Multi-Modal Digital Assistant UI Switching for Low-Power Interaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intelligent automated assistants lack efficient and intuitive interaction methods that adapt to user proximity and input modalities, leading to suboptimal user experience and increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a digital assistant system that operates in both hands-on and hands-free modes, enabling adaptive user interface management based on proximity criteria and input detection, allowing for dynamic magnification and functionality adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the digital assistant continuously monitors user proximity and adjusts interface states, then user convenience and interaction efficiency are improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the user interface state based on real-time proximity detection. When the user approaches within a threshold distance, the interface transitions from disabled to enabled state, allowing interaction. When the user moves away, the interface automatically returns to disabled state. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by enabling convenient interaction only when needed, rather than maintaining constant readiness which would consume continuous power.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter of the user interface object between enabled and disabled states based on proximity criteria. By monitoring the proximity parameter and changing the interface state accordingly, the system achieves both low power consumption (interface disabled when user is away) and high user convenience (interface automatically enabled when user approaches), resolving the technical contradiction.
2Ease of operation
If the user interface remains always enabled for immediate interaction, then ease of operation is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by maintaining the user interface in a disabled state to conserve power, but prepares for immediate activation by continuously monitoring proximity. When the user approaches within the threshold distance, the interface is quickly transitioned to enabled state, providing immediate interaction capability. This preliminary disabled state with rapid activation capability resolves the contradiction between always-ready convenience and power saving.
3Adaptability or versatility
If proximity monitoring and interface state changes are implemented, then adaptability to usage scenarios is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The proximity detection mechanism serves multiple functions: it detects user presence, determines interface enablement state, and triggers appropriate UI responses. By making the proximity monitoring system multi-functional, the patent reduces overall system complexity while improving adaptability to different usage scenarios (hands-free vs. hands-on operation).
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and processes for a multi-modal digital assistant are provided. An example method includes, at a computer system, while operating in a hands-free operating mode, receiving a natural-language speech input indicative of a task; in response to receiving the natural-language speech input, initiating performance of the task; and providing an output corresponding to the task, wherein providing the output includes displaying a first user interface associated with an application, the first user interface displayed according to the hands-free operating mode; while displaying the first user interface, receiving, via the one or more input devices, a touch input at a location corresponding to the first user interface; and in response to the touch input: transitioning from the hands-free operating mode to a hands-on operating mode different than the hands-free operating mode; and launching the application, wherein launching the application includes displaying a second user interface according to the hands-on operating mode.