Voice-Responsive System Audio Muting for Command Reception
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Solution Overview
Problem
In residential environments with multiple media devices and voice-responsive systems, there is a significant chance that verbal commands intended for digital assistants can be interfered with or eclipsed by the audio output from co-located media devices, making it inconvenient for users to issue voice commands.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that uses predetermined activation and deactivation phrases to control the audio output of co-located media systems, allowing users to create a quieter sonic environment for issuing voice commands to digital assistants, and then restore the media systems to their previous states after the command is completed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If media devices are operated at normal volume levels, then audio output quality is maintained, but voice command reception is interfered with or eclipsed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting the activation phrase and automatically pausing or muting media devices before the user issues a voice command. This preemptive measure ensures the voice command can be clearly received without manual intervention from the user to adjust media devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The voice-responsive device acts as an intermediary that mediates between the media devices and the user. It detects the activation phrase, sends control signals to pause or mute co-located media devices, and after receiving and processing the voice command, restores the media devices to their previous states.
2Reliability
If users manually pause or adjust media devices before issuing voice commands, then voice command reception is improved, but user convenience and operational simplicity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically detecting the activation phrase and autonomously pausing or muting media devices without requiring user action. After processing the voice command, the system automatically restores the media devices to their previous states, making the entire process transparent and convenient for the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback by monitoring for the activation phrase and automatically responding by controlling media devices. The voice-responsive device receives feedback from the user's voice command and automatically manages the media device states, eliminating the need for manual pausing and resuming operations.
3Reliability
If media devices are paused or muted before voice commands, then voice command clarity is improved, but operational interruption and user task discontinuity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically pausing media devices only for the brief duration needed to process the voice command. The activation phrase detection triggers immediate pausing, and upon command completion, the media devices are automatically restored, minimizing operational interruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system temporarily discards the normal playback state of media devices during voice command processing and automatically recovers it afterward. This temporary suspension ensures clear voice command reception while minimizing disruption to the user's overall activity flow.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for controlling media systems identified as co-located with one or more voice-command responsive devices. The disclosed technology is responsive to predetermined activation and/or deactivation phrases so as to control the audio output of the identified media systems and provide an improved sonic environment for a voice command to be properly received and interpreted by the voice-command responsive device(s). The activation phrase for the disclosed system and method can be the same one utilized by the co-located voice-command responsive devices, thereby providing a user with an intuitive and substantially immediate means of improving the sonic environment prior to issuing one or more voice commands.