Speech Recognition Activation via Situational Context Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current speech recognition systems require active user intervention to activate the speech recognition function, which can be cumbersome and inefficient, leading to poor performance and unnecessary power consumption, as they struggle to distinguish between speech and noise and often require specific activation words or button presses.

Innovation Solution

A speech recognition method and apparatus that determines activation words based on situational information, allowing natural user interaction by activating the speech recognition function when specific words are uttered, eliminating the need for separate activation commands and enabling proactive service without direct user operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the speech recognition function is continuously activated to enable natural user interaction, then user convenience and responsiveness are improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis by extracting potential activation words from the audio signal before committing to full speech recognition processing. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare for recognition without fully activating the energy-intensive recognition engine, thus balancing user convenience with power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The speech recognition system dynamically adjusts its activation state based on environmental conditions and detected speech patterns. The system transitions between low-power monitoring mode and full recognition mode, optimizing the balance between responsiveness and energy usage according to real-time conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If the speech recognition system continuously monitors audio to distinguish speech from noise, then recognition accuracy is improved, but power consumption and processing load increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecognition accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary audio analysis to detect potential activation words before initiating full speech recognition. This two-stage approach allows the system to maintain high recognition accuracy for relevant speech while avoiding continuous full-power processing, thus reducing overall power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies partial processing by focusing computational resources only on segments of audio that contain potential activation words, rather than continuously analyzing all audio input. This selective processing maintains recognition accuracy for important speech while significantly reducing power consumption during non-speech periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Use of energy by moving object

If the system requires specific activation words or button presses to trigger speech recognition, then power consumption is reduced, but user convenience and natural interaction are degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously performs preliminary monitoring for activation words without requiring full user initiation. When an activation word is detected, the system then activates full speech recognition processing. This approach enables natural, hands-free activation while maintaining power efficiency by keeping the full recognition engine dormant until needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Device complexity

If the speech recognition function is activated without situational awareness, then system simplicity is maintained, but recognition performance and appropriateness of activation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidrecognition performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system integrates multiple functions including environmental sensing, situational context analysis, activation word detection, and speech recognition into a unified framework. This multi-functional approach allows the system to maintain relative simplicity while achieving context-aware activation and improved recognition performance through the coordination of these integrated functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11687319B2Speech recognition method and apparatus with activation word based on operating environment of the apparatus

Publication Date: 2023.06.27 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A speech recognition method and apparatus for performing speech recognition in response to an activation word determined based on a situation are provided. The speech recognition method and apparatus include an artificial intelligence (AI) system and its application, which simulates functions such as recognition and judgment of a human brain using a machine learning algorithm such as deep learning.