Virtual Assistant Arbitration for Multi-Device Audio Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-device systems, user inputs can inadvertently trigger multiple electronic devices to respond simultaneously, leading to confusing experiences and duplicative or conflicting operations, as existing technologies lack sufficient information to accurately identify and manage devices.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a microphone samples and broadcasts audio inputs, receives additional values from other devices, and determines whether to respond based on these values, allowing it to selectively respond or forego responding to user commands, thereby managing device interactions effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple electronic devices have virtual assistant services that respond to user inputs, then the system provides comprehensive coverage and accessibility, but multiple devices may simultaneously respond to the same input causing confusion and duplicative operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a coordinator device that acts as an intermediary between multiple electronic devices and the user. The coordinator receives user inputs, determines which device should respond based on various criteria (device state, user preferences, context), and routes the input to the appropriate device. This mediator prevents simultaneous responses by centralizing the arbitration process, thereby maintaining comprehensive device coverage while eliminating user confusion.
2Reliability
If user inputs are processed by all devices in the system, then no input is missed, but computational demand and battery power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the arbitration and decision-making function from individual devices and concentrates it in a coordinator device. Individual devices only process inputs that are specifically routed to them by the coordinator, rather than continuously monitoring all user inputs. This extraction of the coordination function allows reliable input detection while significantly reducing the computational demand and power consumption at each device, as they engage in selective listening rather than continuous processing.
3Loss of information
If devices broadcast all audio input values, then complete information is available for arbitration, but communication overhead and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements selective broadcasting where devices transmit different sets of audio input values based on their local state and the specific arbitration context. Rather than all devices broadcasting identical complete information, each device determines what information is relevant to its potential response capability and broadcasts accordingly. The coordinator receives these differentiated broadcasts and synthesizes the necessary information for arbitration, reducing overall communication overhead while maintaining information completeness for decision-making.
Data Source
AI summary
This relates to systems and processes for using a virtual assistant to arbitrate among and/or control electronic devices. In one example process, a first electronic device samples an audio input using a microphone. The first electronic device broadcasts a first set of one or more values based on the sampled audio input. Furthermore, the first electronic device receives a second set of one or more values, which are based on the audio input, from a second electronic device. Based on the first set of one or more values and the second set of one or more values, the first electronic device determines whether to respond to the audio input or forego responding to the audio input.