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  Wirelessly delivered owner's manualUSPTO Application #: 20070219807Title: Wirelessly delivered owner's manual Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of delivering vehicle owner's manual or other vehicle-specific information to the vehicle operator from a remote data center and associated vehicle information database by utilizing a voice recognition system at the remote data center and delivering the information to the vehicle operator in audible speech. The vehicle operator speaks his request in the vehicle and the data center recognizes the request, perhaps asks more questions, leads the vehicle operator through a spoken menu, and then provides the answer vocally to the vehicle operator over the speaker(s) located in the vehicle. The invention includes methodology for obtaining vehicle diagnostic information and controlling certain vehicle functions automatically via an embedded telematics control unit. The invention further includes remote telephone access outside the vehicle. (end of abstract) Agent: Mayback & Hoffman, P.A. - Fort Lauderdale, FL, US Inventors: Thomas Barton Schalk, Steven Alan Millstein USPTO Applicaton #: 20070219807 - Class: 704275000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Data Processing: Speech Signal Processing, Linguistics, Language Translation, And Audio Compression/decompression, Speech Signal Processing, Application, Speech Controlled System The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070219807. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/992,025, filed Nov. 18, 2004, which application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119, of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/523,364 filed Nov. 19, 2003, the entire disclosures of which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] n/a FIELD OF INVENTION [0003] The present invention pertains to a method of delivering vehicle owner's manual information wirelessly to the vehicle operator. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a method of detecting vehicle operator requests by use of an automated voice recognition system at a remote data center (DC) and delivering the requested information wirelessly to the operator of that vehicle. The vehicle operator hears voice recordings that relate to the requested information. A voice user interface is utilized to request and manage the vehicle owner's manual information. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0004] As consumer vehicles such as cars and trucks become more complicated, operation of that vehicle becomes less intuitive. Owners become frustrated with traditional owner's manuals that are typically printed matter in a booklet form, some form of electronic archival media viewable with a computer or like device, or some form of audio-video presentation. This frustration typically results from an inability to find the answers to the questions posed. Typically the information is needed while operating the vehicle during times when access to the traditional owner's manuals described above is impossible, or at least unsafe. For instance, attempting to learn how to re-set the time on the digital clock integrated with the audio system on the dashboard often requires a vehicle owner to survey a range of potential terms to describe the situation--clock, time, audio system, CD-audio system. Figuring out how to make the cruise control work, while driving, is another example. [0005] Today there is such an array of devices in trucks and cars that driver distraction is a major problem. Manipulating controls is enough of a problem without having to try to read a book while driving. Even with the advent of Telematics systems in vehicles today there is not currently a service that is deployed which would solve the above-described problems. Thus, it would be a significant advancement in the art to provide a menu-driven, automatic voice recognition system at a remote data center that would deliver vehicle operator-requested information from a database over a wireless link to the vehicle operator in a hands-free environment. The primary advantages of the remote data center are flexibility and cost effectiveness. Because the platform is off-board, the application can easily be modified without changing any in-vehicle hardware, or software. Such flexibility allows for user personalization and application bundling, in which a number of different applications are accessible through a voice main menu. In terms of cost, server-based voice recognition resources can be shared across a large spectrum of different vehicles. For example, 48 channels of server-based voice recognition can accommodate over a thousand vehicles simultaneously. SUMMARY OF INVENTION [0006] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a system and a method of delivering vehicle operator-requested information from a remote data center database over a wireless link. The information delivered would be in response to voice-recognized menu selections made by the operator of the vehicle. The voice recognition system would be located at the remote data center. The information delivered would be extracted from the database and delivered verbally to the operator of the vehicle. For vehicles with embedded telematics, diagnostic activity such as explaining the cause for a warning light to flash, or actually setting the clock to the correct time, are both examples of possible interactive scenarios. The user could ask about a flashing warning light, or ask the system to set the clock, rather than how to set the clock. [0007] Wireless delivery of owner's manual information also helps automobile manufacturers and dealerships promote a vehicle's value-added features that often go