TRANSMITTING DATA FROM AN AUTOMATED ASSISTANT TO AN ACCESSORY

• US 20130332172A1
• Filed: 10/01/2012
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rathi, Shailesh, Louboutin, Sylvain R.Y., Prakash, Jude A., De Rocha Rosario, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 9,674,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/270.1
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724098 Interfacing with an on-board device of a vehicle for hands-free speaking in vehicles H04M1/6075
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/56 including a user help function
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means voice activated dialling H04M1/271; voice recognition algorithms G10L15/00

Abstract

An accessory is configured to receive a request. The accessory transmits information associated with the request to a portable device. An automated assistant application executed by the portable device can interpret the request and provide a report. The portable device can transmit the report to the accessory. The report may include one or more results determined by the automated assistant.

Claims

1. A method for communicating with an automated assistant executing on a portable electronic device using an accessory, the method comprising, by the accessory:

receiving input to activate the automated assistant;

receiving a voice request;

transmitting data associated with the voice request to the portable electronic device;

receiving a report responsive to the voice request from the portable electronic device, wherein the report is generated by the automated assistant; and

presenting the report.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the report includes one or more results, each result formatted as a vCard.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the report includes an associated intent.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving a selection of a result from the report.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising, by the accessory, performing a function indicated by an intent associated with the selected result.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising sending the selection to the portable media device, wherein the portable media device is configured to perform a function indicated by an intent associated with the selected result.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a status message from the portable electronic device; and

displaying the status message on a display of the accessory.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the report comprises displaying the report on a display of the accessory.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the report comprises producing a verbal audio output.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the accessory is a head unit of a vehicle.

11. A method for communicating with an accessory, comprising, by a portable media device:

receiving, from the accessory, data associated with a voice request received by the accessory;

determining, by an automated assistant of the portable media device, a task associated with the request;

performing, by the automated assistant, the task;

generating, by the automated assistant, a report including one or more results determined by performing the task; and

sending the report to the accessory.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising sending a status message to the accessory, wherein the status message indicates a state of the automated assistant.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein each result of the report has an associated intent.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving from the accessory a selection of a result from the report; and

performing, by the automated assistant, a function indicated by an intent associated with the result.

15. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing to the accessory information associated with the function performed by the automated assistant.

16. An accessory comprising:

a controller;

a user interface communicatively coupled to the controller, the user interface including an input device configured to receive a voice request;

a communication interface communicatively coupled to the controller, the communication interface configured to;

transmit data associated with the voice request to a portable electronic device; and

receive a report responsive to the voice request from the portable electronic device; and

an output device of the user interface configured to present the report.

17. The accessory of claim 16, wherein the input device includes a microphone.

18. The accessory of claim 16, wherein the output device includes a display.

19. The accessory of claim 16, wherein the output device includes a speaker.

20. A portable electronic device comprising:

a processor;

a computer readable medium communicatively coupled to the processor, the computer readable medium having instructions therein executable by the processor, wherein the instructions include a set of instructions for an automated assistant;

an accessory interface communicatively coupled to the processor, the accessory interface configured to receive data associated with a request from the accessory; and

the automated assistant configured to;

determine a task associated with the request;

perform the task; and

generate a report including one or more results determined by performing the task; and

send the report to the accessory.

21. The portable electronic device of claim 20, further comprising a network interface, wherein the automated assistant obtains at least one result by accessing a network via the network interface.

22. The portable electronic device of claim 20, wherein the automated assistant obtains at least one result by accessing information stored in the storage device.

23. The portable electronic device of claim 20, wherein the automated assistant obtains at least one result by accessing information stored on a storage device of the accessory.