Endpoint Selection via Audio Environment Analysis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in effectively coordinating user activities across multiple computing devices in a ubiquitous computing environment, where users expect intelligent assistance regardless of their location or device usage.
Innovation Solution
A cloud-based computing system that uses various implicit and explicit signals to determine user presence and location, intelligently selecting the most appropriate endpoint device to deliver responses, such as reminders or messages, based on user proximity and environmental factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users have multiple computing devices for routine tasks, then task capabilities and versatility improve, but coordination complexity and device management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple computing devices into a unified ecosystem where a central coordinator manages tasks across all devices. The system combines device identification, location tracking, and task routing into a single integrated framework, allowing users to interact with one system rather than managing each device separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal task management system that can operate across different device types (smartphones, tablets, computers, smart speakers). The system provides multi-functional capabilities including task assignment, device selection, location-based routing, and cross-device coordination through a single platform.
2Measurement precision
If the system intelligently selects response endpoints based on user location, then task coordination accuracy improves, but system complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing user profiles with associated devices and their locations before tasks are assigned. The system proactively tracks device locations and maintains an updated map of user-device relationships, so when a task needs coordination, the information is already available without requiring complex real-time analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary coordinator system that simplifies the complexity of location-based device selection. Rather than having each device independently determine user location, the intermediary service centralizes location tracking and device selection logic, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining precision.
3Loss of time
If the system monitors user presence across devices, then response timeliness improves, but energy consumption and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by updating user location and device status at scheduled intervals rather than continuously monitoring. The system periodically checks device locations and updates task routing information, reducing energy consumption while maintaining sufficient response timeliness for most user scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables self-service by allowing devices to autonomously report their status and location to the coordination system without requiring constant active monitoring. Devices automatically provide presence information when needed, reducing the processing load on central systems while maintaining timely response capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing system may determine audio data representing a message that is to be provided to a first user, wherein the first user is associated with at least a first device and a second device. First data corresponding to an audio characteristic of a first physical environment in which the first device is located and second data corresponding to the audio characteristic of a second physical environment in which the second device is located may be determined, wherein the second physical environment is different than the first physical environment and the second data is different than the first data. The computing system may determine, based at least in part on the first data and the second data, that the second physical environment is better suited for outputting audio corresponding to the message than the first physical environment, and may send the audio data to the second device via a network to cause the second device to output the audio based at least in part on the second physical environment being better suited for outputting the audio than the first physical environment.