Digital Assistant Task Delegation and Cross-Device Synchronization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Intelligent automated assistants operating on multiple devices often perform inconsistently due to unsynchronized data and differing capabilities, leading to repetitive user inputs and inefficient experiences.

Innovation Solution

A method where a digital assistant on one device synchronizes settings with another instance on a different device by receiving a natural-language speech input, updating its settings, and performing tasks based on the updated settings, providing an output on task completion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If multiple devices run independent instances of digital assistant without synchronization, then each device can operate autonomously, but the user experience becomes inconsistent and requires duplicative inputs across devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser input efficiencyVSAvoidtask execution consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the operational states and settings of multiple digital assistant instances across different devices by synchronizing data between them. When a user interacts with one instance, the changes are propagated to other instances, ensuring consistent task execution and eliminating the need for duplicative inputs across devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal digital assistant experience where a single user profile and set of settings can be accessed across multiple devices. The synchronization mechanism allows any device to perform tasks that were initiated on another device, providing multi-functional access to the same assistant capabilities regardless of which device the user is currently using.

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

2Reliability

If digital assistant data is synchronized across multiple devices, then task execution becomes consistent, but network communication and data synchronization overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetask execution consistencyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic or event-triggered synchronization rather than continuous synchronization. Data is synchronized across devices when specific events occur (e.g., when settings change or tasks are completed), reducing unnecessary network communication and power consumption while maintaining task execution consistency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If tasks are delegated to devices with appropriate capabilities, then task completion success rate improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetask completion rateVSAvoidtask delegation architecture
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a task delegation mechanism that acts as an intermediary between the user's request and the available devices. The system automatically identifies which device has the appropriate capabilities to perform a given task and delegates the task to that device, abstracting away the complexity from the user while improving task completion rates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11405466B2Synchronization and task delegation of a digital assistant
Publication Date: 2022.08.02 APPLE INC
  • US11405466B2 patent drawing
  • US11405466B2 patent drawing
  • US11405466B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems and processes for operating an intelligent automated assistant are provided. In one example process, a first instance of a digital assistant operating on a first electronic device receives a natural-language speech input indicative of a user request. The first electronic device obtains a set of data corresponding to a second instance of the digital assistant on a second electronic device, and updates one or more settings of the first instance of the digital assistant based on the received set of data. The first instance of the digital assistant performs one or more tasks based on the updated one or more settings and provides an output indicative of whether the one or more tasks are performed.