Handsfree Voice Interface for Home Network Service Using a Microphone Array Network

The voice control is a promising user interface for the home network system (HNS). In our previous interface, a user had to be equipped with an actual microphone device, which imposed a burden on the user. This paper presents a hands-free voice interface using a microphone array network. The microphone array network enables voice quality enhancement, as well as sound source localization, by networking multiple microphone arrays. Attaching the arrays to the walls or ceiling, users can input voice operations to the HNS from anywhere in the room, without being aware of the microphone devices. We implement a prototype system with a 16ch microphone array, and evaluate the speech recognition rate and the accuracy of sound source localization in a real home network environment. A hands-free operation service and an automatic speech logging service are implemented.