Voice-Based Interface With Adaptive Focus Zone

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current voice assistants on smartphones and tablets are ineffective in performing granular functions within apps, particularly third-party apps, such as liking a specific post or moving items into a shopping cart, due to their limited capability in handling context-specific voice commands.

Innovation Solution

A voice-based user interface system with an adaptive focus zone on the smartphone screen, which automatically adjusts to encompass clusters of selectable items, allowing users to input voice commands that correspond to specific functions within those clusters, enabling granular control of interactive content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If voice assistants are used for generic voice requests, then they can handle weather queries, alarms, and app opening, but they cannot perform granular functions within third-party apps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapability to perform granular functionsVSAvoidvoice command effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a focus zone that highlights specific regions of the display containing selectable items. When a voice command is received, the system identifies items within the focus zone and performs the requested action on those specific items, enabling granular control without requiring manual navigation through the entire interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The focus zone acts as an intermediary between the voice command and the selectable items. It visually indicates which items are currently selectable and mediates the interaction by automatically selecting items based on their position within the focus zone when a voice command is issued.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the focus zone is positioned in the top half of the screen, then it aligns with natural eye landing position, but it requires automatic adjustment to encompass relevant clusters

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser eye position alignmentVSAvoidfocus zone adjustment mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The focus zone is implemented as a dynamic element that automatically adjusts its position and size based on the content being displayed. The system continuously monitors the display content and repositions the focus zone to encompass relevant clusters of selectable items while maintaining its preference for the top half of the screen alignment with user eye position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The focus zone system automatically identifies and adjusts to encompass relevant clusters of selectable items without requiring manual user intervention. The system self-manages the positioning and sizing of the focus zone based on the current display content and user interaction context.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20240361981A1Voice-based user interface system, method and device

Publication Date: 2024.10.31 R SANDEEP KUMAR

AI summary

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a voice-based user interface system 10 comprising a voice assembly 12 for processing voice-inputs into voice commands comprising cluster commands and a computing device comprising a focus zone 22 defined within a display thereof. When a cluster 30, which comprises one or more user-selectable items, is within the focus zone 22 whereby said cluster 30 and thereby each of the one or more selectable items thereof are said to be focused, the reception of a cluster command by the computing device results in a corresponding focused item being selected.