Keyword-Triggered Audio Effect Processing in Voice Applications

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing voice markup languages like VoiceXML and SSML do not allow users to insert commands or process spoken utterances for additional audio effects, limiting interactive voice applications.

Innovation Solution

A method that uses speech recognition to identify keywords in spoken utterances, associate them with functions, and execute these functions to modify audio files, enabling the integration of audio effects during playback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If VoiceXML or SSML markup languages are used for voice applications, then standardization and portability are improved, but the ability to insert commands for processing spoken utterances and adding audio effects is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to insert commands for processing spoken utterancesVSAvoidcomplexity of voice markup language processing
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer that sits between the voice input and the standard VoiceXML/SSML markup languages. This intermediary layer captures spoken utterances, identifies keywords, and inserts appropriate commands or processing instructions into the markup language structure. This allows the system to maintain compatibility with standardized voice markup while adding the capability to process spoken utterances and apply audio effects through the intermediary keyword recognition layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If speech recognition is used to identify keywords in spoken utterances, then interactive voice processing is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinteractive voice processing capabilityVSAvoidprocessing time for speech recognition
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by performing speech recognition selectively rather than on entire spoken utterances. The system identifies and processes only specific keywords or key phrases that trigger particular functions or audio effects, while leaving the rest of the utterance to be handled by standard voice processing pipelines. This selective approach significantly reduces processing time and computational resources while maintaining the core interactive voice processing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Ease of operation

If audio effects are added to spoken utterances through verbal commands, then user experience is improved, but the reliability of accurate keyword recognition decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser experience with verbal audio effectsVSAvoidaccuracy of keyword recognition
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by optimizing keyword recognition for specific contexts and locations within the spoken utterance. Rather than attempting uniform high-accuracy recognition across all possible keywords, the system focuses recognition resources on specific command phrases and trigger words that are most critical for initiating audio effects. The recognition accuracy is tailored to the local context of each keyword, with higher precision applied to command-triggering words and more tolerant recognition for other portions of the utterance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS7644000B1Adding audio effects to spoken utterance
Publication Date: 2010.01.05 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • US7644000B1 patent drawing
  • US7644000B1 patent drawing
  • US7644000B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A system receives a spoken utterance, identifies at least one keyword within the spoken utterance, and identifies a function using the identified at least one keyword. The system further performs the identified function on at least a portion of the spoken utterance to create a voice file.