Information Processing Apparatus Input Timing Period Differentiation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In voice-based information provision systems, it is challenging to accurately respond to user inputs due to potential mismatches between intended and actual content outputs, especially when inputs span across content periods and non-content periods.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus and method that acquires user input information with a time lag between start and end, and uses this information to differentiate between content and non-content periods, enabling appropriate output based on the context of the input, such as providing first output information during content periods and second output information during non-content periods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If contents are consecutively provided via non-content periods, then information provision efficiency is improved, but accuracy of responding to user inputs deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation provision efficiencyVSAvoidaccuracy of responding to user inputs

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the continuous content provision process into distinct periods: content periods and non-content periods. By detecting which period the user input occurs in, the system can apply different response strategies. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high information provision efficiency during non-content periods while ensuring accurate response interpretation during content periods, thus resolving the contradiction between efficiency and accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If multiple contents are provided consecutively, then information coverage is improved, but difficulty in identifying target content deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation coverageVSAvoiddifficulty in identifying target content

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining and storing the temporal boundaries of each content period and non-content period. When a user input is received, the system already has the contextual framework established, allowing it to quickly determine which content the user is referring to based on the input timing. This eliminates the need for complex real-time analysis to identify target content, thus maintaining information coverage while reducing identification difficulty.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11264022B2Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program

Publication Date: 2022.03.01 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

There is provided an information processing apparatus, method, and program. The information processing apparatus includes: an information acquisition unit configured to acquire input information of a user that includes a time lag between an input start and end, in a mode in which a plurality of contents are consecutively provided via at least one non-content period; and an output control unit configured, in a case where the input information is acquired in a content period in which first content or second content to be provided at a time later than the first content is being provided, to cause an output unit to output first output information on the basis of the input information, and in a case where the input information is acquired in the non-content period, to cause the output unit to output second output information different from the first output information, on the basis of the input information.