Voice Command Routing via Spatial Location Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

In environments with multiple smart appliances, users face increased complexity in interacting due to simultaneous responses from multiple devices to a single voice command, uncertainty about appliance capabilities, and potential misdirection of voice signals, leading to inefficient user interactions.

Innovation Solution

A system of appliances connected over a local area network generates a location map to determine the originating location of a voice signal, selecting the appropriate appliance to respond based on this information, using microphones and processors to improve signal quality through spatial filtering and beamforming techniques.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple smart appliances are deployed in an environment, then the functionality and versatility of the system is improved, but the complexity of user interaction increases and multiple appliances may simultaneously respond to a single voice command

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem functionalityVSAvoidinteraction complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a coordinator device as an intermediary that manages voice command distribution among multiple appliances. The coordinator receives voice commands, determines the appropriate target appliance based on various criteria, and routes the command to the selected appliance, thereby preventing simultaneous responses and reducing interaction complexity while maintaining system versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by establishing communication pathways and appliance profiles before voice commands are issued. Each appliance pre-registers its capabilities and the coordinator pre-establishes routing rules, so when a voice command is received, the system can quickly determine the appropriate recipient without complex real-time decision-making

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If multiple appliances attempt to respond to a voice command, then the system responsiveness is improved, but user effort increases due to unintended responses requiring remediation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem responsivenessVSAvoiduser effort

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The coordinator implements feedback mechanisms where appliances acknowledge receipt of commands and the system monitors response outcomes. This feedback loop allows the coordinator to verify that the correct appliance received the command and to adjust routing decisions based on historical data, ensuring rapid and accurate responses without requiring user remediation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Area of stationary object

If voice signals are transmitted in a multi-appliance environment, then the coverage area is improved, but the precision of signal targeting deteriorates due to signal degradation and misdirection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoice signal coverageVSAvoidsignal targeting precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adds spatial and directional dimensions to voice signal processing by implementing microphone arrays and signal processing algorithms that determine the direction of incoming voice commands. This allows the system to not only detect voice signals across a wide area but also precisely identify which appliance the user intends to address, maintaining both coverage and targeting precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables more intelligent and intuitive responses to voice commands by ensuring the most relevant appliance responds, reducing user effort and enhancing interaction efficiency in multi-appliance environments.

Implementation Method 1

receiving the human voice signal at a plurality of microphones respectively included in the plurality of appliances

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic signal detection: Sound

Implementation Method 2

using microphones and processors to improve signal quality through spatial filtering and beamforming techniques

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBeamforming:

Data Source

PatentUS9431014B2Intelligent placement of appliance response to voice command

Publication Date: 2016.08.30 HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

Systems and methods for intelligent placement of appliance response to a voice command are provided. An exemplary system includes a plurality of appliances. An exemplary method includes connecting each of the plurality of appliances over a local area network and generating a location map providing a location of each of the plurality of appliances. The method includes receiving the human voice signal at a plurality of microphones respectively included in the plurality of appliances and determining an originating location of the human voice signal based at least in part on the location map. The method includes selecting one of the plurality of appliances to respond to the human voice signal based at least in part on the location map and the originating location.