Speech Output Control Circuit for Conversation Pause Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems fail to effectively control computer speech output to avoid interrupting human conversations, as they do not consider the absence of human speech or natural pauses before generating output, leading to annoying interruptions during activities like navigation guidance or smartphone assistant interactions.

Innovation Solution

A computer speech output control system that includes a human speech monitoring circuit to detect conversations, an interruption priority setting circuit to determine when to interrupt, and an interruption determining circuit to decide on the timing of computer speech output based on priority settings and conversation status, allowing for more intelligent and context-aware interruptions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If computer speech output is generated without considering human conversation status, then information delivery speed is improved, but human conversation is interrupted causing user annoyance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation delivery delayVSAvoidconversation interruption annoyance

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of human speech status before generating computer speech output. The speech output is delayed until a natural pause in human conversation is detected, preventing interruptions while maintaining timely information delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors human speech status and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the timing of computer speech output. The interruption determination circuit decides whether to output speech based on real-time detection of conversation state, creating a closed-loop control system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Object-affected harmful factors

If computer speech output is delayed to avoid interrupting human conversation, then conversation interruption is reduced, but information delivery timeliness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconversation interruptionVSAvoidinformation delivery timeliness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the timing of computer speech output based on real-time detection of human conversation status. The delay duration is not fixed but adapts to the actual conversation flow, allowing timely output when no conversation is detected and delayed output when conversation is ongoing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the timing parameter of speech output based on detected conversation status. When human conversation is detected, the output timing parameter is adjusted to delay speech until a natural pause, otherwise speech is output immediately

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If conventional techniques detect only explicit interruptible activities like incoming calls, then system complexity is reduced, but ability to detect natural conversation pauses deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection system complexityVSAvoidpause detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex mechanical analysis of conversation dynamics with simple acoustic detection of speech presence/absence. By detecting whether human speech is currently being produced, the system infers conversation state and natural pause points without complex analysis

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10943592B2System, method, and recording medium for controlling dialogue interruptions by a speech output device

Publication Date: 2021.03.09 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

A computer speech output control method, system, and non-transitory computer readable medium, include a computer speech output unit configured to output a computer speech, a human speech monitoring circuit configured to determine whether ambient human conversation including human-to-human speech is occurring, and an interruption determining circuit configured to determine whether to cause the computer speech output unit to output the computer speech based on a status of the human conversation.