Device arbitration for listening devices
First Claim
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1. A method of controlling which electronic device out of a topology of interconnected electronic devices responds to a wake phrase, the method comprising:
- in an electronic device of the topology of interconnected electronic devices configured to listen for voice commands, receiving a wake phrase from a microphone of the electronic device;
recognizing the wake phrase; and
responsive to recognizing the wake phrase, waking the electronic device and controlling which one electronic device out of the topology of interconnected electronic devices plays an audio prompt that indicates an active listening state in response to the wake phrase, wherein the controlling invokes response arbitration rules selecting a single electronic device out of the topology of interconnected electronic devices as a primary device, wherein selection of the primary device is based on a determination that the single electronic device has been used most recently, of the interconnected electronic devices, prior to the wake phrase being received from the microphone, wherein the determination is based on recorded activity indicating physical activity near or at the electronic device.
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Abstract
An electronic device in a topology of interconnected electronic devices can listen for a wake phrase and voice commands. The device can control when and how it responds so that a single device responds to voice commands. Per-task device preferences can be stored for a user. If a preferred device is not available, the task can still be performed on a device that has appropriate capabilities. Machine learning can determine a user'"'"'s preferences. Power conservation and effective user interaction can result.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of controlling which electronic device out of a topology of interconnected electronic devices responds to a wake phrase, the method comprising:
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in an electronic device of the topology of interconnected electronic devices configured to listen for voice commands, receiving a wake phrase from a microphone of the electronic device; recognizing the wake phrase; and responsive to recognizing the wake phrase, waking the electronic device and controlling which one electronic device out of the topology of interconnected electronic devices plays an audio prompt that indicates an active listening state in response to the wake phrase, wherein the controlling invokes response arbitration rules selecting a single electronic device out of the topology of interconnected electronic devices as a primary device, wherein selection of the primary device is based on a determination that the single electronic device has been used most recently, of the interconnected electronic devices, prior to the wake phrase being received from the microphone, wherein the determination is based on recorded activity indicating physical activity near or at the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An electronic device configured to recognize a wake phrase when in a low-power standby state in an environment comprising a topology of interconnected electronic devices, the electronic device comprising:
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a plurality of hardware sensors comprising a microphone; a speaker; and a stored device listening state, wherein the stored device listening state transitions from the low-power standby state upon recognition of the wake phrase as received by the microphone, and wherein the electronic device is configured to control which one electronic device out of the topology of interconnected electronic devices transitions to an active listening state and plays an audio prompt that indicates the active listening state in response to the wake phrase according to an electronic device, of the interconnected electronic devices, being used most recently prior to the wake phrase being received by the microphone, wherein the electronic device being used most recently is determined based on recorded activity indicating physical activity near or at the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. At least one computer memory containing machine-executable instructions causing an electronic device to perform a method controlling which electronic device out of topology of interconnected electronic devices responds to a wake phrase, the method comprising:
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receiving a wake phrase of a virtual persona from a microphone of the electronic device; recognizing the wake phrase of the virtual persona in the electronic device; responsive to recognizing the wake phrase of the virtual persona, waking the electronic device and controlling which one electronic device out of the topology of interconnected electronic devices plays an audio prompt that indicates a listening state in response to the wake phrase, wherein the controlling invokes arbitration rules selecting a single device out of the topology of interconnected electronic devices when a user preference indicating a primary device designation for the interconnected electronic devices indicates a primary device that is not available, wherein the single device is determined to be a device used most recently prior to receiving the wake phrase based on recorded activity representing physical activity near or at the single device, wherein the single device is different from the electronic device; receiving a command phrase from the microphone of the electronic device; recognizing a task in the command phrase; via a timeout, determining that a preferred device for the task is not available; responsive to determining that a preferred device for the task is not available, determining a fallback device for the task; and handing the task off to the fallback device.
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Specification