Audible Alert Delivery via Proximity-Based Privacy Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Voice-based virtual assistants often lack proximity awareness, leading to inefficient delivery of audible alerts, especially in shared environments where privacy is a concern and multiple devices are authorized for use.
Innovation Solution
A server-based system that determines the proximity of authorized audible interface devices to the user and adjusts alert delivery accordingly, using location data and privacy ratings to decide on the type and content of alerts, ensuring private data is not shared in non-private environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If audible alerts are delivered to all authorized voice assistant devices, then the user receives comprehensive notifications, but privacy is compromised in shared environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different alert delivery rules to different devices based on their local characteristics (shared vs. private environment). Voice assistant devices are classified into shared and private categories, with private devices receiving full alerts containing private data while shared devices receive only generic alerts, thus tailoring the alert quality to each device's privacy context
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary classification of voice assistant devices as either shared or private before delivering alerts. This advance categorization allows the server to pre-determine the appropriate alert type and content for each device, preventing privacy exposure before it occurs while ensuring reliable alert delivery to appropriate devices
2Ease of operation
If voice assistant devices are placed in shared environments for convenience, then accessibility is improved, but private data security is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different data content policies to alerts based on the device's environment type. Shared devices receive alerts with generic or non-private content, while private devices receive alerts containing full private data, thus maintaining data security in shared environments while preserving accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The server acts as an intermediary that filters and modifies alert content based on the receiving device's classification. Instead of sending identical alerts to all devices, the server intermediates the communication by adapting alert content to match the security requirements of each device's environment
3Object-affected harmful factors
If proximity detection is implemented to determine alert delivery, then privacy is protected in shared environments, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary classification of voice assistant devices as shared or private during setup or initialization, rather than continuously monitoring proximity. This advance categorization simplifies the system by replacing complex real-time proximity detection with a simpler device-type-based decision rule
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices and methods for delivering audible alerts are described. In one aspect, an event for generating an audible alert for a user is detected. In response to detection of the event for generating the audible alert, it is determined whether an authorized audible interface device is within a threshold distance of the user based on a location of the user and a location of one or more authorized audible interface devices. In response to determining that an audible interface device is within the threshold distance of the user, alert instructions for the audible interface device are generated. The alert instructions cause the audible interface device to generate the audible alert in accordance with alert data provided in the alert instructions. The alert instructions are sent to the audible interface device over a wireless network via a communication module.