Temporary Account Association for Voice-Enabled Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Voice-enabled devices in temporary environments, such as hotels, lack the ability to seamlessly integrate personal user accounts for enhanced functionality and security, as default accounts often lack access to necessary resources or permissions.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows temporary association of personal user accounts with voice-enabled devices by requesting and verifying contact information, enabling access to resources and permissions through a secure authentication process, and automatically dissociating accounts based on user presence or scheduled events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If default accounts are used for voice-enabled devices in temporary environments, then device operation is simple, but access to resources and permissions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses contact information (phone number, email) as an intermediary to bridge the gap between users and voice-enabled devices. Instead of requiring full account setup, the system uses contact information as a temporary identifier to associate users with devices, enabling resource access while maintaining simplicity. This intermediary approach resolves the contradiction by providing a middle ground between no association (limited access) and full account association (complex process).
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring the voice-enabled device with the ability to accept temporary associations via contact information. The device is prepared in advance to handle authentication requests and resource access permissions without requiring complete account setup beforehand. This preliminary preparation enables seamless temporary access while maintaining system simplicity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If personal user accounts are permanently associated with voice-enabled devices, then access to features and services is enhanced, but security risks from unintended use increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic account association where the linkage between user accounts and voice-enabled devices is temporary rather than permanent. The association automatically expires after a predetermined period or upon detection of user absence. This dynamic approach allows feature access during the temporary association while automatically revoking access to prevent unintended use, thus resolving the security contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms to monitor device usage patterns and user presence. When the system detects that a user has left the environment or that the predetermined time period has elapsed, it automatically triggers account dissociation. This feedback-driven approach ensures continuous security control while maintaining feature accessibility during legitimate use periods.
3Ease of operation
If voice-enabled devices use default accounts, then setup is straightforward, but functionality and service availability are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
Contact information serves as an intermediary that enables straightforward setup while unlocking enhanced functionality. The device initially operates with default account simplicity, but the contact information intermediary allows users to temporarily associate their personal accounts, thereby accessing additional services and features without complicating the initial setup process.
Solution Approach 2:
The account association process is segmented into distinct phases: initial default account operation for simplicity, followed by optional temporary personal account association for enhanced functionality. This segmentation allows users to benefit from ease of setup initially, then selectively access additional services when needed, without requiring full account configuration from the start.
4Reliability
If temporary account association is implemented, then secure access control is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Contact information acts as a simplified intermediary that manages the complexity of temporary account association. Instead of implementing a complex account management system, the patent uses contact information as a lightweight mediator that automatically handles association and dissociation processes, thereby improving access control without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service functionality where the voice-enabled device automatically manages temporary account associations based on contact information. The device autonomously handles authentication, association timing, and dissociation triggers without requiring complex external management infrastructure. This self-service approach improves access control while minimizing the addition of system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for temporarily associating user accounts with voice-enabled devices are disclosed. A voice-enabled device, which may be associated with a default account, may be situated in an environment, such as a hotel room. A user may desire to utilize the voice-enabled device to perform one or more actions. In examples, some or all of the actions may require the use of a system resource not available to the default account. In these examples, the user may provide contact information to be used to send a message to personal device of the user to acquire user account information. Upon receipt of such information, the user account may be temporarily associated with the voice-enabled device, and may be dissociated from the voice-enabled device upon the lapse of a period of time and/or occurrence of a dissociation event.