System and method for configurable control of voice command systems

Number: 11495226
Published: 2022-11-08
Filed: 2020-07-14
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Vasquez; Noel Brandon
CPC: G10L15/26; G06F16/433; G06F3/167; G10L15/22
Verdict: Low Notable software
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Configurable voice-command control technique for interactive devices (granted).

Abstract

A method of providing configurable control of voice command systems is disclosed herein. The method comprising a parent device receiving a voice command and comparing the voice command to a set of preferences for a user. The set of preferences may relate to one or more interactions between the user and a playback device. The method further comprises the parent device translating the voice command to a user interface (UI) command sequence for the playback device based on the comparison. The playback device may then send the UI command sequence to the playback device as the configurable voice command. The playback device executes the UI command sequence to transition from the current output state to the desired output state intended by the user. A system for providing configurable voice control and computer program product are also disclosed.

Background

BACKGROUND (1) In today's technological environment, electronic devices configured to play media files, such as videos, music, photos, games, etc., are often controllable by voice command, or at least provide some form voice control capability. However, voice command systems often provide users with a frustrating and non-intuitive voice control experience. One aspect that may feel non-intuitive, may be content searching and selection on an application-based playback device. Current playback devices may contain a multitude of applications or “apps” through which playable content is distributed by content providers to consumers. The disparate apps may each have highly differentiated user interfaces that differ greatly from one another. For example, each content application on a playback device may provide a graphical user interface in which content is displayed and navigated in a different manner from other content applications on the playback device. Meanwhile, the playback devices themselves must provide some form of generic or standardized voice command convention in order for the user experience to be consistent across applications The conflict between the generalized control of a playback device and the specialized functionality of applications stored thereon can result in a disjointed user experience, where users may consistently speak the incorrect voice command or where the correct voice command may not feel intuitive. (2) In addition, voice command systems may be diffi

Claims

1. A method of providing configurable control in a voice command system, the method comprising: receiving a voice command; comparing the voice command to a set of preferences for a user, the set of preferences relating to one or more interactions between the user and a playback device; based on the comparing, translating the voice command to a user interface command sequence specific to an output transition from a current output state of the playback device to a desired output state of a designated application amongst a plurality of applications stored on the playback device; and sending the user interface command sequence to the playback device, wherein the playback device executes the user interface command sequence. || 9. A system for providing configurable voice control, the system comprising: a parent device, the parent device comprising a processor, a network interface, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program code executable by the processor, the program code comprising instructions to: receive a voice command from a child device; compare the voice command to a set of preferences for a child device user, the set of preferences relating to one or more interactions between the child device user and a playback device; based on the comparison, translating the voice command to a user interface command sequence specific to a output state transition from a current output state of the playback device to a desired output state of a designated application amongst a plurality of applications stored on the playback device; and sending the user interface command sequence to the playback device, wherein the playback device executes the user interface command sequence. || 18. A non-transitory computer program product comprising instructions configuring a voice control device to: receive a voice input from a user; generate, from the voice input, a voice command relating to control of a playback device; and send the voice command to a parent device, wherein the parent device is configured to: compare the voice command to a set of preferences relating to interactions between the user and the playback device; based on the comparing, translate the voice command to a user interface command sequence specific to an output state transition from a current output state of the playback device to a desired output state of a designated application amongst a plurality of applications stored on the playback device, and send the user interface command sequence to the playback device, wherein the playback device executes the user interface command sequence.