Using Cordless Phones to Send Voice Commands to Smart Home Devices

A method for letting a cordless phone handset send voice commands to smart home appliances over the same signal path used for regular phone calls.

What it covers

This patent describes a way to repurpose the audio stream of a cordless phone to control home appliances. When a user triggers the device—such as by pressing a button or moving the phone—the handset generates 'instruction bit information' alongside the voice data. This data is sent to the base unit using the standard DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) multiplexing scheme, which is the same technology used for normal phone calls. If the user is already on a call, the system can automatically mute the call to the person on the other end while the voice command is processed by the home system.

What it doesn't cover

• —Does not cover voice control systems that use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth protocols instead of DECT.
• —Does not cover smart home control that requires a dedicated, non-telephony communication channel.
• —Does not cover systems that lack the ability to switch between call mode and mute mode during a voice command.

The clever bit

The innovation is using the existing DECT multiplexing scheme to carry control data packets alongside voice data, effectively turning a standard phone call signal into a dual-purpose data pipe for home automation.

Why it matters

As the smart home market grew, manufacturers looked for ways to integrate voice control into existing household hardware. By using the DECT standard, this patent allows a standard cordless phone to double as a remote control for appliances without needing a separate wireless radio or a more complex network infrastructure.

Real-world examples

• 1.Panasonic cordless home phone systems with integrated smart home features
• 2.DECT-based home automation controllers