a2) United States Patent
`US 6,240,303 B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`Katzur
`(45) Date of Patent:
`May29, 2001
`
`
`US006240303B1
`
`(54) VOICE RECOGNITION BUTTON FOR
`MOBILE TELEPHONES
`
`
`
`5,574,772 * 11/1996 Scalisi et al...eee 379/58
`5,583,965 * 12/1996 Doumactal. ...
`. 395/2.84
`5,651,056
`7/1997 Eting et al.
`......
`s. 379/88
`Inventor: Ran Katzur, North Potomac, MD (US)
`(75)
`oO 10007 earls t aw .
`oer
`,075,
`aetal.
`....
`(73) Assignee: Motorola Inc., Schaumburg, IL (US)
`een . *O/1098 pangota Sereeeeeeseesnsecs aoe
`:
`*
`-
`:
`4:
`:
`.
`we 379/88
`1/1999 Haavisto et al.
`5,864,603 *
`
`(*) Notice:
`Subjectto any disclaimer, the term of this
`370/418
`5,963,639 * 10/1999 Kanamaki....
`
`patent “Sdte)by0 or adjusted under 35
`6,035,217 *
`3/2000 Kravitz ccecccssseesnsseessseeseseee 455/561
`S.C. yOdays.
`
`* cited by examiner
`.
`.
`.
`Primary Examiner—Daniel Hunter
`Assistant Examiner—Pablo Tran
`(22)
`Filed:
`Apr. 23, 1998
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`(SL) Unt, C17 ieeeeeeeseceseccecessnneeenseneceenennee H04M 1/66
`.
`Le
`.
`(52) U.S. Che eee 455/563; 455/406; 455/550;
`A voice recognition system having an enhanced button that
`455/564; 379/88
`allows a driver to reduce his risk of being involved in an
`485/550, 563
`(58) Field of Search
`ken cee0 /ce AL
`accident while operating
`a vehicle and using
`a mobile
`.
`OL
`IELA
`sny OO
`nr
`
`
`485/564, 567, 569; 379/68.01, 88.02, 88.03 peraling3vee ne
`88 04. 368 369. 370, 433 357: 455/422,
`telephone. The present
`invention is a mobile telephone
`“” 406 405 411 558 575: 380,/28
`having a voice recognition system which receives and acts
`, ao ,
`,
`on voice commands. Once the voice recognition system is
`References Cited
`activated, the mobile telephone can be operated in a hands
`free mode. The voice recognition system is used to auto-
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`matically perform the same functions as a keypad. Since a
`4BI1Sil
`379/58
`3/1988 Dubus
`driver can use just the voice recognition system, a keypad is
`5.148.471
`9/1992 Metrokaetal.weceseaseee 379/58
`20 longer necessary. A mobile telephone equipped with a
`5,203,009 *
`.
`4/1993 Boguszet al.
`455/33.1
`voice recognition system of the present invention requires
`
`5,222,121 *
`6/1993 Shomada....
`379/88
`only two buttons, a power button and a voice recognition
`
`5,297,183
`3/1994 Bareis etal.
`379/59
`button. To provide further safety,
`the voice recognition
`5,335,261 *
`8/1994 Fujinaka.....
`379/58
`button is implemented to distinguish the voice recognition
`5,335,276
`8/1994 Thompsonetal.
`380/21
`button from the other buttons to provide easier activation of
`
`5,353,330
`10/1994 Fujiwara.......
`379/58
`the voice recognition system. The present invention can also
`oe . "food a ih a us
`eco be applied to other types of telephones and can be especially
`5
`.
`oubelik
`....
`/.
`..
`:
`i
`
`~~?
`useful to a vision impaired person.
`5,402,481
`3/1995 Waldman ...
`379/355
`
`5,420,912
`S/L995 Kopp et al.
