Virtual Assistant Messaging via Intermediary Server
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices face complexity in discovering, pairing, and configuring secondary devices for voice-controlled interaction with primary devices that receive spoken verbal input, making it difficult to manage and access messages efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using a virtual assistant that receives messages on a primary device, communicates them through a server, and delivers notifications or messages to the user via a virtual assistant device, enabling voice-controlled access and management of messages across different electronic devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a virtual assistant is used to access messages on a primary device, then ease of operation is improved through voice control, but device complexity increases due to the need for secondary device pairing and configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a secondary device as an intermediary between the user and the primary device. This secondary device handles the complex pairing and configuration processes automatically, allowing users to access messages through voice commands without manually configuring connections. The intermediary absorbs the complexity while presenting a simple voice-based interface to the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically discovering and pairing with the primary device without requiring manual user intervention for configuration. The virtual assistant on the secondary device autonomously establishes communication channels and retrieves messages, eliminating the need for users to manually configure connections while maintaining ease of voice-based operation.
2Ease of operation
If voice-controlled access to messages is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability may worsen due to potential voice recognition errors and connection issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the virtual assistant provides confirmation when successfully retrieving messages and notifies users of any failures. The system can re-attempt failed voice commands and inform users of connection issues, ensuring users are aware of the actual state of message retrieval while maintaining the ease of voice-based interaction.
Data Source
AI summary
Messaging with a virtual assistant by: receiving a first request (e.g., spoken by a user to a virtual assistant device hosting the virtual assistant) to check for messages received by an electronic device and transmitting the first request to a backend server for processing. The backend server requests data associated with the messages from the electronic device and, upon receiving the data, generates a response to the first request based on the received data. The backend server then transmits the response to the virtual assistant and the virtual assistant communicates the response (e.g., using audio produced by the virtual assistant device). The virtual assistant receives a reply from the user to the message. The reply is transmitted to the backend server for processing. The backend server transmits the reply to the electronic device which automatically transmits the reply to a recipient of the reply (e.g., a sender of the message).