Periodic Phoneme Matching for Reading-End Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional virtual assistants struggle to accurately detect when a user has finished reading a text source aloud, leading to unnecessary resource consumption and potential recording of private conversations due to non-linear reading behaviors such as skipping, repeating, or adding content.

Innovation Solution

A computing device enhances detection by comparing audio data with text source data using phoneme analysis and fuzzy matching logic to determine correspondence measures, deactivating sensors when a threshold is not met, thereby optimizing resource use and preventing private audio capture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the virtual assistant continuously monitors and compares audio data with text source data to detect reading status, then the accuracy of detecting reading end is improved, but the power consumption and resource usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracy of reading endVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs phoneme comparison and reading status detection at periodic intervals rather than continuously. The audio processing and correspondence measure calculation are triggered at specific time points or when certain conditions are met, allowing the system to maintain detection accuracy while reducing overall computational load and power consumption during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-loads and stores phoneme data for the text source before reading begins. By having the reference phoneme sequence ready in advance, the system avoids the need for real-time text-to-phoneme conversion during reading, significantly reducing processing time and energy consumption while maintaining the ability to accurately detect when reading has ended.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the virtual assistant uses phoneme comparison and fuzzy matching to detect reading end, then the reliability of detection is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of reading end detectionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex full speech recognition and natural language processing mechanisms with a simpler phoneme-level comparison system. By working at the phoneme level rather than attempting full semantic understanding, the system achieves reliable detection of reading end while significantly reducing computational complexity and processing requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces phoneme sequences as an intermediary layer between raw audio input and reading status determination. Instead of directly comparing full speech patterns or attempting complex pattern recognition, the system converts both audio and text to phoneme representations and compares these intermediate forms, simplifying the overall system architecture while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Speed

If the virtual assistant continuously processes audio data during reading, then the responsiveness to reading end is improved, but the resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponsiveness to reading endVSAvoidresource efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs partial processing by comparing only phoneme sequences rather than full audio analysis. This partial action approach provides sufficient responsiveness to detect reading end without the excessive resource consumption of continuous full audio processing, achieving an optimal balance between speed and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4191562B1Determination of a physical effect triggering condition for text source reading
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 GOOGLE LLC
  • EP4191562B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4191562B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4191562B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Techniques for providing a physical effect responsive to an audible action of a user, the audible action comprising a spoken word of a text source. Effects data are identified, where the effects data correlate a physical effect and the audible action. Determining a triggering condition base on the effects data and the text source. Responsive to the triggering condition being satisfied providing the physical effects to modify the user environment. The trigger condition is based on a second location in the text source located before a first location associated with the physical effect, the second location is based on a reading speed of the user and on a load time associated with the physical effect.