`c.ececceesceeeeeees 379/63
`5,450,525 *
`9/1995 Russell et al. cesses 395/2.84
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/064,897
`
`(56)
`
`46 Claims, 1 Drawing Sheet
`
`102
`
`APPLE 1040
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`APPLE 1040
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`1
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May29, 2001
`
`US 6,240,303 B1
`
`100
`
`102
`
`FIGURE1
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`2
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`

`

`US 6,240,303 B1
`
`1
`VOICE RECOGNITION BUTTON FOR
`MOBILE TELEPHONES
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates generally to a voice recognition
`system for mobile telephones. Morespecifically, the present
`invention is a voice recognition system for mobile tele-
`phones whichis activated by an enhanced recognition button
`and allows the mobile telephone user to operate the mobile
`telephone in a hands free mode.
`
`10
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`
`While mobile telephones offer convenience and benefits
`to drivers, they come at the expense of road safety. It has
`beenstatistically proven that drivers who are using mobile
`telephones while operating a vehicle arc four times more
`likely to be involved in an accident. Presently, most mobile
`telephones require the driver to use one hand to hold the
`mobile telephone thereby forcing the driver to drive with 3
`only one hand. Since the driver is using one handto hold the
`mobile telephone and the other hand to hold the steering
`wheel, shifting a standard shift vehicle or signaling becomes
`hazardous. In order for the driver to shift gears, the driver
`must either release the mobile telephone or the steering »
`wheel. Typically, drivers release the steering wheel to shift
`gears. Driving a vehicle with no hands on the steering wheel
`is not a preferred method of driving. However, when it
`comes to signaling, drivers typically do not release the
`steering wheel or the mobile telephone, drivers just forego
`signaling. Changing lanes or turning without signaling is a
`safety concern and can lead to accidents.
`Unfortunately, these are not the only problems drivers
`encounter when operating a vehicle and using a mobile
`telephone at the same time. Problems also occur when a
`driver receives a telephonecall, the driver hasto activate the
`mobile telephone to receive the call. The driver either takes
`his eyesoff of the road or blindly tries to locate and activate
`the mobile telephone.
`Similar problemsalso occur whena driver wishes to place
`a telephone call. To place a call, the driver must locate and
`activate the mobile telephone. When the driver attempts to
`dial a telephone number, he must divert his eyes from the
`road to the mobile telephone to locate the number keys.
`Whenever a driver must divert his eyes from the road, the
`driver is risking the possibility of an accident.
`In response to these problems, some countries have out-
`lawed the use of non-speaker mobile telephonesin vehicles.
`However,
`the use of speaker phones solve only some of
`these problems. Drivers using speaker mobile telephones
`still have to locate and activate the mobile telephone. In
`addition, whenevera driver wishes to make a telephonecall,
`the driver must dial the telephone number. To dial a tele-
`phone number the driver must divert his eyes from the road
`to the mobile telephone risking the possibility of causing an
`accident.
`Therefore there is a need to reduce the risk of a driver
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`being involved in an accident when a driver is using a
`mobile telephone while operating a vehicle.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention addresses the need for reducing the
`risk of a driver being involved in an accident when a driver
`is using a mobile telephone while operating a vehicle.
`It is therefore an object of the present invention to allow
`a driver to use a mobile telephone in a hands-free manner.
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`A further object of the present invention ts to allow a
`driver to use voice commandsto operate a mobile telephone.
`A further object of the present invention is to allow a
`driver to place telephone calls using a voice recognition
`system.
`A further object of the present invention is to allow a
`driver to call pre-stored telephone numbers using a voice
`recognition system.
`A further object of the present invention is to allow a
`driver to answera telephone call using a voice recognition
`system.
`A further object of the present invention is to allow a
`driver to select options from a menu using a voice recog-
`nition system.
