Composite Assistant Interface for Multi-IoT Control in Noisy Use

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing IoT devices require multiple applications for control, consuming memory and network resources, and interactions can be unreliable in noisy environments, leading to inefficient use of computational and network bandwidth.

Innovation Solution

A composite graphical assistant interface generated by an automated assistant to control multiple IoT devices, using graphical elements that reflect device states and functions, reducing the need for multiple applications and minimizing network communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple third-party applications are installed to control different IoT devices, then device control capability is improved, but memory consumption and network bandwidth usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice control capabilityVSAvoidmemory consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple device-specific applications into a single automated assistant application. The assistant provides a unified interface that consolidates control capabilities for multiple IoT devices from different manufacturers, eliminating the need to install and maintain separate applications for each device type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The automated assistant is designed as a universal control platform that can interface with multiple types of IoT devices from different manufacturers through standardized protocols. This multi-functional approach allows one application to perform the roles of multiple specialized applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If audio-to-text conversion is used to mediate interactions between user and IoT devices, then voice control is enabled, but network bandwidth is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoice controlVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs audio-to-text conversion locally on the client device before transmitting processed text commands to the automated assistant. This preliminary processing step prevents the need to send raw audio data over the network, thereby reducing network bandwidth consumption while maintaining voice control functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If spoken utterances are used for device control, then hands-free operation is achieved, but reliability decreases in noisy environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehands-free operationVSAvoidcommand recognition accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces a graphical user interface as an intermediary between the user and the automated assistant. This graphical interface provides visual feedback and alternative interaction methods (such as tapping visual elements) that can be used instead of or in combination with voice commands, particularly in noisy environments where voice recognition may be unreliable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple applications are installed for IoT device control, then device compatibility is improved, but computational resources are wasted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoidcomputational resource efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The automated assistant serves as a universal control platform that can interface with multiple types of IoT devices from different manufacturers through standardized protocols. This multi-functional approach allows one application to perform the roles of multiple specialized applications, improving computational resource efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The automated assistant automatically manages device compatibility and communication protocols without requiring users to manually configure or install separate applications for each device. The system self-adapts to work with various IoT devices, reducing the computational overhead associated with managing multiple applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12493447B2Methods, systems, and apparatus for providing composite graphical assistant interfaces for controlling connected devices

Publication Date: 2025.12.09 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

Methods, apparatus, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for tailoring composite graphical assistant interfaces for interacting with multiple different connected devices. The composite graphical assistant interfaces can be generated in response to a user providing a request for an automated assistant to cause a connected device to perform a particular function. In response to the automated assistant receiving the request, the automated assistant can identify other functions that the connected device is capable of performing. The other functions can then be mapped to various graphical control elements in order to provide a composite graphical assistant interface from which the user can interact with the connected device. Each graphical control element can be arranged according to a status of the connected device, in order to reflect how the connected device is operating simultaneous to the presentation of the composite graphical assistant interface.