unnoticed and unused by its owner. What could often be time-consuming for dealers to explain, and vehicle owners to absorb, is now conveniently accessible to vehicle owners via voice-operation when they have time or when needed. Content of the e-owners manual also can be modified to highlight features the automobile manufacturer would like to promote or customized to respond to questions pertaining to specific models or model lines. The diagnostic capabilities of embedded telematics control units make vehicle service reminding very practical. An owner could access the e-owner's manual for any reason and be reminded that service should be scheduled with his dealer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0008] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of the complete system required to deliver owner's manual information from a database 21 located at a remote site to the vehicle operator 10; [0010] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a procedure 200 illustrating a typical application of the system shown in FIG. 1; [0011] FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of a typical automatic speech (voice) recognition system; and [0012] FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of an exemplary off-board voice recognition system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0013] The principles of the present invention and their advantages are best understood by referring to the illustrated embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1-5 of the drawings, in which like numbers designate like parts. [0014] Referring to FIG. 1, when the vehicle operator 10 desires information about the vehicle, a wireless communications link is initiated to the remote data center 19. This could be accomplished in a number of ways such as a spoken command in the vehicle or pressing a button. Communication is established and the vehicle operator 10 speaks a command into the hands-free microphone 11 located in proximity to the vehicle operator 10. The vehicle operator's spoken command passes over the wireless link 25 through the vehicle mounted wireless communication module 14, through the vehicle mounted wireless antenna 15, through the wireless network's antenna 16 and wireless network base station 17, through one of many telecommunications networks 18, and into the data center 19. From there the voice recognition unit 20 interprets the spoken command(s). The data center 19 then reviews the results of the voice recognition unit's interpretation of the spoken command(s) and either provides the requested information from the database 21, asks a question, or provides a menu of options. This response to the vehicle operator is converted into speech and delivered back to the vehicle operator 10 over the same wireless link 25. The speech audio is directed to the vehicle speaker(s) 12 in a hands-free environment. The vehicle operator 10 can then select a menu item, request clarification, abort the thread, or command the system to perform any number of tasks. The recognized command and the delivered responses actually comprise a dialog between the vehicle operator 10 and the data center 19. All manner of information can be delivered to the vehicle operator 10 in this manner. [0015] Referring to FIG. 1, when the vehicle operator 10 desires information about the vehicle and the wireless communications link is initiated to the remote data center 19, diagnostic information from the telematics control unit 13, embedded within the vehicle, is transmitted to the remote data center 19. The specific considerations in developing telematics-based systems are discussed in detail below. Examples of relevant diagnostic information include engine warning light information, vehicle mileage, and vehicle speed. The off-board application is capable of explaining vehicle condition and needs, such as the need to schedule maintenance. The off-board application can also request that the vehicle remain stationary while the vehicle operator performs certain functions that may cause driver distraction (e.g., the car should be stationary while setting the clock). Furthermore, the intelligence of the embedded telematics control unit 13 may allow for automated clock setting, in which the vehicle operator requests that the clock be set automatically, without the delivery of detailed speech audio instructions that would otherwise be generated from the remote data center 19. [0016] In some instances the vehicle operator 10 may want to speak to a live operator. This connection is initiated with a spoken command. The data center then routes the communications link to a live operator station 22. There a response center operator 23 can communicate with the vehicle operator 10 usually through a vocal headset 24. The response center operator 23 can then provide whatever services the vehicle operator 10 requests. The response operator may have access to the vehicle diagnostic information generated from the telematics control unit 13. [0017] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a procedure 200 illustrating a typical application of a wirelessly delivered user manual according to the present invention. On system initialization at Block 201, the vehicle operator 10 (i.e. the caller) receives an initial greeting, such as "Thank you for using owner's manual" from data center 19 through an on-board Interactive Speech Response Unit (ISRU), collectively wireless communications module 14, telematics control unit 13, microphone 11, and speaker 12. At Block 202, data center 19 prompts vehicle operator 10, through the ISRU, to request the desired user manual information. A typical prompt can be, for example, "How can I help you?" Continue reading... 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