INTERPRETING AND ACTING UPON COMMANDS THAT INVOLVE SHARING INFORMATION WITH REMOTE DEVICES

• US 20140365227A1
• Filed: 06/06/2014
• Published: 12/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: DAVE, Swapnil R., CASH, Jesse R., VAROGLU, Devrim
• Granted Patent: US 9,966,068 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/026 using orientation information, e.g. compass
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

An electronic device with one or more processors and memory includes a procedure for sharing information with a third party recipient. In some embodiments, the device receives a speech input from a first user, the speech input specifying a second user different from the first user, and an information item to be shared with the second user. In response to the speech input, the device initiates a background process during which a digital assistant searches for the information item and causes the information item to be sent to the second user without further review and instruction from the first user.

Claims

1. A method of operating a digital assistant, comprising:

at an electronic device having one or more processors and memory;

receiving a speech input from a first user, the speech input specifying a second user different from the first user, and an information item to be shared with the second user; and

in response to the speech input, initiating a background process during which the digital assistant searches for the information item and causes the information item to be sent to the second user without further review and instruction from the first user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information item exists prior to the speech input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information item is the first user'"'"'s current location, and wherein the digital assistant searches for the information item based on context data associated with the first user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the speech input further specifies a predetermined condition, and wherein the digital assistant causes the information item to be sent to the second user when the predetermined condition is satisfied.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the speech input further specifies a means of communication to be used for sharing the information item, and wherein the digital assistant causes the information item to be sent to the second user using said means of communication during the background process.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital assistant searches for the information item at an information source local to the device or at an information source external to the device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the device is a first device, and wherein the source external to the device is a memory for a second device of the first user.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to receiving the speech input, receiving an input from the first user authorizing the digital assistant to initiate the background process without review or confirmation from the first user.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising, during the background process:

receiving one or more additional speech inputs from the user; and

in response to the one or more additional speech inputs, executing one or more additional tasks for the first user in a foreground process.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein, during the background process, the digital assistant downloads the information item;

and the method further comprising, providing the information item to the first user subsequent to the background process.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to receiving the speech input from the first user:

receiving a communication from the second user different from the first user; and

providing, to the first user, a proposed response to the communication from the second user, wherein the proposed response is based at least in part on context data associated with the first user.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to receiving the speech input from the first user:

receiving a communication from the second user different from the first user; and

communicating, to the first user, an offer to respond to the communication from the second user.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for operating a digital assistant, the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving a speech input from a first user, the speech input specifying a second user different from the first user, and an information item to be shared with the second user; and

in response to the speech input, initiating a background process during which the digital assistant searches for the information item and causes the information item to be sent to the second user without further review and instruction from the first user.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the information item exists prior to the speech input.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the information item is the first user'"'"'s current location, and wherein the digital assistant searches for the information item based on context data associated with the first user.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the speech input further specifies a means of communication to be used for sharing the information item, and wherein the digital assistant causes the information item to be sent to the second user using said means of communication during the background process.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the digital assistant searches for the information item at an information source local to the device or at an information source external to the device.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the device is a first device, and wherein the source external to the device is a memory for a second device of the first user.

19. An electronic device, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions for operating a digital assistant, the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the processors to perform operations comprising;

receiving a speech input from a first user, the speech input specifying a second user different from the first user, and an information item to be shared with the second user; and

in response to the speech input, initiating a background process during which the digital assistant searches for the information item and causes the information item to be sent to the second user without further review and instruction from the first user.

20. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the information item exists prior to the speech input.

21. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the information item is the first user'"'"'s current location, and wherein the digital assistant searches for the information item based on context data associated with the first user.

22. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the speech input further specifies a means of communication to be used for sharing the information item, and wherein the digital assistant causes the information item to be sent to the second user using said means of communication during the background process.

23. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the digital assistant searches for the information item at an information source local to the device or at an information source external to the device.

24. The electronic device of claim 23, wherein the device is a first device, and wherein the source external to the device is a memory for a second device of the first user.

25. A graphical user interface on an electronic device with a display, a memory, and one or more processors to execute one or more programs stored in the memory, the graphical user interface comprising one or more user interfaces displayed for:

receiving a speech input from a first user, the speech input specifying a second user different from the first user, and an information item to be shared with the second user; and

in response to the speech input, initiating a background process during which the digital assistant searches for the information item and causes the information item to be sent to the second user without further review and instruction from the first user.