Virtual Assistant Multi-Device Selection via Acoustic Signaling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing virtual assistants struggle to automatically identify and select the most suitable computing devices to respond to user input, leading to suboptimal satisfaction of user utterances.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that enable a virtual assistant to automatically identify other computing devices by emitting audio signals and receiving acoustic input, allowing the assistant to select the most suitable device to satisfy user utterances based on the received audio data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the virtual assistant uses the current computing device to satisfy user utterances, then the device can respond to user input, but the quality of satisfaction may be suboptimal if the current device is not well-suited for the specific task

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality of utterance satisfactionVSAvoidability to select different devices

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual assistant system enables multi-device satisfaction by allowing any computing device in the vicinity to satisfy user utterances, not just the current device. The system determines suitability based on device characteristics matching utterance requirements, making the system adaptable across multiple devices with different capabilities (speakers, displays, processors).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically selects which device should satisfy each utterance based on real-time analysis of device suitability. The virtual assistant evaluates multiple devices and dynamically determines the most appropriate one for each specific utterance, rather than statically assigning tasks to a single device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the virtual assistant always uses the current computing device, then device selection is simple, but the load on the current device increases and quality may suffer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice selection simplicityVSAvoiddevice utilization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual assistant automatically performs device selection and load distribution without requiring user intervention. The system self-manages the complexity of multi-device coordination by autonomously determining which device should satisfy each utterance based on suitability metrics, thereby maintaining ease of operation while improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the virtual assistant identifies and selects from multiple computing devices, then utterance satisfaction quality improves, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality of utterance satisfactionVSAvoidmulti-device identification and selection mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual assistant acts as an intermediary that manages the complexity of multi-device coordination. It receives user utterances, evaluates multiple devices based on suitability criteria, and determines the optimal device for satisfaction. This intermediary layer shields users from the underlying complexity while enabling high-quality utterance satisfaction through intelligent device selection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12315512B2Virtual assistant identification of nearby computing devices

Publication Date: 2025.05.27 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

In one example, a method includes method comprising: receiving audio data generated by a microphone of a current computing device; identifying, based on the audio data, one or more computing devices that each emitted a respective audio signal in response to speech reception being activated at the current computing device; and selecting either the current computing device or a particular computing device from the identified one or more computing devices to satisfy a spoken utterance determined based on the audio data.