1. An electronic device comprising:
first and second charge connection sections that can be connected to at least one external charger;
a battery terminal that can be connected to a secondary battery when the detachable secondary battery is attached;
a switch section that can switch conduction and cut-off of an electrical path which electrically connects between the first charge connection section and the battery terminal;
a communication connection section that can at least receive first certification data and transmit second certification data to and from the at least one external charger; and
a charge control section that can output at least a part of charging power, which is supplied from the second charge connection section, to the secondary battery,
wherein the switch section can be electrically conducted when the first certification data, which is received by the electronic device, is prescribed data and when a charging voltage, which is applied to the first charge connection section after the electronic device transmits the second certification data, is included in a prescribed range, and cannot be electrically conducted at least when the received first certification data is not the prescribed data, and
wherein the secondary battery can be charged using the charging power which is supplied to any one of the first and second charge connection sections.
2. An electronic device comprising:
first and second charge connection sections that can be connected to at least one external charger;
a battery terminal that can be connected to a secondary battery when the detachable secondary battery is attached;
a switch section that can switch conduction and cut-off of an electrical path which electrically connects between the first charge connection section and the battery terminal;
a communication connection section that can at least receive first certification data and transmit second certification data to and from the at least one external charger; and
a charge control section that can output at least a part of charging power, which is supplied from the second charge connection section, to the secondary battery,
wherein the switch section can be electrically conducted when the first certification data, which is received by the electronic device, is prescribed data and when a charging voltage, which is applied to the first charge connection section after the electronic device transmits the second certification data, is included in a prescribed range, and cannot be electrically conducted at least when the received first certification data is not the prescribed data, and
wherein the secondary battery can be charged using the charging power which is supplied from the first and second charge connection sections at the same time.
3. The electronic device of claim 2,
wherein the charging power which is supplied from the first charge connection section is greater than the charging power which is supplied from the second charge connection section.
4. The electronic device of claim 1,
wherein at least command data or message data can be transmitted and received through the communication connection section, and
wherein the charging power is supplied to at least one of the first and second charge connection sections based on the transmitted command data or message data.
5. An electronic device comprising:
a charge connection section that can be connected to at least one external charger;
a battery terminal that can be connected to a secondary battery when the detachable secondary battery is attached;
a first switch section that enables an electrical path which is connected to the charge connection section to be branched;
a second switch section that can switch conduction and cut-off of the electrical path which electrically connects between the first switch section and the battery terminal;
a communication connection section that can at least receive first certification data and transmit second certification data to and from the at least one external charger; and
a charge control section that can output at least a part of charging power, which is supplied from the charge connection section through the first switch section, to the secondary battery,
wherein the second switch section can be electrically conducted when the first certification data, which is received by the electronic device, is prescribed data and when a charging voltage, which is applied to the charge connection section after the electronic device transmits the second certification data, is included in a prescribed range, and cannot be electrically conducted at least when the received first certification data is not the prescribed data, and
wherein the secondary battery can be charged through any one of the charge control section and the second switch section.
6. The electronic device of claim 5,
wherein at least command data or message data can be transmitted and received through the communication connection section, and
wherein the charging power is supplied to the secondary battery through any one of the charge control section and the second switch section in response to the transmitted command data or message data.
7. An electronic device comprising:
a charge connection section that can be connected to at least one external charger;
a battery terminal that can be connected to a secondary battery when the detachable secondary battery is attached;
a switch section that can switch conduction and cut-off of a first electrical path which electrically connects between the charge connection section and the battery terminal;
a communication connection section that can at least receive first certification data and transmit second certification data to and from the at least one external charger; and
a charge control section that can output at least a part of charging power, which is supplied from the charge connection section through a second electrical path which electrically connects between the charge connection section and the battery terminal, to the secondary battery,
wherein the switch section can be electrically conducted when the first certification data, which is received by the electronic device, is prescribed data and when a charging voltage, which is applied to the charge connection section after the electronic device transmits the second certification data, is included in a prescribed range, and cannot be electrically conducted at least when the received first certification data is not the prescribed data, and
wherein the secondary battery can be charged through at least one of the charge control section and the switch section.