`The present invention is a voice recognition system that
`allows a driver to reduce his risk of being involved in an
`accident while operating a vehicle and using a mobile
`telephone. The present
`invention is a mobile telephone
`having a voice recognition system which receives and acts
`on voice commands. Once the voice recognition system ts
`activated, the mobile telephone can be operated in a hands
`free mode. The voice recognition system is used to auto-
`matically perform the same functions as a keypad. Since a
`driver can use just the voice recognition system, a keypad is
`no longer necessary. A mobile telephone equipped with a
`voice recognition system of the present invention requires
`only two buttons, a power button and a voice recognition
`button. The power button is used to turn the mobile tele-
`phone on and off. The voice recognition button is used to
`activate and deactivate the voice recognition system.
`To provide further safety, the voice recognition button is
`implemented to provide easier activation of the voice rec-
`ognition system. To distinguish the voice recognition button
`from other buttons or keys located on a mobile telephone,
`the voice recognition button is physically enhancedto differ
`from the other buttons.
`‘The enhanced voice recognition
`button can differ from the other buttons in type, size, color,
`texture and location. By using a different type of button for
`the enhanced voice recognition button, the button will be
`easier to distinguish. By using a
`larger button for the
`enhanced voice recognition button, the button will be casicr
`to feel. By using a bright or different color button for the
`enhanced voice recognition button, the button will be easier
`to see as well. By using a different textured button for the
`enhanced voice recognition button,
`the button will feel
`different from the other buttons and be easier to locate by
`touch. The enhanced voice recognition button can also be
`located or positioned in a more accessible or convenient
`location on the mobile telephone to provide easy access.
`Once the voice recognition system is activated, a driver
`can use voice commands to execute basic telephone func-
`tions. For instance,
`the command “dial” followed by a
`telephone number can be used to command the mobile
`telephone to dial the telephone number which the driver
`dictated. The command“call” followed by either a name or
`number can be used to dial a pre-stored telephone number.
`The command “answer” can be used to allow the driver to
`receive an incoming telephone call. All of these commands
`allow a driver to operate his vehicle and mobile telephone
`without having to hold the mobile telephone. Since the
`mobile telephone can be operated in a hands free mode, the
`driver is less susceptible to being involved in an accident.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 shows a mobile telephone having a power button
`and a voice recognition button.
`
`3
`
`

`

`US 6,240,303 B1
`
`3
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`Although the present invention is described for mobile
`telephones, the present invention can be incorporated into
`other types of telephones as well.
`The term driveris used to describe the user of the mobile
`
`telephone. The termdriver and user canbe used interchange-
`ably. However since the present
`invention is directed
`towards reducing the risk of accidents on the roadways, the
`term driver will be used in this specification. The term driver
`should not be consideredas a limitation. Anyone can use the
`voice recognition system providing the voice recognition
`system can recognize and act on the user’s voice.
`Referring to FIG. 1, a mobile telephone having only a
`power button and a voice recognition button is shown. In
`other embodiments, mobile telephone 100 can include a
`plurality of buttons. As shown, mobile telephone 100
`includes power button 102 and voice recognition button 104.
`Power button 102 is used to turn the mobile telephone on
`and off. Voice recognition system button 104 is used for
`activating and deactivating the voice recognition system.
`To provide further safety, voice recognition button 104 is
`implemented to provide easier activation of the voice rec-
`ognition system. To distinguish voice recognition button 104
`from other buttons or keys located on a mobile telephone,
`voice recognition button 104 can be physically enhanced to
`differ from the other buttons. The enhanced voice recogni-
`tion button can differ from the other buttons in type, size,
`color, texture and location.
`Byusing different types of buttons, the enhanced voice
`recognition button will be easier to distinguish. By using a
`larger button for the enhanced voice recognition button, the
`buttonis easier to see and feel. By using a bright ordifferent
`color for the enhanced voice recognition button, the button
`is easier to see as well. By using a different texture for the
`enhanced voice recognition button, the button feels different
`from the other buttons andis easier to locate by touch. ‘lhe
`enhanced voice recognition button can also be located or
`positioned in a more accessible or convenient location on the
`mobile telephone to provide easy access. For instance, the
`power button can be located on the side of the mobile
`telephone and the enhanced voice recognition button can be
`located on top of the mobile telephone.
