Audible Alert Delivery via Proximity and Privacy Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Voice-based virtual assistants often lack the ability to deliver audible alerts effectively, especially when the device is not within the user's immediate proximity or in shared environments, posing challenges in privacy and alert delivery.
Innovation Solution
A server-based system that detects events requiring audible alerts, determines the proximity of authorized devices, and generates alert instructions to deliver alerts based on location and privacy settings, using a communication module to send instructions to the nearest device, and adjusts alert types and characteristics according to event priority and environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If audible alerts are delivered to voice assistant devices, then users receive timely notifications, but privacy may be compromised in shared environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system determines the current environment type (shared vs. private) of each voice assistant device and delivers alerts with appropriate privacy levels to matching environments. This ensures that sensitive alerts are only delivered to private environments while non-sensitive alerts can be delivered to shared environments, resolving the contradiction between reliable alert delivery and privacy protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts alert delivery based on real-time environment conditions. By continuously monitoring the environment type of each device and matching it with the sensitivity requirements of each alert, the system adapts its behavior to maintain both reliable delivery and privacy protection under varying conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple voice assistant devices are authorized for use, then users have flexibility in device selection, but determining the appropriate device for alert delivery becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces environment type as a key parameter for both devices and alerts. By categorizing devices into shared or private environments and alerts into sensitivity levels, the system creates a simple matching rule that reduces routing complexity while maintaining flexibility in device selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments both devices and alerts into distinct categories (shared/private environments and sensitivity levels). This segmentation creates clear matching criteria that simplifies the routing decision process while preserving user flexibility in choosing which devices are authorized for which types of alerts.
3Ease of operation
If voice assistant devices are placed in shared environments, then accessibility is improved, but privacy concerns arise when delivering sensitive information
Solution Approach 1:
The system matches the local quality (environment type) of each device with the requirements of each alert. Shared environment devices receive only non-sensitive alerts, while sensitive alerts are routed to private environment devices, thus maintaining accessibility of shared devices without compromising privacy.
4Measurement precision
If the system monitors location and environment of multiple devices, then accurate alert routing is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system focuses on monitoring a single key parameter (environment type) for each device rather than continuously tracking detailed location data. This parameter-based approach achieves sufficient precision for alert routing while significantly reducing the complexity of the tracking system.
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 for the audible alert, an audible interface device for delivery of the audible alert based on a location of a personal electronic device of the user is selected. It is determined whether a personal electronic device of another user is within a threshold distance of the selected audible interface device. In response to determining that the personal electronic device of another user is within the threshold distance of the selected audible interface device, an audible identifier associated with the user is determined. Alert instructions for the audible interface device are generated and sent to the audible interface device over a wireless network via a communication module. The alert instructions cause the audible interface device to generate the audible alert in accordance with alert data provided in the alert instructions. The generation of the audible alert is preceded by generation of the audible identifier associated with the user to notify the user of the forthcoming audible alert.