Virtual Assistant Voice Control During Active Communication Sessions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Virtual assistants are often unable to access and control user interface components during communication sessions, such as voice calls or video meetings, due to the prioritization of microphone and speaker resources for communication applications, limiting their functionality and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A virtual assistant is integrated into a user device to receive invocation inputs and voice commands during communication sessions, allowing it to access and control communication application features, such as muting users or adjusting volume levels, without disrupting the ongoing session by using natural language processing and speech recognition techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the communication application prioritizes microphone and speaker resources for communication sessions, then the communication quality is improved, but the virtual assistant cannot access and control user interface components
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments resource access by creating separate input and output channels. The virtual assistant receives voice commands through a dedicated input channel that doesn't conflict with communication session microphone usage. Similarly, output is provided through separate mechanisms that don't interfere with communication session speaker resources, allowing both functions to operate simultaneously without resource contention.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual assistant acts as an intermediary layer between the user and the communication application. It receives natural language commands, processes them, and translates them into appropriate control actions for the communication session. This intermediary role allows the virtual assistant to access and control communication features without directly competing for microphone and speaker resources, as it operates at the application control level rather than the hardware resource level.
2Ease of operation
If the virtual assistant accesses user interface components during communication sessions, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual assistant is designed as a universal control interface that can perform multiple functions: receiving voice commands, processing natural language, controlling communication session features, and providing feedback. This multi-functional design consolidates what would otherwise require separate specialized components into a single integrated system, managing complexity while enhancing ease of operation through a unified hands-free interface.
3Productivity
If the virtual assistant processes voice commands during communication sessions, then the productivity is improved, but the loss of information increases due to potential interference with communication audio
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by activating the virtual assistant only during specific time windows when voice commands are expected and processed. During these periodic activation intervals, the virtual assistant captures and processes voice commands. Between these intervals, the communication session audio flows uninterrupted, preventing information loss and maintaining audio clarity while still enabling productive command processing when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A virtual assistant for a communication session is disclosed herein. A device may receive, during a communication session, an invocation input that is associated with invoking a virtual assistant. The invocation input may be received from a user, of the device, involved in the communication session. The virtual assistant may be associated with a communication application that is hosting the communication session. The device may receive, from the user, a voice command associated with the virtual assistant. The voice command may include instructions associated with adjusting a setting of a feature of the communication session. The device may enable the virtual assistant to identify the setting of the feature from the voice command. The device may configure, in association with the virtual assistant, the feature of the communication session according to the setting.