8. The electronic device of claim 7,
wherein at least command data or message data can be transmitted and received through the communication connection section, and
wherein the charging power is supplied to the secondary battery through any one of the charge control section and the switch section in response to the transmitted command data or message data.
9. An electronic device comprising:
first and second charge connection sections that can be connected to at least one external charger;
a battery terminal that can be connected to a secondary battery when the detachable secondary battery is attached;
a first charge control section that can output at least a part of charging power, which is supplied from the first charge connection section, to the secondary battery;
a switch section that can switch conduction and cut-off of an electrical path which electrically connects between the first charge control section and the battery terminal;
a communication connection section that can at least receive first certification data and transmit second certification data to and from the at least one external charger; and
a second charge control section that can output at least a part of charging power, which is supplied from the second charge connection section, to the secondary battery,
wherein the switch section can be electrically conducted when the first certification data, which is received by the electronic device, is prescribed data and when a charging voltage, which is applied to the first charge connection section after the electronic device transmits the second certification data, is included in a prescribed range, and cannot be electrically conducted at least when the received first certification data is not the prescribed data, and
wherein the secondary battery can be charged using the charging power which is supplied to any one of the first and second charge connection sections.
10. An electronic device comprising:
first and second charge connection sections that can be connected to at least one external charger;
a battery terminal that can be connected to a secondary battery when the detachable secondary battery is attached;
a first charge control section that can output at least a part of charging power which is supplied from the first charge connection section to the secondary battery;
a switch section that can switch conduction and cut-off of an electrical path which electrically connects between the first charge control section and the battery terminal;
a communication connection section that can at least receive first certification data and transmit second certification data to and from the at least one external charger; and
a second charge control section that can output at least a part of charging power which is supplied from the second charge connection section to the secondary battery,
wherein the switch section can be electrically conducted when the first certification data, which is received by the electronic device, is prescribed data and when a charging voltage, which is applied to the first charge connection section after the electronic device transmits the second certification data, is included in a prescribed range, and cannot be electrically conducted at least when the received first certification data is not the prescribed data, and
wherein the secondary battery can be charged using the charging power which is supplied from the first and second charge connection sections at the same time.
11. The electronic device of claim 10,
wherein the charging power which is supplied from the first charge connection section is greater than the charging power which is supplied from the second charge connection section.
12. The electronic device of claim 9,
wherein at least command data or message data can be transmitted and received through the communication connection section, and
wherein the charging power is supplied to at least one of the first and second charge connection sections based on the transmitted command data or message data.
13. An electronic device comprising:
a charge connection section that can be connected to at least one external charger;
a battery terminal that can be connected to a secondary battery when the detachable secondary battery is attached;
a first charge control section that can output at least a part of charging power supplied from the charge connection section to the secondary battery;
a switch section that can switch conduction and cut-off of a first electrical path which electrically connects between the charge connection section and the battery terminal;
a communication connection section that can at least receive first certification data and transmit second certification data to and from the at least one external charger; and
a second charge control section that can output at least a part of charging power, which is supplied from the charge connection section through a second electrical path which electrically connects between the charge connection section and the battery terminal, to the secondary battery,
wherein the switch section can be electrically conducted when the first certification data, which is received by the electronic device, is prescribed data and when a charging voltage, which is applied to the charge connection section after the electronic device transmits the second certification data, is included in a prescribed range, and cannot be electrically conducted at least when the received first certification data is not the prescribed data, and
wherein the secondary battery can be charged through any one of the second charge control section and the switch section.
14. The electronic device of claim 13,
wherein at least command data or message data can be transmitted and received through the communication connection section, and
wherein the charging power is supplied to the secondary battery through any one of the second charge control section and the switch section in response to the transmitted command data or message data.
