Voice-Controlled Notification Handling for Mobile Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile devices often cannot be easily interacted with when users are occupied, such as driving or engaged in conversations, due to the need for manual or visual interaction with notifications like SMS messages or emails.

Innovation Solution

A computing device provides an audio signal for notifications and activates a listening mode, allowing voice inputs to be recognized and processed, generating voice outputs to identify applications and perform commands through speech synthesis, enabling voice-controlled access to notifications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual or visual interaction with mobile device notifications is used, then the user can access and manage notifications, but the user cannot easily interact with the device when occupied (e.g., driving, engaged in conversation)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of notification interactionVSAvoidadaptability to occupied states

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical interaction (touching the device screen) with acoustic interaction (voice commands). The system uses speech recognition to convert spoken commands into text inputs, allowing users to interact with notifications while their hands and attention are occupied with other tasks like driving or conversations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces speech recognition technology as an intermediary between the user and the notification system. Instead of direct manual interaction, the user's voice is converted into text through speech recognition, which then processes the notification commands, enabling hands-free operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If voice recognition and speech synthesis are implemented for notification interaction, then hands-free operation is enabled, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehands-free notification accessVSAvoidcomplexity of voice processing system

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the mobile device universally capable of handling multiple interaction modes (manual, visual, and voice-based). The notification system is enhanced to support speech recognition and speech synthesis, allowing the same device to adapt to different user needs and situations without requiring separate specialized devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically activates listening mode upon detecting a notification, performing the voice processing setup in advance. This preliminary action eliminates the need for users to manually configure voice recognition settings each time they receive a notification, reducing the perceived complexity while maintaining advanced functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If automatic listening mode activation is implemented upon notification, then voice-controlled access is enabled, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic voice interface activationVSAvoidenergy consumption during notification handling

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic activation of the listening mode only when notifications are detected, rather than maintaining continuous voice processing capability. This periodic action allows the device to conserve energy during normal operation while still providing hands-free access when needed, balancing ease of operation with energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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

Enables users to interact with notifications hands-free and visually, improving accessibility and convenience by allowing voice-controlled management of incoming communications.

Implementation Method 1

providing, via the audio output unit, an audio signal indicative of the notification

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroacoustic transduction:

Implementation Method 2

receiving, via the audio input unit, a voice input during the listening mode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustoelectric transduction:

Implementation Method 3

obtaining an input text based on speech recognition performed upon the voice input

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpeech recognition:

Implementation Method 4

the voice output is generated from the output text via speech synthesis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpeech synthesis:

Data Source

PatentUS8959023B2Voice control for asynchronous notifications

Publication Date: 2015.02.17 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

A computing device may receive an incoming communication and, in response, generate a notification that indicates that the incoming communication can be accessed using a particular application on the communication device. The computing device may further provide an audio signal indicative of the notification and automatically activate a listening mode. The computing device may receive a voice input during the listening mode, and an input text may be obtained based on speech recognition performed upon the voice input. A command may be detected in the input text. In response to the command, the computing device may generate an output text that is based on at least the notification and provide a voice output that is generated from the output text via speech synthesis. The voice output identifies at least the particular application.