Smart Speaker Message Relay via Smartphone
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for human-to-computer interactions through automated assistants face challenges in reliably sending messages between users across different client devices, especially when the messaging application is not present or accessible on the initial device.
Innovation Solution
A smart device, such as a standalone assistant-centric interactive speaker or display, determines if a messaging application is unavailable and then selects a client device, such as a smartphone, where the application is available, sending a command to that device to send the message using the messaging application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a messaging application is required to be present on the client device receiving the request, then message sending can be performed directly, but reliability decreases when the application is not present on that device
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary mechanism (automated assistant service) that mediates between the requesting device and the messaging application. When a device receives a message request but lacks the messaging application, the automated assistant service acts as a mediator to redirect the request to another device where the application is installed, ensuring reliable message delivery without requiring the original device to have the application
Solution Approach 2:
The automated assistant client is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a standalone assistant and as a bridge to other devices with messaging applications. This universal design allows the system to handle message sending requests regardless of whether the local device has the messaging application installed, by leveraging other devices in the user's device ecosystem
2Reliability
If messaging applications are installed on additional client devices to ensure availability, then message sending reliability improves, but computational and network resources are burdened
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by allowing devices to autonomously determine their own capability to handle messaging requests. Each device checks locally whether the messaging application is available, and only devices with the application install it and handle messaging tasks, avoiding unnecessary resource consumption on devices where the application is not needed
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary checking of application availability before attempting to send messages. The automated assistant client checks whether the messaging application is present on the device before accepting a message request, and if not, proactively redirects to another device, preventing wasted computational and network resources on devices incapable of handling the message
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described herein for using a smart device such as a standalone assistant-centric interactive speaker and/or a standalone assistant-centric interactive display with speaker(s) to send a message using a messaging application on a client device such as a smartphone. A method includes: receiving, by a first device, a request from a first user to send a message to a second user; determining that a messaging application corresponding to the request is unavailable on the first device; and in response to determining that the messaging application corresponding to the request is unavailable on the first device: selecting a second device on which the messaging application corresponding to the request is available; and sending, to the second device, a command that causes the second device to send the message from the first user to the second user using the messaging application on the second device.