Digital Assistant Output Templates for Cross-Mode Consistency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing intelligent automated assistants face inefficiencies in providing tailored outputs across different domains, platforms, and modes, leading to a fragmented user experience due to the labor-intensive process of formatting outputs for various use cases.

Innovation Solution

An intelligent automated assistant uses domain-independent output data structures with pattern components grouped into output groups, allowing selection of appropriate components based on the output mode to provide consistent and intuitive outputs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If outputs are tailored for each domain, platform, and mode individually, then user experience customization is improved, but system complexity and development effort increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoutput customizationVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal output data structure that can serve multiple domains, platforms, and modes simultaneously. The template-based framework defines output formats at a higher level of abstraction, allowing the same structure to be reused across different contexts (e.g., weather information, traffic updates, news) without creating separate customization logic for each domain or platform.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The output data structure is segmented into modular templates with distinct components (e.g., header, body, footer sections). Each template represents a specific output format (card, list, summary) that can be independently selected and combined. This segmentation allows the system to manage complexity by breaking down output formatting into reusable, discrete units rather than handling each output type as a monolithic customization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If individual output formats are defined for each mode, then output precision for specific use cases is improved, but development time and labor intensity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoutput format precisionVSAvoiddevelopment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs pre-defined output templates that have been designed and configured in advance for various common output scenarios. These templates contain pre-established structures, formatting rules, and component hierarchies that can be directly applied to specific use cases. When generating output, the system selects and populates the appropriate pre-defined template rather than creating output formats from scratch, significantly reducing development time while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If domain-specific output formatting is implemented, then relevance to specific use cases is improved, but consistency across different domains deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedomain relevanceVSAvoidoutput consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by allowing different templates to be selected based on the specific domain or use case while maintaining a consistent underlying structure. Each template can be customized for domain-specific requirements (e.g., weather cards vs. traffic lists), but all templates adhere to the same hierarchical data structure and formatting rules defined by the universal output framework. This ensures that while content varies by domain, the overall output composition remains consistent and predictable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12424218B2Digital assistant response framework
Publication Date: 2025.09.23 APPLE INC
  • US12424218B2 patent drawing
  • US12424218B2 patent drawing
  • US12424218B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems and processes for operating an intelligent automated assistant are provided. For example, an electronic device can provide an output in an audio, visual, or mixed mode. In one example process, an output mode is selected, and, in response to determining that an output is to be provided to a user, an output data structure is obtained. The output data structure includes pattern components sorted into output groups. At least one pattern component from at least one output group is selected based on the output mode and provided in the output to the user.