Message playback using a shared device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10186267-B1
Application number	US-201615392844-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Dec 28, 2016
Priority date	Dec 28, 2016
Publication date	Jan 22, 2019
Grant date	Jan 22, 2019

Abstract

Methods and systems for prioritizing messages for playback are described herein. In some embodiments, a request for messages to be output may be received by a speech-processing system. The speech-processing system may include a message database that includes messages received for a speaker of the request's user account and/or a group account associated with a shared electronic device that the request was received from. One or more prioritization rules may be applied to the messages to order the messages for playback in order to provide an optimal voice user interface for the requesting individual. For instance, messages received for the user account may be prioritized over messages received for the group account, messages received from a similar sender or a high priority sender may be prioritized over other messages, and messages that are indicating as being urgent may be prioritized over messages that are indicated as being non-urgent.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
receiving, from an electronic device, first audio data representing speech;
receiving a device identifier associated with the electronic device;
determining a group account associated with the device identifier;
performing speech-to-text processing on the first audio data to generate text data;
determining, using the text data, that an intent of the speech is for messages to be output by the electronic device;
generating acoustic features representing the first audio data;
determining that the acoustic features correspond to stored acoustic features associated with a user account;
determining that a message database includes first message data associated with the user account;
determining that the message database includes second message data associated with the group account;
determining that the first message data is to be output by the electronic device prior to the second message data based, at least in part, on the first message data being associated with the user account;
generating second audio data representing the first message data and the second message data, the second audio data configured to have the first message data output prior to the second message data; and
sending the second audio data to the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the message database includes third message data associated with the user account;
determining first sender information associated with the first message data;
determining second sender information associated with the third message data; and
determining the third message data is to be output by the electronic device prior to the first message data based, at least in part, on the second sender information corresponding to a prioritized contact,
wherein the second audio data is configured to have the third message data output prior to the first message data and the first message data output prior to the second message data.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the message database includes third message data associated with the group account;
determining that the third message data is indicated as being urgent; and
determining that the third message data is to be output by the electronic device prior to the first message data based, at least in part, on the third message data being indicated as urgent,
wherein the second audio data is configured to have the third message data output prior to the first message data and the first message data output prior to the second message data.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the message database includes third message data associated with the user account;
determining the message database includes fourth message data associated with the user account;
determining that the third message data was received within a threshold amount of time of the fourth message data; and
determining that the third message data and the fourth message data are each to be output by the electronic device prior to the first message data based, at least in part, on the third message data being received within the threshold amount of time of the fourth message data,
wherein the second audio data is configured to have the third message data and the fourth message data output prior to the first message data and the first message data output prior to the second message data.

5. A method, comprising:
receiving, from a device, a request for communications to be output;
determining a device identifier associated with the device;
determining a group account associated with the device identifier;
determining that first communication data was received for the group account;
determining a user identifier associated with the request, the user identifier being associated with a user account associated with the group account;
determining that second communication data was received for the user account; and
causing, based at least in part on the user identifier being associated with the request, the second communication data to be output by the device prior to the first communication data.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
generating first audio data representing the second communication data;
generating second audio data representing the first communication data;
sending the first audio data to the device; and
sending the second audio data to the device.

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
determining that third communication data was received for the user account;
determining the second communication data is associated with first sender information;
determining the third communication data is associated with the first sender information; and
grouping the second communication data and the third communication data.

8. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
determining that third communication data was received for the user account;
determining the second communication data corresponds to high priority communication data; and
determining that the second communication data is to be output prior to at least the third communication data.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
determining the second communication data corresponds to high priority communication data using keyword spotting.

10. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
determining that third communication data was received for the user account;
determining the second communication data is associated with first sender information;
determining the third communication data is associated with second sender information, the second sender information being different from the first sender information;
determining the second sender information corresponds to prioritized sender information; and
determining that the third communication data is to be output prior to the second communication data and the first communication data.

11. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
determining that third communication data was received for the group account;
determining the first communication data is associated with first sender information;
determining the third communication data is associated with second sender information, the second sender information being different from the first sender information;
determining the second sender information corresponds to prioritized sender information; and
determining that the third communication data is to be output prior to the second communication data and the first communication data.

12. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
determining that third communication data was received for the user account;
determining fourth communication data was received for the user account;
determining that the fourth communication data was received after the second communication data;
determining the fourth communication data was received after the third communication data;
determining the second communication data was received within a threshold amount of time of the third communication data; and
causing the second communication data and the third communication data to be output prior to the fourth communication data and the first communication data.

13. A computing system, comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing system to:
receive, from a device, a request for communications to be output;
determine a device identifier associated with the device;
determine a group account associated with the device identifier;
determine that first

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Devaraj Christo Frank
• Oliver Brian
• Kshirsagar Sumedha Arvind
• Hart Gregory Michael
• Mokady Ran

Classifications

• G06F3/167

  Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback · CPC title

• H04L67/303

  Terminal profiles · CPC title

• G10L17/00

  Speaker identification or verification techniques · CPC title

• H04L67/306 Primary

  User profiles · CPC title

• H04L51/02

  using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages · CPC title