15. The electronic device of claim 13,
wherein the charging power which is output from the first charge connection section is greater than the charging power which is output from the second charge connection section.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus that permits a user to obtain services using spoken requests, the apparatus comprising:
at least one microphone to capture at least one sound segment;
at least one processor configured to identify a first serviceable spoken request from the captured segment;
at least one transceiver for communications related to at least one of the apparatus, executable code thereon, service availability, administration, media, a media description, or the captured segment,
wherein the processor is configured to identify the serviceable spoken request.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
an interface to provide a communication related to the captured sound segment to a second processor;
configuring said second processor to identify a second serviceable spoken request from the communication; and
operating a second apparatus in response to a command received in response to the first or second serviceable spoken request or both,
wherein the processor transmits the communication to the second processor for further identification.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an interface configured to receive information derived from an audio source to be used for noise cancellation.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the transmitted communication comprises at least one phoneme in an intermediate form.
5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first and second serviceable spoken requests are the same.
6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first and second serviceable spoken requests are different.
7. A method for processing a spoken request, the method comprising:
identifying a serviceable spoken request from a sound segment;
transmitting a communication related to the sound segment for further servicing; and
operating an apparatus in response to a command received in response to the communication.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the transmitted communication comprises at least one phoneme.
9. The method of claim 7 further comprising using stored information to determine the identity of the speaker of the sound segment.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising employing stored information concerning the speaker’s identity or preferences using the determined identity.
11. The method of claim 7 further comprising using stored information to determine a characteristic associated with the speaker of the sound segment.
12. The method of claim 7 further comprising:
applying noise cancellation techniques to the sound segment.
13. The method of claim 7 further comprising:
receiving information concerning an audio signal;
determining a relationship between the information and the sound segment; and
utilizing the relationship to improve the processing of a second sound segment.
14. A method for content selection using spoken requests, the method comprising:
receiving a spoken request;
processing the spoken request;
transmitting the spoken request in at least one of an intermediate form, a directive, or a command to equipment for servicing.
15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
receiving a directive from the equipment to select a program, title, name or a content channel specified in the spoken request.
16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
receiving a video signal, data stream, or file containing a program or content channel specified in the spoken request.
17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
executing a command for affecting the operation of a consumer electronic device in response to the spoken request.
18. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
executing a command for affecting the operation of a home automation system in response to the spoken request.
19. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
playing an audio signal in response to the spoken request.
20. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
processing a commercial transaction in response to the spoken request.
21. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
executing a command proximate to the location of the speaker issuing the spoken request.
22. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
interacting, by the equipment, with additional equipment to further process the transmitted request.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein the interaction with additional equipment is determined by the semantics of the transmitted request.
24. The method of claim 14 wherein the equipment is within the same premises as the speaker issuing the spoken request.
25. The method of claim 14 wherein the equipment is not within the same premises as the speaker issuing the spoken request.
26. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
executing at least one command affecting the operation of at least one device or executable code embodied therein in response to the spoken request.
27. The method of claim 26 wherein the plurality of devices are geographically dispersed.
28. The method of claim 26 wherein the plurality of devices are selected from the group consisting of set top boxes, consumer electronic devices, network services platforms, servers accessible via a computer network, media servers, and network termination, edge or access devices.
29. The method of claim 26 wherein the plurality of devices are distinguished using contextual information from the spoken requests.
30. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
determining a plurality of possible responses corresponding to the spoken request; and
receiving the selection of at least one response from the plurality.
31. The method of claim 30 wherein the spoken request is a request for at least one television program.
32. The method of claim 31 wherein the plurality of possible responses comprise issuing a channel change command to select a requested program, issuing at least one command to schedule the recording of a requested program, issuing at least one command to order an on-demand version of a requested program, issuing at least one command to affect a download version of a requested program, or any combination thereof.
33. The method of claim 30 wherein the spoken request comprises a brand, trade name, service mark, or name referring to a tangible item or an intangible item.
34. The method of claim 33 wherein the plurality of responses comprise at least one channel change command for the selection of at least one media property associated with the spoken request.
