Multi-Room Speech Recognition Coordination Using Hot Word Activation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing speech recognition devices, such as smart speakers, do not facilitate coordination between multiple devices in different rooms, limiting their use to a single device per room and preventing coordinated operations.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for coordinating multiple speech recognition devices through a home network, allowing them to communicate and switch between normal and conversation modes based on hot words and voice authentication, enabling seamless interaction and data transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If multiple speech recognition devices are deployed in different rooms, then coverage and accessibility are improved, but coordination and communication between devices are not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidcoordination capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple speech recognition devices into a unified networked system where devices communicate with each other via a network interface. This merging allows devices in different rooms to coordinate their operations, share information, and work together as a single distributed system, thereby achieving both wide coverage and coordinated functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Each speech recognition device is equipped with multiple functions including speech recognition, network communication, and device coordination capabilities. This multi-functionality enables devices to not only recognize speech locally but also to communicate with and coordinate other devices in the network, making them adaptable to various usage scenarios across different rooms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If speech recognition devices operate independently in each room, then device simplicity is maintained, but coordinated operations and information sharing are prevented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice simplicityVSAvoidinformation sharing

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a network communication interface as an intermediary that enables information exchange between speech recognition devices without requiring complex direct device-to-device communication protocols. This intermediary network layer handles the coordination and information sharing while keeping individual device complexity low.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the speech recognition functionality across multiple independent devices, each maintaining its own processing capabilities while connecting through a network. This segmentation allows each device to remain relatively simple while the collective system achieves coordinated operations through networked communication between the segmented components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If a single speech recognition device is used per room, then device portability and simplicity are maintained, but coordinated use across rooms is not possible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice portabilityVSAvoidmulti-room coordination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adds a network communication dimension to the traditionally isolated speech recognition devices. By introducing this new dimension of network connectivity, devices can maintain their portability and simplicity while gaining the ability to coordinate across multiple rooms, effectively moving from a single-room operational model to a multi-room coordinated model.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS12531066B2Speech recognition device, speech-recognition-device coordination system, and speech-recognition-device coordination method

Publication Date: 2026.01.20 MAXELL LTD

AI summary

A speech recognition device includes a sound input section, a sound output section, a communication control section that performs data transmission and reception with at least one of other recognition devices, a conversation-mode executing section that transmits sound data input to each of the other recognition devices and outputs sound data received from each of the other recognition devices, a speech recognition section that converts the sound input into text data, a hot word detecting section that detects a conversation activation hot word from the text data to activate the conversation-mode executing section, and a command transmitting section that transmits a control command to each of the other recognition devices. If the hot word detecting section detects the conversation activation hot word, the command transmitting section transmits the control command to activate a conversation-mode executing section provided in each of the other recognition devices.