2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S600 ESP

284 Control systems
Voice Control*
Operating safety
Warning!G
Please devote your attention first and fore-
most to the traffic situation you are in. While
the system permits hands-free phone oper-
ation, attention to traffic may be diverted
not only by physical operation of a phone,
but also by the distraction of a phone con-
versation while driving. As such, for safety
reasons, we encourage the driver to stop the
vehicle in a safe place before answering or
placing a phone call.
For safety reasons, you should only select a
destination when the vehicle is stationary.
While the navigation system provides direc-
tional assistance, the driver must remain fo-
cused on safe driving behavior, especially
attention to traffic and street signs, and
should utilize the system’s audio cues while
driving.
The navigation system does not supply any
information on stop signs, yield signs, traffic
regulations or traffic safety rules. Their ob-
servance always remains in the driver’s per-
sonal responsibility. DVD maps do not cover
all areas nor all routes within an area.
Traffic regulations always have priority over
any route recommendations given.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet
(approximately 13.5 m) every second.Warning!G
Navigation announcements are intended to
direct you while driving without diverting
your attention from the road and driving.
Please always use this feature instead of
consulting the map display for directions.
Consulting the symbols or map display for
directions may cause you to divert your at-
tention from driving and increase your risk
of an accident.
Warning!G
Please do not use the Voice Control System
in an emergency, as the tone of your voice
may change in a stressful situation. This
could cause a delay in completing your
phone call in a timely manner. This could
distract you in an emergency situation and
cause you to be involved in an accident.

285 Control systems
Voice Control* introduction
Voice Control* introduction
The Voice Control System gives you the ca-
pability to control the following systems on
your vehicle using spoken commands:

Telephone* (page 289)

Navigation (page 296)

Address book (page 306)

Audio (page 309) (AM/FM radio,
CD/DVD changer, MP3 player)You control these systems using spoken
commands. Moreover, controls such as
the buttons on the multifunction steering
wheel (
page 287) allow you to keep your
hands on the steering wheel.
The command vocabulary consists of
approximately 300 ready to use phrases.
The Voice Control System recognizes com-
mands and number sequences, irrespec-
tive of the speaker. To optimize speech
recognition for your voice follow the indi-
vidualization process (
page 330).
You can use the Voice Control System to
call up all of COMAND’s main menu items,
with the exception of the main menus for
“Vehicle” and “Navi”.The commands and digit sequences can be
spoken without pausing between the indi-
vidual words. If an unavailable or incorrect
command is used, the Voice Control Sys-
tem will prompt you for a new command by
asking “Please repeat” or “Please repeat
your entry”.
In order to provide for a safe and comfort-
able dialog, the Voice Control System ac-
knowledges important commands.

286 Control systems
Voice Control* introduction
Spelling
You may not need to spell the entire name
(street, intersection, city or point of inter-
est) especially if the name is lengthy. Spell-
ing the first three to five characters of the
name should be sufficient for the system
to recognize the name provided it is avail-
able on the navigation DVD.
The selection appearing on the COMAND
display is sorted based on your recognized
voice input and a matching algorithm.
You can use the commands “Next page” or
“Previous page” to scroll up or down in the
list.
Use the command “Correction” to start
over by again spelling the name.
Speak each character as clearly as you
can, especially when they sound very simi-
lar (d or e).Command types
The Voice Control System commands can
be categorized as:

General Commands
These are commands always available
to you as soon as the Voice Control
System is activated (for example
“Help” commands).

Local Commands
These are commands specific to the
currently active system shown in the
COMAND display (for example com-
mands to control the CD/DVD chang-
er).
For a complete list of commands
(
page 315).
Active System
The active system is the system currently
shown in the COMAND display.
If, for example, you listen to the radio while
the telephone system is active on the
COMAND display, you have to switch to
the radio using the command “Radio” be-
fore you can operate the radio.
iDuring Voice Control System operation visu-
al help windows also appear in the COMAND dis-
play (
page 288).

290 Control systems
Voice Control* telephone
The Voice Control System detects whether

your telephone is switched on

the corresponding mobile network is
logged in

it is possible to dial
If dialing is not possible, the Voice Control
System will advise you accordingly.
Before you can operate the telephone us-
ing the Voice Control System, you have to
activate the Voice Control (
page 287).
Telephone commands
For a complete list of commands
(
page 315).
“Telephone”Use the command “Telephone” to activate
the telephone main menu. Use this com-
mand if you want the digits you are enter-
ing to appear on the COMAND display.
“Help telephone”
The Voice Control System features a com-
prehensive help function.
Use the command “Help telephone” and
the Voice Control System will read out an
option list of available functions and com-
mands that can be used in conjunction
with the telephone (
page 237).
“Enter PIN”
Use the command “Enter PIN” to input the
code to unlock your telephone. After
speaking the command, you are prompted
to enter the code.
Speak the code

as a continuously spoken string of dig-
its, or

in digit blocks of three to five digits.
Digits from “Zero” to “Nine” may be used.
After each digit block (separate the digit
blocks by using an approximately
0.5 second pause), the Voice Control Sys-
tem repeats the recognized digits and
waits until you continue speaking.
Sample dialog:
sEnter PIN
tPlease say the PIN
sZero zero one one
tZero zero one one
sOK
iYou can continue operating your mobile
phone using the telephone keypad or keypad on
your phone.
iThe PIN (only GSM mobile phones) prompt
starts automatically whenever the phone is
locked and you wish to use it.

