Voice Interface Privacy Mode Detection and Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current voice and speech recognition systems fail to differentiate and interpret voice characteristics outside of linguistic content and speaker identity, such as volume and tonality, which can convey additional information about the nature of the intended interaction.
Innovation Solution
A portable electronic communication device that detects whispered speech or other non-verbal cues to enter a private mode, altering its communication method by reducing volume or providing visual or tactile feedback, and using specific algorithms for whispered speech recognition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the device plays audible communications at normal volume, then the user can clearly hear responses, but other people nearby may overhear private information
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the audio output volume based on real-time detection of whispered speech characteristics. When whispering is detected, the system automatically reduces playback volume to a level that maintains user audibility while preventing others from overhearing, thus adapting the communication mode to preserve confidentiality without manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback loop where the audio input continuously monitors for whisper characteristics, and the detected whisper state feeds back to control the audio output volume. This closed-loop control ensures that the playback volume automatically responds to the user's whispered input, maintaining privacy while keeping the user informed of device responses
2Measurement precision
If the device uses standard voice recognition algorithms, then it can accurately recognize normal speech, but it fails to detect and interpret whispered speech characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the detection parameters and algorithm thresholds when whispering is detected. It adjusts acoustic feature extraction parameters, signal processing filters, and recognition thresholds to be sensitive to the lower amplitude and different spectral characteristics of whispered speech, enabling accurate interpretation of whispered commands while maintaining normal speech recognition capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The voice recognition system is designed to handle multiple speech modes (normal speech and whispered speech) using a unified platform. By incorporating mode detection and adaptive parameter adjustment, the system achieves multi-functionality, serving both conventional voice commands and private whispered interactions through the same device interface
Data Source
AI summary
A portable electronic communication device includes a user input receiver, one or more user outputs, and a processor programmed to receive user input from the user input receiver and to determine based on the user input whether the user desires the device to enter a private mode. The device alters communications from the device via the one or more user outputs while in the private mode, and enters the private mode if the user input indicates that the user desires the device to enter the private mode. While in the private mode, the device may alter the manner in which it communicates to the user.