`The voice recognition system having an enhanced voice
`recognition button can also be employed on othertraditional
`mobile telephones (a mobile telephone having a keypad). By
`using the same types of enhancements (type, size, color,
`texture, and location) for the voice recognition button, a
`driver can activate the voice recognition system in an easy
`and safe manner. Once the voice recognition system is
`activated, the driver can use the mobile telephone in a hands
`free mode.
`In addition, by using the voice recognition
`system with a traditional mobile telephone, the driver can
`elect
`to use either the voice recognition system or the
`keypad.
`The voice recognition system is used to recognize and act
`on command words. Voice recognition systems knownin the
`art such as, those that train on a user’s speech andothersthat
`are capable of processing speech of a limited subset of
`numbers and words can be used in the present invention.
`Although the present invention requires a voice recognition
`system,
`the type of voice recognition system is not a
`limitation.
`
`At least one loudspeaker and at least one microphoneare
`necessary to allow a driver to operate the mobile telephone
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`in a hands free mode. The loudspeakeris used to amplify the
`speech that is being received. ‘he microphone is used to
`capture the driver’s speech.
`For incoming calls there are several options that can be
`employed to answer the telephone call. In the preferred
`embodiment, an incoming call automatically activates the
`voice recognition system to allow the driver to answer the
`telephone call using voice commands. Once the mobile
`telephone is answered, the driver is able to communicate
`with the other party.
`In another embodiment, the driver answers the mobile
`telephone by pressing the voice recognition button which
`activates the voice recognition system. Once the voice
`recognition system is activated the driver can communicate
`with the calling party. Since the voice recognition button is
`easy is locate, the driver can feel for the voice recognition
`button or give a quick glance to locate the voice recognition
`button. Since the driver is able to easily locate the voice
`recognition button, the driver is not increasing the risk of
`being involved with an accident.
`To deactivate the voice recognition system, several meth-
`ods can be employed as well. In the preferred embodiment,
`the voice recognition system can be activated by pressing or
`depressing the enhanced voice recognition button.
`In
`another embodiment, the voice recognition system can be
`deactivated by a voice command. For example, the com-
`mand “off” can be used to deactivate the voice recognition
`system.
`For outgoing telephonecalls in the preferred embodiment,
`the driver activates the voice recognition system by pressing
`the voice recognition button. Once the voice recognition
`system is activated the driver can use voice commandsto
`place a telephonecall. Since the voice recognition button is
`easy is locate, the driver can feel for the voice recognition
`button or give a quick glance to locate the voice recognition
`button. In another embodiment, the voice recognition system
`can be activated by a voice command. For example, the
`command “on” can be used to activate the voice recognition
`system.
`The voice recognition system also allowsa driverto select
`mobile telephone options through speech when the driver
`accesses an option menu. For instance, if the driver calls a
`telephone numberand the menuasksfor the caller to enter
`a number for an option, the driver can dictate the option
`numberto the voice recognition system which acts upon the
`driver’s command. The voice recognition system would
`generate and transmit a response according to the driver’s
`command. The transmitted response would be the sameas if
`the driver entered his option via the mobile telephone
`keypad.
`The following set of voice commands are used for
`example purposes only and should not be considered as a
`limitation. The command “dial” followed by a telephone
`oumber automatically dials the dictated telephone number.
`For example, “dial 18009999999”results in the automatic
`dialing of the telephone number 1-800-999-9999.
`The command “call” followed by either a name or preset
`numberautomatically dials a pre-stored telephone number.
`For example, “call 1” would result in the automatic dialing
`of the first pre-stored number. Similarly, the command “call
`Jon”results in the automatic dialing of the stored numberfor
`Jon. In addition, the voice recognition system can be further
`utilized to recognize additional stored terms, such as “call
`Jon at home”or “call Jon at work.” These commands would
`result
`in the automatic dialing of the desired telephone
`number.
