Configuration of Voice Controlled Assistant

• US 20160372113A1
• Filed: 08/12/2016
• Published: 12/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: David, Tony, Garg, Parag
• Granted Patent: US 10,930,277 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3329 Natural language query formulation or dialogue systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/632 Query formulation
• 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: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/22 Interactive procedures; Man-machine interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/64 Automatic arrangements for answering calls; Automatic arrangements for recording messages for absent subscribers; Arrangements for recording conversations centralised dictation systems H04M11/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5166 in combination with interactive voice response systems or voice portals, e.g. as front-ends

Abstract

A voice interaction architecture has a hands-free, electronic voice controlled assistant that permits users to verbally request information from cloud services. Since the assistant relies primarily, if not exclusively, on voice interactions, configuring the assistant for the first time may pose a challenge, particularly to a novice user who is unfamiliar with network settings (such as wife access keys). The architecture supports several approaches to configuring the voice controlled assistant that may be accomplished without much or any user input, thereby promoting a positive out-of-box experience for the user. More particularly, these approaches involve use of audible or optical signals to configure the voice controlled assistant.

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A device comprising:

at least one processor;

memory accessible by the at least one processor;

a network interface to communicate with a network component; and

an optical component to receive a light signal representing configuration settings associated with the network component,

wherein the at least one processor executes instructions stored in the memory to;

generate data representing the configuration settings; and

configure the network interface using the data.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the network interface comprises a wireless network interface to facilitate communication with a wireless router.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein to receive the light signal comprises detecting at least one light sequence representing the configuration settings using the optical component.

23. The device of claim 20, wherein to receive the light signal comprises detecting at least one optical pattern representing the configuration settings using the optical component.

24. The device of claim 20, wherein to receive the light signal comprises capturing at least one image on a display using the optical component, wherein the at least one image represents the configuration settings.

25. The device of claim 20, further comprising a speaker to emit audible sounds based, at least in part, on configuring the network interface.

26. The device of claim 20, wherein the network interface is configured without use of an input keypad for character input and a display.

27. The device of claim 20, further comprising a body to enclose the at least one processor, the memory, the network interface, and the optical component, wherein the optical component is positioned within the body to capture light waves emanated from external sources.

28. A computer-implemented method comprising:

under control of a wireless device configured having specific executable instructions,

receiving, at the wireless device, a light signal that represents configuration settings associated with a network component;

determining the configuration settings using the light signal; and

configuring the wireless device with the configuration settings.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 28, further comprising generating data representing the configuration settings, and wherein configuring the wireless device comprises configuring the wireless device using the data.

30. The computer-implemented method of claim 28, wherein receiving the light signal comprises detecting at least one light sequence that represents the configuration settings.

31. The computer-implemented method of claim 28, wherein receiving the light signal comprises detecting at least one optical pattern that represents the configuration settings.

32. The computer-implemented method of claim 28, wherein receiving the light signal comprises capturing at least one image that represents the configuration settings.

33. The computer-implemented method of claim 28, further comprising outputting audible sounds based, at least in part, on configuring the wireless device.

34. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

receiving configuration settings that provide access to a wireless network component;

generating, based at least on the configuration settings, optical data to be used to generate a light signal that represents the configuration settings; and

sending, to a first electronic device, the optical data for use by the first electronic device to output the light signal to a second electronic device.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein receiving the configuration settings comprises receiving the configuration settings via a user interface.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein receiving the configuration settings comprises receiving the configuration settings from the first electronic device via a network connection.

37. The system of claim 34, the operations further comprising causing the first electronic device to output the light signal.

38. The system of claim 34, the operations further comprising:

receiving, from the second electronic device, a communication; and

registering the second electronic device based, at least in part, on receiving the communication.

39. The system of claim 34, wherein the configuration settings include a service set identifier (SSID) and an access key.