Voice Control Priority Management for Multi-Speaker Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems fail to effectively manage competition between instructions when multiple smart speakers are coordinated with a single information processing apparatus, leading to conflicts and inefficiencies in executing voice-controlled tasks.

Innovation Solution

An information processing system that includes a control unit to determine which voice control device should be preferentially used for executing jobs, based on priority settings and operating authorities, ensuring proper handling of competing instructions among multiple smart speakers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple smart speakers are coordinated with one information processing apparatus, then the system can handle more voice instructions simultaneously, but competition and conflicts between instructions occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability to handle multiple voice instructionsVSAvoidinstruction execution reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by establishing priority relationships and operating authorities among multiple voice control devices before conflicts occur. The information processing apparatus determines which device should be preferentially used for specific jobs in advance, creating a predefined hierarchy that prevents competition when instructions are received simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The information processing apparatus acts as an intermediary that mediates between multiple smart speakers. It receives instructions from various voice control devices, determines the appropriate priority based on pre-established relationships, and routes instructions to the information processing apparatus in the correct order, thereby resolving conflicts before they affect system reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If instructions are provided to multiple smart speakers almost at the same time, then the system can respond faster to user needs, but competition between instructions occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speedVSAvoidinstruction management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system establishes priority relationships and operating authorities in advance, creating a ready-made framework for resolving conflicts. This preliminary configuration allows the system to quickly determine which instruction to execute first without adding complex real-time decision-making logic, thus maintaining fast response speeds while managing multiple simultaneous instructions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of instruction priority by assigning different operating authorities to different voice control devices. By varying the priority parameter based on pre-established relationships, the system can efficiently manage multiple instructions without increasing device complexity, as the priority determination follows simple predefined rules rather than complex algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11647130B2Information processing system capable of connecting a plurality of voice control devices, method of controlling information processing system, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2023.05.09 CANON KK
  • US11647130B2 patent drawing
  • US11647130B2 patent drawing
  • US11647130B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An information processing system that is configured such that a plurality of speakers are coordinated with one information processing apparatus and is capable of coping with a state of competition between instructions to the speakers. An information processing system includes an image forming apparatus, a first voice control device that receives a voice instruction to the image forming apparatus, and a second voice control device that receives a voice instruction to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus is controlled to execute a job based on information on which of the first voice control device and the second voice control device is a device which is to be preferentially used.