Multi-Device Content Playback With Shared Voice Conversation State
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing voice-controlled playback systems struggle to maintain continuity of user interactions and prevent conflicts when a user moves between different playback devices, as they lack the ability to store and utilize context from previous interactions.
Innovation Solution
A content playback system that stores an account conversation state shared by multiple playback devices and a device conversation state specific to each device, using these states to interpret and control voice commands for seamless user experience across devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If voice commands are interpreted locally by an on-board controller, then response time is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the voice command processing function into two parts: local voice detection and recognition by the playback device, and remote interpretation by a server. This allows the playback device to maintain simple hardware while achieving fast local response for voice detection, and the server to handle complex interpretation tasks, thus resolving the contradiction between response time and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an on-board controller as an intermediary component that bridges the playback device and the remote server. The controller detects voice commands locally and transmits them to the server for interpretation, then receives and executes control instructions. This intermediary structure enables fast local voice detection while offloading complex processing to the server, resolving the contradiction between response speed and device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If conversation context is stored locally in each playback device, then continuity of experience is improved, but loss of information increases when user moves between devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal account system that stores conversation context and user preferences in the cloud, making this information accessible across multiple playback devices. The account associates conversation history, music preferences, and playback state with the user rather than a specific device, enabling seamless continuity of experience when users move between devices while preventing information loss through centralized cloud storage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple playback devices are integrated into a unified system, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary that manages multiple playback devices through a standardized interface. The controller handles device discovery, pairing, and coordination, allowing individual playback devices to remain simple while achieving sophisticated multi-device functionality. This intermediary layer provides adaptability across devices without increasing the complexity of each individual device.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements universal protocols and standards for device communication and control, allowing different playback devices to be integrated into a unified system through common interfaces. This universal approach enables high adaptability and versatility in device combinations while keeping individual device designs simple and standardized, avoiding the complexity that would arise from custom integration solutions for each device pair.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a content playback system comprising a plurality of playback devices, each of which is configured to detect a voice command from a user and to play content. The system is configured to store an account conversation state associated with an account shared by the plurality of playback devices, and a device conversation state that is associated with a first playback device of the plurality of playback devices. When a voice command is detected by the first playback device, the system is configured to control the first playback device using information in the account conversation state and the device conversation state associated with the first playback device as an input. This may improve continuity of experience for a user across the plurality of playback devices.