`
`4
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`

`

`US 6,240,303 B1
`
`5
`The command “select” can be used to select menu options
`in a handsfree mode. For example, if a driver calls a number
`and the menurequiresthe caller to select “1” for option A or
`“2” for option B, the driver would say “select 1” and the
`voice recognition system would select option A for the
`driver.
`The command “answer” can be used to answer the mobile
`
`telephone in a hands free mode. The mobile telephone can
`be set in a mode where an incomingcall activates the voice
`recognition system to allow the driver to have a telephone
`conversation using the mobile telephone’s loudspeaker and
`microphone.
`The command “store” can be used to store a telephone
`number. The driver can store telephone numbers under a
`number header or a name header. The number headers can
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`refer to a set of predetermined numbers or numberscreated
`by the driver. Name headersrefer to headers created by the
`driver.
`
`In the preferred embodiment, the voice commands can
`include an additional command term to prevent the possi-
`bility of a false command which can occur during a tcle-
`phone conversation. For example the term “command” can
`be added in front of the command wordsto prevent a false
`command. Without the additional commandterm,if during
`a conversation the driver says “I will call home,”if the term
`“call home”is a name header, the voice recognition system
`would recognize the term “call home” and could disconnect
`the present connection and initiate calling the pre-stored
`“home” number.
`
`Althoughthe present invention has been described for use
`in a mobile telephone, in a similarvein, the present invention
`can be incorporated in other types of telephones systems,
`such as cellular, fixed wired and other different types of
`telephone systems. The present invention can be useful for
`those who are vision impaired. In particularly, an incoming
`call can activate the voice recognition system to allow the
`vision impaired person to answerthe telephone using voice
`commands. In addition,
`the voice recognition button can
`include brail annotation to further assist a vision impaired
`person.
`A voice recognition system for mobile telephones has
`been described in detail for the purpose of illustration.It is
`understood that such detail is solely for that purpose, and
`variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art
`without departing from the scope of the invention as dis-
`closed.
`Whatis claimed is:
`1. Amobile telephone having a voice recognition system
`for using the mobile telephone in a hands free mode,
`wherein the mobile telephone comprises:
`a plurality of buttons, the plurality of buttons excluding
`telephone keypad buttons;
`a voice recognition system for recognizing and acting on
`spoken commands;
`an enhanced voice recognition button as one of the
`plurality of buttons connected to the voice recognition
`system for activating the voice recognition system
`when pressed, the voice recognition system, upon acti-
`vation and responsive to a first one of the spoken
`commands, operable to store a dictated telephone num-
`ber into the voice recognition system without use of
`telephone keypad buttons; and
`a power button, the power button being different from the
`enhanced voice recognition button, wherein the power
`button and the enhanced voice recognition button are
`the only ones of the plurality of buttons.
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`2. The mobile telephone of claim 1, wherein the enhanced
`voice recognition button is larger in size than the power
`button.
`3. The mobile telephone of claim 1, wherein the enhanced
`voice recognition button is a different color than the power
`button.
`4. The mobile telephone of claim 1, wherein the enhanced
`voice recognition button differs in texture from the power
`button.
`5. The mobile telephone of claim 1, wherein the enhanced
`voice recognition button is located on a top of the mobile
`telephone and the power button is located on a side of the
`mobile telephone.
`6. The mobile telephone of claim 1, wherein the enhanced
`voice recognition button includes brail annotation.
`7. The mobile telephone of claim 1, wherein the voice
`recognilion system, upon activation and responsive lo a
`second one of the spoken commands, performs telephone
`functions without use of telephone keypad buttons.
`8. The mobile telephone of claim 7, wherein the voice
`recognilion system of the mobile telephone, upon activation
`and responsive to a third one of the spoken commands,
`performs automatic dialing of a spoken telephone number
`without use of telephone keypad buttons.
