Systems and methods for generating a volume-based response for multiple voice-operated user devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12236164-B2
Application number	US-202217947650-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2022
Priority date	Jun 2, 2017
Publication date	Feb 25, 2025
Grant date	Feb 25, 2025

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided herein for responding to a voice command at a volume level based on a volume level of the voice command. For example, a media guidance application may detect, through a first voice-operated user device of a plurality of voice-operated user devices, a voice command spoken by a user. The media guidance application may determine a first volume level of the voice command. Based on the volume level of the voice command, the media guidance application may determine that a second voice-operated user device of the plurality of voice-operated user devices is closer to the user than any of the other voice-operated user devices. The media guidance application may generate an audible response, through the second voice-operated user device, at a second volume level that is set based on the first volume level of the voice command.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
detecting, through a plurality of voice-operated devices, a voice command spoken by a user;
determining respective volume levels of the voice command at each voice-operated device of the plurality of voice-operated devices;
adjusting the respective volume levels based on respective sensitivities of the each voice-operated device of the plurality of voice-operated devices; and
generating audible responses, through one or more voice-operated devices of the plurality of voice-operated devices, at volume levels corresponding to the adjusted respective volume levels of the voice command at the each voice-operated device of the plurality of voice-operated devices.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining whether a particular volume level of the voice command at a particular voice-operated device corresponds to a whisper; and
wherein generating a particular audible response through the particular voice-operated device comprises generating a whisper response.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving an acknowledgment from the user corresponding to the audible responses.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining an adjusted respective volume level of the voice command at a particular voice-operated device comprises:
measuring an unfiltered volume level of the voice command at the particular voice-operated device, wherein the unfiltered volume level is based on the adjusted respective volume level of the voice command at the particular voice-operated device;
determining a level of background noise;
filtering the voice command to remove the level of background noise;
calculating a filtered volume level of the voice command; and
determining the adjusted respective volume level based on the filtered volume level.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the respective volume levels of the voice command at the each voice-operated device of the plurality of voice-operated devices further comprises:
for the each voice-operated device of the plurality of voice-operated devices:
determining a detected volume level of the voice command; and
associating the detected volume level with a corresponding device identifier.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a first time corresponding to when the audible responses were generated;
calculating a second time, wherein the second time is the first time added to a time period;
identifying a display device associated with the user;
generating for display a visual representation of the audible responses; and
transmitting, based on whether an acknowledgment was received at a third time, the visual representation to the display device, wherein the third time is before the second time.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user is a first user, the voice command is a first voice command, the respective volume levels are first respective volume levels, and the audible responses are first audible responses, the method further comprising:
detecting, through the plurality of voice-operated devices, a second voice command spoken by a second user;
determining second respective volume levels of the second voice command at the each voice-operated device of the plurality of voice-operated devices;
adjusting the second respective volume levels based on the respective sensitivities of the each voice-operated device of the plurality of voice-operated devices; and
generating second audible responses to the second voice command through the each voice-operated device of the plurality of voice-operated devices corresponding to the adjusted second respective volume levels of the voice command at the each voice-operated device of the plurality of voice-operated devices.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating the audible responses further includes not generating a response for the each voice-operated device having a determined respective volume level of zero.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating the audible responses, through the one or more voice-operated devices of the plurality of voice-operated devices, further comprises:
determining a proximity of the user to the each voice-operated device of the plurality of voice-operated devices; and
determining whether to generate an audible response at the each voice-operated device of the plurality of voice-operated devices based on the determined proximity.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user is a first user, and wherein the generating the audible responses, through the one or more voice-operated devices of the plurality of voice-operated devices, further comprises:
determining a proximity of persons other than the user to the each voice-operated device of the plurality of voice-operated devices; and
determining whether to generate an audible response at the each voice-operated device of the plurality of voice-operated devices based on the determined proximity.

11. A system comprising:
control circuitry configured to:
detect, through a plurality of voice-operated devices, a voice command spoken by a user;
determine respective volume levels of the voice command at each voice-operated device of the plurality of voice-operated devices;
adjust the respective volume levels based on respective sensitivities of the each voice-operated device of the plurality of voice-operated devices; and
generate audible responses, through one or more voice-operated devices of the plurality of voice-operated devices, at volume levels corresponding to the adjusted respective volume levels of the voice command at the each voice-operated device of the plurality of voice-operated devices.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
determine whether a particular volume level of the voice command at a particular voice-operated device corresponds to a whisper; and
generate a particular audible response through the particular voice-operated device by generating a whisper response.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to receive an acknowledgment from the user corresponding to the audible responses.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to, when determining an adjusted respective volume level of the voice command at a particular voice-operated device:
measure an unfiltered volume level of the voice command at the particular voice-operated device, wherein the unfiltered volume level is based on the adjusted respective volume level of the voice command at the particular voice-operated device;
determine a level of background noise;
filter the voice command to remove the level of background noise;
calculate a filtered volume level of the voice command; and
determine the adjusted respective volume level based on the filtered volume level.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to, when determining the respective volume levels of the voice command at the each voice-operated device of the plurality of voice-operated devices:
for the each voice-operated device of the plurality of voice-operated devices:
determine a detected volume level of the voice command; and
associate the detected volume level with a corresponding device identifier.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
determine a first time corresponding to when the audible responses were generated;
calculate a second time, wherein the second time is the first time added to a time period;
identify a display d

Assignees

• Adeia Guides Inc

Inventors

• Mccarty Michael
• Roe Glen E

Classifications

• H04L2012/2849

  Audio/video appliances · CPC title

• H04L12/282

  based on user interaction within the home (receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204) · CPC title

• G10L13/033

  Voice editing, e.g. manipulating the voice of the synthesiser · CPC title

• G10L25/21

  the extracted parameters being power information · CPC title

• G10L21/034

  Automatic adjustment · CPC title