293 Control systems
Voice Control* telephone
After the command “OK”, you will be
prompted up to two times to input the
name. When repeating the name, make
sure that you pronounce it in the same
manner as during the first input. Otherwise
the name cannot be saved and the Voice
Control System cancels the save proce-
dure.Sample dialog:
sSave name
tPlease say the number first
sOne two three
tOne two three
sFour five six seven
tFour five six seven
sOK
tPlease say the name
sJohn Smith
tPlease repeat the name
sJohn Smith
tDo you want to save the number in
a category?
sNo
tName and number saved“Dial name” (COMAND address book)
Use the command “Dial name” to place a
phone call by selecting a name previously
saved in your personal address book.
Sample dialog:
sDial name
tPlease say the name
sJohn Smith
If several telephone numbers exist
for the same entry, the Voice Con-
trol System will ask for clarification.
tDo you want to place a work call or
a home call?
sWork
tJohn Smith work
Dialing
iThe Voice Control System may recognize
names even if not saved in your voice. For opti-
mum call-up performance, however, you should
speak and save the names you intend to use
yourself.
iYou can also add a name to an entry by call-
ing up the corresponding menu on COMAND and
saying the name twice (
page 224).

295 Control systems
Voice Control* telephone
“List phone book” and dialing a phone
number
Use the command “List phone book” to lis-
ten to all voice entries in the phone book
with a phone number stored, and select an
entry and dial that number.
Sample dialog:
sList phone book
The system reads out the complete
phone book entry by entry.Selecting an entry and dialing that
number
For the desired entry, press ! dur-
ing or immediately after voice output.
If more than one phone number exists
for a given entry, the Voice Control Sys-
tem prompts:
tDo you want to place a work call or
a home call?
sHome
The system reads out the name of
the selected entry and dials the cor-
responding number.
Canceling the dialog
Press L.
The system confirms “Cancel”.
The dialog is concluded.Managing automated answering sys-
tem/voice mail box
Activate the Voice Control System to ac-
cess and manage your answering ma-
chine/voice mail box.
Activate the Voice Control System dur-
ing a phone call (
page 287).
An audible tone (beep) confirms the ac-
tivation of the system.
Speak the required digits (“Zero” to
“Nine”).
or
Speak the required words “Star” and
“Pound”.
Speak the final command “OK”.
The system dials the number entered.

296 Control systems
Voice Control* navigation
Important notes
Warning!G
For safety reasons, you should only select a
destination when the vehicle is stationary.
While the navigation system provides direc-
tional assistance, the driver must remain fo-
cused on safe driving behavior, especially
attention to traffic and street signs, and
should utilize the system’s audio cues while
driving.
The navigation system does not supply any
information on stop signs, yield signs, traffic
regulations or traffic safety rules. Their ob-
servance always remains in the driver’ per-
sonal responsibility. DVD maps do not cover
all areas nor all routes within an area.
Traffic regulations always have priority over
any route recommendations given.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet
(approximately 13.5 m) every second.
During route guidance, you will not receive
information on:

traffic lights

stop and yield signs

parking or stopping zones

one-way streets

narrow bridges, or

other traffic regulation data.
You should therefore always strictly observe
traffic regulations while driving. Drive care-
fully and always obey traffic laws and road
signs, even if they contradict navigation sys-
tem instructions.
Warning!G
Please do not use the Voice Control System
in an emergency, as the tone of your voice
may change in a stressful situation. This
could cause a delay in completing your
phone call in a timely manner. This could
distract you in an emergency situation and
cause you to be involved in an accident.
Warning!G
Navigation announcements are intended to
direct you while driving without diverting
your attention from the road and driving.
Please always use this feature instead of
consulting the map display for directions.
Consulting the symbols or map display for
directions may cause you to divert your at-
tention from driving and increase your risk
of an accident.

306 Control systems
Voice Control* address book
COMAND address book overview
The Voice Control System address book
function gives you the capability to store
names and associated phone numbers and
address information.
You can store up to 80 speaker-dependent
voice entries in the Voice Control System
address book.
Using these voice entries, you can dial a
phone number stored in address book or
start route guidance to an address stored in the address book. Available commands
are dependent on the status of the address
book. The address book can be in one of
the following status:

Address book not open

Address book open
Operation with address book not open
(global)
The Voice Control System gives you the
following capabilities:

Store a name (page 292)

Dial a name (page 293)

Delete a name (page 294)

Navigate to an entry (page 301)

List address book (page 307)

List phone book of the address
(
page 295)

List address book destination memory
(
page 302)

Delete the address book (page 308)

Open the address book
Opening address book
Press !.
Speak the command “Address book”.
Press !.
Speak one of the address book com-
mands described below.
Operation with address book open
(local)
In addition to the capabilities listed when
the address book is not open, the address
book opened allows you to:

open an entry using the corresponding
voice entry

open any entry by spelling the name
Opening entry: Speak the command
“Open entry”.
Warning!G
Please devote your attention first and fore-
most to the traffic situation you are in.
Before your journey, please familiarize your-
self with the address book functions.
Only use the Voice Control System when
road and traffic conditions permit you to do
so. Otherwise you could be involved in an
accident in which you or others could be in-
jured.