`9. The mobile telephone of claim 7, wherein the voice
`recognition system of the mobile telephone, upon activation
`and responsive to a fourth one of the spoken commands,
`performs automatic dialing of a pre-stored telephone number
`without use of telephone keypad buttons.
`10. The mobile telephone of claim 1, wherein the voice
`recognition system of the mobile telephone, upon activation
`and responsive to a fifth one of the spoken commands
`automatically converts and enters spoken entries for a menu
`system without use of telephone keypad buttons.
`11. The mobile telephone of claim 1, wherein the voice
`recognition system is automatically activated by an incom-
`ing telephonecall.
`12. Amobile telephone having a voice recognition system
`for using the mobile telephone in a hands free mode,
`wherein the mobile telephone comprises:
`a power button to turn the mobile telephone on and off;
`a voice recognition system for recognizing and acting on
`voice commands; and
`an enhanced voice recognition button connected to the
`voice recognition system for activating the voice rec-
`ognition system when pressed,
`the enhanced voice
`recognition button and the power button being the only
`buttons of the mobile telephone, the voice recognition
`system, upon activation and responsive to a first one of
`the voice commands, operable to store a dictated tele-
`phone numberinto the voice recognition system with-
`out use of telephone keypad buttons.
`13. The mobile telephone of claim 12, where the enhanced
`voice recognition button differs in the type of button from
`the power button.
`14. The mobile telephone of claim 13, wherein the
`enhanced voice recognition button is larger in size than the
`power button.
`15. The mobile telephone of claim 13, wherein the
`enhanced voice recognition button is a different color than
`the power button.
`16. The mobile telephone of claim 13, wherein the
`enhancedvoice recognition button differs in texture from the
`power button.
`17. The mobile telephone of claim 13, wherein the
`enhanced voice recognition button is located on a top of the
`mobile telephone and the power button is located on a side
`of the mobile telephone.
`
`5
`
`

`

`US 6,240,303 B1
`
`7
`18. The mobile telephone of claim 13, wherein the
`enhanced voice recognition button includesbrail annotation.
`19. The mobile telephone of claim 12, wherein the voice
`recognition system, upon activation and responsive to a
`second one of the voice commands, performs telephone
`functions without use of telephone keypad buttons.
`20. The mobile telephone of claim 12, wherein the voice
`recognition system of the mobile telephone, upon activation
`and responsive to a third one of the voice commands,
`performs automatic dialing of a spoken telephone number
`without use of telephone keypad buttons, the third one of the
`voice commands comprising the word “dial”.
`21. The mobile telephone of claim 12, wherein the voice
`recognition system of the mobile telephone, upon activation
`and responsive to a fourth one of the voice commands,
`performs automatic dialing of a pre-stored telephone number
`without use of telephone keypad buttons, the fourth one of
`the voice commands comprising the word “call”.
`22. The mobile telephone of claim 12, wherein the voice
`recognition system of the mobile telephone, upon activation
`and responsive to a fifth one of the voice commands,
`automatically converts and enters spoken entries for a menu
`system without use of telephone keypad buttons.
`23. The mobile telephone of claim 12, wherein the voice
`recognition system is automatically activated by an incom-
`ing call.
`24. A telephone having a voice recognition system for
`using the telephone in a hands free mode, wherein the
`telephone comprises:
`a plurality of buttons, the plurality of buttons excluding
`telephone keypad buttons;
`a voice recognition system for recognizing and acting on
`spoken commands;
`an enhanced voice recognition button as one of the
`plurality of buttons connected to the voice recognition
`system for activating the voice recognition system
`whenpressed, the voice recognition system, upon acti-
`vation and responsive to a first one of the spoken
`commands,operable to store a dictated telephone num-
`ber into the voice recognition system without use of
`telephone keypad buttons; and
`a power button, the power button being different from the
`enhanced voice recognition button, wherein the power
`button and the enhanced voice recognition button are
`the only ones of the plurality of buttons.
`25. The telephone as in claim 24, wherein the enhanced
`voice recognition button is larger in size than the power
`button.
`26. The telephone as in claim 24, wherein the enhanced
`voice recognition button is a different color than the power
`button.
`27. The telephone as in claim 24, wherein the enhanced
`voice recognition button differs in texture from the power
`button.
`28. The telephone as in claim 24, wherein the enhanced
`voice recognition button is located on a top of the telephone
`and the power button is located on a side of the telephone.
`29. The telephone of claim 24, wherein the enhanced
`voice recognition button includes brail annotation.
`30. The telephone as in claim 24, wherein the voice
`recognition system, upon activation and responsive to a
`second one of the spoken commands, performs telephone
`functions without use of telephone keypad buttons.
`31. The telephone as in claim 24, wherein the voice
`recognition system, upon activation and responsive to a third
`one of the spoken commands, performs automatic dialing of
`a spoken telephone number without use of telephone keypad
`buttons.
`32. The telephone as in claim 24, wherein the voice
`recognition system, upon activation and responsive to a
`
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`fourth one of the spoken commands, performs automatic
`dialing of a pre-stored telephone number without use of
`telephone keypad buttons.
`33. The telephone as in claim 24, wherein the voice
`recognition system, upon activation and responsiveto a fifth
`one of the spoken commands, automatically converts and
`enters spoken entries for a menu system without use of
`telephone keypad buttons.
`34. The telephone as in claim 24, wherein the voice
`recognition system is automatically activated by an incom-
`ing telephonecall.
`35. A telephone having voice recognition for using the
`telephone in a hands free mode, wherein the telephone
`comprises:
`a power button to turn the telephone on and off;
`an enhanced voice recognition button for activating the
`voice recognition when pressed, the enhanced voice
`recognition button and the power button being the only
`buttons of the telephone; and
`a voice recognition system for recognizing and acting on
`voice commandsto provide the voice recognition, the
`voice recognition system connected to the enhanced
`voice recognition button, the voice recognition system,
`when the enhanced voice recognition buttonis pressed
`and responsive to a first one of the voice commands,
`operable to store a dictated telephone number into the
`voice recognition system without use of telephone
`keypad buttons.
`36. The telephone of claim 35, where the enhanced voice
`recognition button differs in the type of button from the
`power button.
`37. The telephone of claim 36, wherein at the enhanced
`voice recognition button is larger in size than the power
`button.
`38. The telephone of claim 36, wherein the enhanced
`voice recognition button is a different color than the power
`button.
`39. The telephone of claim 36, wherein the enhanced
`voice recognition button differs in texture from the power
`button.
`40. The telephone of claim 36, wherein the enhanced
`voice recognition button is located on a top of the telephone
`and the powerbutton is located on a side of the telephone.
`41. The telephone of claim 36, wherein the enhanced
`voice recognition button includes brail annotation.
`42. The telephone of claim 36, wherein the voice recog-
`nition system, upon activation and responsive to a second
`one of the voice commands, performs telephone functions
`without use of telephone keypad buttons.
`43. The telephone of claim 36, wherein the voice recog-
`nition system, upon activation and responsive to a third one
`of the voice commands, performs automatic dialing of a
`spoken telephone number without use of telephone keypad
`buttons, the third one of the voice commands comprising the
`word “dial”.
`44. The telephone of claim 36, wherein the voice recog-
`nition system, upon activation and responsive to a fourth one
`of the voice commands, performs automatic dialing of a
`pre-stored telephone number without use of telephone key-
`pad buttons, the fourth one of the voice commands com-
`prising the word “call”.
`45. The telephone of claim 36, wherein the voice recog-
`nition system, upon activation and responsiveto a fifth one
`of the voice commands, automatically converts and enters
`spoken entries for a menu system without use of telephone
`keypad buttons.
`46. The telephone of claim 36, wherein the voice recog-
`nition system is automatically activated by an incomingcall.
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