Voice Assistant Privilege Administration via Speech Recognition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current computing systems lack efficient methods for managing user privileges using voice-activated commands, particularly in scenarios requiring secure administration tasks, which often rely on conventional input devices like keyboards.

Innovation Solution

A voice assistant system utilizing automated speech recognition (ASR) and natural language processing (NLP) to process voice commands, allowing trusted users to grant privileges to new users through voice-activated introductions, creating and managing user profiles, and enforcing conditions on these privileges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional input devices like keyboards are used for privilege administration, then security control is maintained, but user interaction efficiency and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interaction efficiencyVSAvoidsecurity control
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical input devices (keyboards, mice) with voice-based acoustic input. Users speak natural language commands to administer privileges, transforming mechanical typing into acoustic speech recognition. This substitution maintains security through voice verification while dramatically improving ease of operation and interaction efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a voice assistant system as an intermediary between the user and the privilege administration system. The voice assistant captures speech, processes it through speech-to-text conversion, interprets intent, and executes privilege commands. This intermediary layer enables natural language interaction while maintaining secure control through verified user identity and authorized actions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If voice-activated commands are implemented for privilege administration, then ease of operation improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoice command interfaceVSAvoidspeech processing system
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The voice assistant system performs multiple functions within a single integrated platform: speech capture, speech-to-text conversion, natural language interpretation, user identification, privilege verification, and command execution. By consolidating these functions into one universal system, the patent manages complexity while providing comprehensive voice-activated privilege administration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The voice assistant system automatically performs speech recognition, user identification, and privilege verification without requiring manual intervention. The system self-manages the complex processing of voice commands by autonomously converting speech to text, identifying user intent, verifying permissions, and executing appropriate actions, thereby reducing the operational burden on users despite the underlying system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If speech processing is used to identify users and administer privileges, then productivity increases, but measurement precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprivilege administration speedVSAvoidspeech recognition accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The voice assistant system incorporates feedback mechanisms to verify speech recognition accuracy and user intent. The system provides confirmation prompts, asks for clarification when speech is unclear, and verifies privilege commands before execution. This feedback loop ensures high measurement precision in speech recognition while maintaining rapid productivity by only requiring additional interaction when necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3679571B1Administration of privileges by speech for voice assistant system
Publication Date: 2023.01.11 AMAZON TECH INC
  • EP3679571B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3679571B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3679571B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A voice assistant system may be configured to receive a spoken introduction from a trusted user to introduce a new user and designate access privileges for the new user. The voice assistant system may process the speech using automated speech recognition and may parse the text to determine intent. The voice assistant system may also analyze the speech to determine a profile associated with the speaker that spoke the introduction. The voice assistant system may determine that the trusted user includes administrative privileges. The access privileges, when granted, may allow the new user to interact with the voice assistant system, such as to issue commands, extract information, play media, and/or perform other actions with the voice assistant system, which may be unavailable to people who are not introduced to the voice assistant system by a trusted user and/or do not have the access privileges associated with a user profile.