Anonymization Service for Speech-Based Building Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of intelligent audio devices for speech-based control in non-private households, such as businesses, is hindered by data protection concerns, as these devices require personal data from multiple users without consent, violating privacy and data security regulations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a trustworthy anonymization service that anonymizes speech instructions before processing, ensuring the identity of the sender remains anonymous while allowing system control through speech-based commands, either within the audio device or a separate proxy, preventing the identification of individual users and maintaining data protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If intelligent audio devices with speech recognition services are used in non-private households, then speech-based control functionality is improved, but data protection and privacy are worsened due to processing of personal data without consent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an anonymization service as an intermediary component between the audio device and the speech recognition service. This intermediary anonymizes the sender's identity in speech instructions before they are processed by the assistance service, thereby enabling speech-based control functionality while preventing direct identification of individual users and maintaining data protection compliance in non-private households
2Adaptability or versatility
If personal data is processed and stored by speech assistants to provide individually adapted proposals, then service customization is improved, but user privacy and data security are worsened due to surrender of personal data outside user control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the personal identification information from the speech instructions through the anonymization service. By removing the sender's identity before the data reaches the speech recognition service, the system eliminates the need for storing and processing personal data externally, thereby maintaining service functionality while ensuring data security and removing the harmful aspect of data surrender
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of the teachings herein include methods and systems for providing a speech-based service for the control of room control elements in buildings. Speech instructions are received by means of an audio device. The audio device is configured to analyze the received speech instructions, to convert them into corresponding operating commands for room control elements for the control of, in particular, HVAC devices (e.g. field devices) in a building and to pass them on to the corresponding room control elements. Before the receipt of the speech instructions by the audio device, the identity of the sender (user) of the speech instructions is anonymized by means of an anonymization service.