspect of the invention.

In a possible alternative embodiment of the second aspect of the invention there is that due to the high availability of hands-free devices already installed in current vehicles, the present invention can use said equipment in order to interact with the driver. In addition to hands-free devices, the appearance of so-called “wearables” (weareable in English), or devices intended for people with hearing impairments increases the chances of interaction between the driver and this invention. In this way it is necessary that at least one of the audio capture means and the audio reproduction means are located in another apparatus connectable to the device of the invention.

In a third aspect, the object of the invention is completed with a physical support 20 carrying the instructions necessary for a programmable unit to carry out the method of the first aspect of the invention.

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Claims (5)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 R E I V I N D I C A C I O N E S 1. Voice interaction method for communication while driving vehicles, the method being characterized by comprising using a process unit: • generate an audio file corresponding to a text of a message, received from a sender and presented on a screen of an electronic device, • play the audio generated by means of audio playback, • establish a waiting period that starts once the generated audio has been played back during which the audio capture media remain capturing audio and the process unit remains active to process said audio, • pick up a response audio that has a value greater than a threshold value, • process the response audio to establish a response, wherein said process comprises extracting voice from said response audio, • convert voice to text, • send the text to the sender in response to the message presented on the screen of the electronic device. 2. Voice interaction method for communication while driving vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the waiting period is greater than 0 seconds and less than 1.5 seconds. 3. Voice interaction method for communication while driving vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the threshold value when picking up an answer audio is 30dB. 4. Voice interaction device for communication while driving vehicles comprising: - at least one wireless communications module that allows establishing communication channels with other devices or accessing communications and data networks, 10 - audio capture media, - audio playback media, and - a physical data carrier, the voice interaction device for communication during driving is characterized in that it comprises a process unit adapted to execute executable instructions, included in the physical data carrier, to carry out the method described in any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. Physical data support comprising instructions executable by a process unit for carrying out the method described in any one of claims 1 to 3.