Supported voice commands

The ASR service supports a set of keywords that you can use to initiate handsfree requests. In the sections that follow:

Before each command, you can use the following optional words as a preamble:

[could | can | will | would] [you] please

For example, "Could you please...", "Will you...", "Please...", "Can you...", and so on.

In the following sections, the supported commands are grouped according to commonly used tasks. Some of these tasks are handled locally by the system, whereas in other cases the commands are sent to offboard services. The following table lists the tasks and whether they are handled locally or offboard:

Task Handling
Launch or terminate an application Local
Get weather information Offboard
Get the current time or date Local
Find a nearby point of interest (POI) Offboard
Get directions to an address Offboard
Show a map of a city Offboard
Search for media tracks or internet POIs Media search is local for tracks in the Juke Box; otherwise, it's offboard. Internet POI search is offboard.
Make a phone call Local
Play music by song title, artist, or album Media playback is local for tracks in the Juke Box; otherwise, it's offboard.
Control the media player Local
Get help Local
Stop using the ASR service Local

Launch or terminate an application

( <launch-cmd> | <terminate-cmd> ) [ <app-preamble> ] <app-name> [ application ]

<launch-cmd> is one of:

<terminate-cmd> is one of:

<app-preamble> is optional and is one of:

<app-name> is the name of an HMI tab, a built-in app, or one of the apps in the HMI's Apps Section. The ASR service's application list is built dynamically from the data in the /pps/services/app-launcher object. New applications that are added can't be launched by ASR until the system is rebooted.

You can optionally use the word "application" after the name of the application.

For example: "Please go to the video player", "Launch radio", "Switch to Home", "Please go to the app BestParking", "Would you launch my calculator application", "Please close the BestParking application", "Would you please terminate Pandora".

Get weather information

[ <acquire-cmd> | <inquire-cmd> ] <conditions> [ <location-preamble> ] [ <location> ]

<acquire-cmd> is optional and is one of:

optionally followed by "the".

<inquire-cmd> is optional and is one of:

optionally followed by "the".

<conditions> is one of:

<location-preamble> is optional and is one of:

<location> is the optional location name. If the location isn't given, the weather conditions for the current location are retrieved.

For example: "What's the weather like in Maui", "Get the weather in Sydney", "What's the temperature like over in Vancouver", "Tell me the conditions for Tokyo", "I need to know the conditions in Portland, Oregon", "I have to find the temperature in Calgary".

Get the current time or date

[<acquire-cmd>] [ <time-date-preamble> ] <time-date> [ please ]    

<acquire-cmd> is optional and is one of:

optionally followed by an article ("a", "an", or "the").

<time-date-preamble> is optional and is one of:

<time-date> is one of:

You can optionally use the word "please" after the command.

For example: "Please get today's date", "What's the time now please", "Give me today's date", "What day is it", "Tell me what time it is now please".

Find a nearby point of interest (POI)

A POI search using the navigation engine can take two forms:

( find | locate) <proximity-modifier> <destination>    

or:

<navigate-cmd> <proximity-modifier> <destination>

<navigate-cmd> is one of:

followed by the word "directions" and the optional word "to".

<proximity-modifier> is optional and is one of:

Note that the modifiers "closest" and "close by" aren't supported.

<destination> is the name of a POI.

Note that POI search is relative to your current location, so searching for points of interest from other cities or countries may not yield any results.

For example: "Locate the CN Tower", "Find a nearby post office", "Please show me directions to a nearby Starbucks", "Tell me directions to the BrookStreet Hotel".

Get directions to an address

( navigate to ) <nav-address>

<nav-address> is the destination address, consisting of a numeric-only building number and a street name (optionally including a direction). Note that unit numbers and letters aren't supported (e.g., instead of "221 B Baker Street", say "221 Baker Street").

For example: "Navigate to 691 Somerset Street West".

Show a map of a city

[ <acquire-cmd> ] map [ <preposition> ] <location>

<acquire-cmd> is optional and is one of:

optionally followed by an article ("a", "an", or "the").

<preposition> is optional and is one of:

For example: "Show me a map of Toronto", "Please get a map of Rio de Janeiro".

Search for media tracks or internet POIs

A media or internet POI search can take two forms:

( search ) [<search-type>] [ for ] <search-term>

or:

<search-request>  <search-term>

<search-type> is optional and is one of:

<search-request> is one of:

Note that POI search is relative to your current location, so searching for points of interest from other cities or countries may not yield any results.

For example: "Search media for Weezer", "Get information on the parliament buildings", "Search the internet for bowling", "Search music for Synchronicity".

Make a phone call

( dial | call ) <contact>

<contact> is one of:

For example: "Dial 555-1212", "Call Emily".

Play music by song title, artist, or album

( play ) [ <media-category> ] <media-name>    

<media-category> is optional and is one of:

For example: "Play Bamboleo", "Play tracks by Johnny Cash", "Play songs from the album Thriller".

Control the media player

To control the media player, use one of the following commands:

Get help

To get help with the ASR service, use one of the following commands:

Stop using the ASR service

To stop the ASR service, use one of the following commands: