Voice Command Phonetic Conflict Resolution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Voice recognition systems often incorrectly interpret similar voice commands due to phonetic similarities, leading to activation of unintended functions, particularly in emergency communication devices where this can cause confusion and worsen situations.

Innovation Solution

A system that generates and provides alternative textual terms with minimized phonetic similarities to existing commands, allowing users to select and associate these terms with specific voice command functionalities, thereby reducing confusion and improving communication accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If voice recognition systems use phonetically similar terms for different functions, then the system can be operated more quickly and conveniently, but the reliability of command activation deteriorates due to incorrect interpretation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoice command activation speedVSAvoidcommand interpretation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of phonetic similarity between potential voice commands before finalizing the command set. By pre-identifying phonetically similar terms and their potential conflicts, the system can prepare alternative commands or warnings in advance, allowing users to operate the device quickly while maintaining accurate command interpretation through pre-resolved ambiguities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback to users when phonetically similar commands are detected, allowing users to confirm or select the intended command. This feedback mechanism ensures that even though phonetically similar terms are available for quick operation, the system maintains high reliability by requiring user confirmation when ambiguity is detected, thus preventing incorrect command activation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the system provides detailed alternative term suggestions to users, then the accuracy of voice command functionality improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoice command recognition accuracyVSAvoidsystem processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies phonetic analysis and alternative term generation selectively rather than uniformly across all commands. It focuses computational resources on command pairs that exhibit phonetic similarity, while leaving unrelated commands unchanged. This localized approach improves recognition accuracy for problematic cases without unnecessarily increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system adjusts the level of detail in alternative term suggestions based on the degree of phonetic similarity detected. When phonetic conflict is minimal, fewer alternatives are presented; when conflict is high, more comprehensive alternatives are provided. This dynamic parameter adjustment optimizes recognition accuracy while managing system complexity by avoiding unnecessary processing for low-risk commands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3807803B1Device, system and method for causing an output device to provide information for voice command functionality
Publication Date: 2024.08.28 MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS INC
  • EP3807803B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3807803B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3807803B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A device, system and method for causing an output device to provide information for voice command functionality is provided. A controller determines when a received textual term, received at the controller via one or more of an input device and a communications unit, is phonetically similar to one or more existing textual terms used for activating functionality at a communication device using a voice recognition algorithm. When the received textual term, are phonetically similar to one or more existing textual terms, the controller: generates one or more suggested textual terms, related to the received textual term, that minimizes phonetic similarities with the one or more existing textual terms; and causes an output device to provide an indication of the one or more suggested textual terms to use in place of the received textual term.