Handsfree Device Continuous Keyword Recognition

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional handsfree devices with voice recognition systems require manual activation and lack continuous keyword recognition capabilities, leading to inefficient user interaction and delayed responses in voice-activated tasks.

Innovation Solution

A handsfree device system that continuously monitors audio streams for predefined keywords, establishing a connection with a data processing device to launch a voice interface upon keyword recognition, allowing for seamless voice-activated operations and keyword configuration through input and recording processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional handsfree devices use manual activation for voice recognition, then device complexity is reduced and energy consumption is lower, but user interaction efficiency deteriorates and response time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interaction efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The handsfree device performs preliminary action by continuously monitoring audio streams for keywords before a voice command is actually given. The keyword recognition system is pre-configured and actively listening, so when the keyword is detected, the voice interface is already prepared to receive and process the subsequent voice command immediately, eliminating activation delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service through automated keyword recognition and voice interface launching. Once the predefined keyword is detected in the audio stream, the system automatically initiates the voice interface without requiring manual user activation, allowing the device to serve itself in detecting and responding to user intent.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of time

If conventional handsfree devices require manual activation, then energy consumption is reduced, but response time and user interaction efficiency worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse timeVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous full voice recognition processing which would consume excessive energy, the system uses periodic action by first monitoring for brief keyword triggers. Only when the keyword is detected does the system activate the full voice interface processing, creating an energy-efficient periodic pattern of light monitoring followed by intensive processing only when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary keyword detection before full voice processing is required. This preliminary action filters out non-critical audio periods, allowing the device to remain in a low-power state during normal operation and only consume high energy when a keyword triggers a voice command, thus reducing overall energy loss while maintaining fast response time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Speed

If handsfree device establishes connection upon keyword recognition, then voice interface responsiveness is improved, but connection establishment time may cause audio data loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoice interface responsivenessVSAvoidconnection establishment time
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-establishing or pre-configuring the connection pathway during the keyword recognition process. As the keyword is being detected and verified, the system begins preparing the connection to the data processing device, so that when the keyword confirmation is complete, the connection is already in place or nearly in place, minimizing the actual data transmission delay.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements skipping by buffering audio data during the brief connection establishment period. Rather than waiting for perfect connection timing, the system rushes through the connection setup process while simultaneously buffering incoming audio data in memory, then transmits the buffered data once connection is established, effectively skipping over the connection delay period without data loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Data Source

PatentEP2904486B1Handsfree device with continuous keyword recognition
Publication Date: 2019.01.02 GOOGLE LLC
  • EP2904486B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2904486B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2904486B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A handsfree device, which is coupled to a data processing device, may be operable to monitor at least one audio stream for occurrence of at least one keyword. Upon recognition of the at least one keyword, the handsfree device may establish a first connection between the handsfree device and the data processing device for launching a voice interface in the data processing device. The handsfree device may send audio data received after the recognition of the at least one keyword to the data processing device, via the first connection for responding to the audio data via the voice interface. During a keyword configuration operation, the handsfree device may send at least one inputted keyword to the data processing device for recording. The handsfree device may receive, via a second connection, the recorded at least one keyword from the data processing device for keyword configuration of the handsfree device.