35. The method of claim 30 wherein the plurality of responses is visually presented to the user and the user subsequently selects one response from the presented plurality.
36. The method of claim 30 wherein the plurality of responses is audially presented to the user and the user subsequently selects one response from the presented plurality.
37. The method of claim 30 wherein the selection of the response is made using contextual information.
38. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
issuing at least one command in response to the spoken request; and
operating an apparatus in response to the command.
39. The method of claim 38 wherein the issued command switches a selected media item to a higher-fidelity version of the media item.
40. The method of claim 38 wherein the issued command switches a selected higher-fidelity media item to a lower-fidelity version of the media item.
41. A method for equipment configuration, the method comprising:
transmitting a sound segment in an intermediate form;
processing the transmitted sound segment to identify at least one characteristic; and
utilizing the at least one characteristic for the processing of subsequent sound segments,
wherein the characteristic is associated with the speaker, room acoustics, consumer premises device acoustics, ambient noise, or any combination thereof.
42. The method of claim 41 wherein the at least one characteristic is selected from the group consisting of: geographic location, age, gender, biographical information, speaker affect, accent, dialect and language.
43. The method of claim 41 wherein the at least one characteristic is selected from the group consisting of: presence of animals, periodic recurrent noise source, random noise source, referencable signal source, reverberance, frequency shift, frequency-dependent attenuation, frequency-dependent amplitude, time, frequency, frequency-dependent phase, frequency-independent attenuation, frequency-independent amplitude, and frequency-independent phase.
44. The method of claim 41 wherein the processing is fully automated.
45. The method of claim 41 wherein the processing is human-assisted.
46. A method for speech recognition, the method comprising:
recording a sound segment;
selecting configuration data for processing recorded sound segments; and
using the selected data to process the recorded segments.
47. The method of claim 46 wherein the selection of the configuration data utilizes a characteristic identified from the recorded sound segment.
48. The method of claim 46 wherein the selected data is stored in a memory for use in further processing.
49. The method of claim 46 wherein the configuration data are received from a source.
50. The method of claim 46 wherein the configuration data are periodically received from a source.
51. The method of claim 46 wherein the configuration data is derived from selections made from a menu of options.
52. The method of claim 46 wherein the configuration data is derived from a plurality of recorded sound segments.
53. The method of claim 46 wherein the configuration data change as a function of time, time of day, or date.
54. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
discontinuing the processing of spoken requests in response to a spoken request, a directive, a command, or an event.
55. The apparatus of claim 1
wherein the processor is configured to identify the serviceable spoken request using speaker-tailored information.
56. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein the speaker-tailored information varies by gender, age, or household.
57. An electronic medium having executable code embodied therein for content selection using spoken requests, the code in the medium comprising:
executable code for receiving a spoken request;
executable code for processing the spoken request;
executable code for communicating the spoken request in an intermediate form; and
executable code for operating an apparatus in response to a command resulting at least in part from the spoken request.
58. The medium of claim 57 further comprising:
executable code for receiving a command for affecting selection of a program or content channel specified in the spoken request.
59. The medium of claim 57 further comprising:
executable code for executing a command for affecting the operation of a consumer electronic device in response to the spoken request.
60. The medium of claim 57 further comprising:
executable code for executing a command proximate to the location of the speaker issuing the spoken request.
61. The medium of claim 57 further comprising:
executable code for executing a plurality of commands affecting the operation of a plurality of devices in response to the spoken request.
62. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
an interface for communications related to the configuration of the apparatus or electronic code thereon,
wherein the processor identifies serviceable spoken requests from the captured segment using configuration information received via the transceiver.
63. The apparatus of claim 62 wherein the configuration data is received from remote equipment.
64. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein the configuration data is received indirectly through another apparatus located on the same customer premises as the apparatus.
65. The method of claim 14 wherein configuration data received from remote equipment is used in the processing of the spoken request.
66. The method of claim 65 wherein the configuration data are received from equipment located off the premises.
67. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
accumulating data representative of at least one spoken request; and
analyzing the accumulated data.