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Reducing the need for manual start/end-pointing and trigger phrases

  • US 10,373,617 B2
  • Filed: 07/21/2017
  • Issued: 08/06/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2014
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for operating a virtual assistant on an electronic device, the method comprising:

  • receiving, at the electronic device, an audio input;

    monitoring the audio input to identify a first spoken user input, wherein the first spoken user input comprises a user request;

    identifying the first spoken user input in the audio input;

    determining whether to respond to the first spoken user input based on contextual information associated with the first spoken user input, wherein the contextual information comprises a direction of the user'"'"'s gaze when the first spoken user input was received, wherein the determining comprises;

    calculating a likelihood score that the virtual assistant should provide an audible response to the first spoken user input based on the contextual information associated with the first spoken user input, wherein the audible response at least partially satisfies the user request;

    increasing the likelihood score in response to the direction of the user'"'"'s gaze being pointed at the electronic device when the first spoken user input was received; and

    decreasing the likelihood score in response to the direction of the user'"'"'s gaze being pointed away from the electronic device when the first spoken user input was received;

    in response to a determination to respond to the first spoken user input;

    generating the audible response to the first spoken user input; and

    monitoring the audio input to identify a second spoken user input; and

    in response to a determination not to respond to the first spoken user input, monitoring the audio input to identify the second spoken user input without generating the audible response to the first spoken user input.

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