Cooperative On-Device Assistant Models Across Low-Memory Device Groups

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automated assistant devices face limitations in processing power and memory, leading to less robust and accurate local components, especially in older and less costly devices, which can't execute or store necessary models effectively.

Innovation Solution

Dynamically adapt on-device models and processing roles among a group of assistant devices based on individual capabilities, distributing them cooperatively to enhance robustness and accuracy, reducing the need for remote processing and improving security and latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If more processing components are executed locally at the assistant device, then latency decreases and security improves, but the processing power and memory capacity required increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing robustnessVSAvoidmemory capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The processing pipeline is segmented into multiple components (wake word detection, ASR, NLU, fulfillment) that can be distributed across different devices. Each device executes only the components it can handle locally, while other components are executed remotely, allowing the system to achieve robust processing without requiring each individual device to have substantial memory capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a single-device processing model to a multi-device distributed processing model. By adding the dimension of spatial distribution across multiple devices, the system can execute more processing components locally (across the group) without requiring each individual device to have increased memory capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Loss of time

If more processing components are executed locally at the assistant device, then latency decreases, but the processing power required increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing latencyVSAvoidprocessing power
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The processing pipeline is divided into discrete components that can be selectively executed. Devices execute only the components they are capable of handling locally (such as wake word detection and basic ASR), while more computationally intensive components (such as complex NLU and fulfillment) are executed remotely, reducing latency for simple operations without overloading device processing power.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs partial processing locally and partial processing remotely. By executing only the necessary portion of the processing pipeline locally (enough to reduce latency for critical path operations) and completing the remainder remotely, the system achieves latency reduction without requiring full processing power locally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Ease of manufacture

If older and less costly assistant devices are used, then device cost decreases, but the robustness and accuracy of local components decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice costVSAvoidcomponent accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple devices are merged into a cooperative group where their capabilities are combined. Older or less capable devices can participate in the distributed processing pipeline without needing to individually possess high accuracy components, as the collective accuracy of the group compensates for individual limitations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a coordination mechanism that acts as an intermediary between devices with limited local processing capabilities and the remote processing infrastructure. This intermediary manages the distribution of processing tasks, allowing低成本 devices to achieve accurate results through coordinated remote execution of components they lack.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4133362B1Dynamically adapting on-device models, of grouped assistant devices, for cooperative processing of assistant requests
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 GOOGLE LLC
  • EP4133362B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4133362B1 patent drawingFigure 1B1
  • EP4133362B1 patent drawingFigure 1B2

AI summary

Implementations are directed to dynamically adapting which assistant on-device model(s) are locally stored at assistant devices of an assistant device group and/or dynamically adapting the assistant processing role(s) of the assistant device(s) of the assistant device group. In some of those implementations, the corresponding on-device model(s) and/or corresponding processing role(s), for each of the assistant devices of the group, is determined based on collectively considering individual processing capabilities of the assistant devices of the group. Implementations are additionally or alternatively directed to cooperatively utilizing assistant devices of a group, and their associated post-adaptation on-device model(s) and/or post¬ adaptation processing role(s), in cooperatively processing assistant requests that are directed to any one of the assistant devices of the group.