Task Redirection by a Voice Assistant

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021304772-A1
Application number	US-202016829193-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 25, 2020
Priority date	Mar 25, 2020
Publication date	Sep 30, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed are various aspects of postponing or migrating tasks from a first assistant device to another assistant device. In some examples, an assistant device can facilitate task completion. Tasks can be recommended for postponement based upon the complexity of the task, a historical user profile, or the location of the assistant device.

First claim

Therefore, the following is claimed:

1 . A system, comprising:
at least one computing device comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory comprising executable instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one computing device to at least:
identify a task to be performed using a voice assistant on a first assistant device;
identify a set of capabilities of the first assistant device;
generate a suggestion signal that the task should be completed on the second assistant device based upon the set of capabilities, a past user interaction, or a complexity of the task;
cause the first assistant device to play back a first message including a query to postpone the task; and
save a completion state of the task in association with a user account of the user in response to a request to postpone the task.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions identify the second assistant device by identifying a second assistant device in proximity to a location of the first assistant device with a different set of capabilities than the first assistant device.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the at least one computing device to at least:
obtain a request to authenticate the user account on a second assistant device; authenticate the user account on the second device; identify a postponed task associated with the user account; determine that the second assistant device has a different set of capabilities than the first assistant device, the different set of capabilities facilitating completion of the task; and cause the second assistant device to play back a second message including a query to complete the task.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the instructions further cause the at least one computing device to at least:
obtain a request to resume the task on behalf of the user; retrieve the completion state of the task from the user account; populate one or more fields associated with the task based upon the completion state; and cause the second assistant device to play back a third message including a prompt comprising a status of the task.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the suggestion signal is based upon a historical error rate associated at least one past user interaction corresponding to the user account, wherein the historical error rate indicates an error rate that exceeds an error threshold.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the suggestion signal is based upon a location of the first assistant device, wherein the location is associated with a noise level that exceeds a noise threshold.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the suggestion signal is based the first assistant device lacking a display or keyboard to complete the task.

8 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising executable instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by at least one processor, cause at least one computing device to at least:
identify a task to be performed using a voice assistant on a first assistant device; identify a set of capabilities of the first assistant device; generate a suggestion signal that the task should be completed on the second assistant device based upon the set of capabilities, a past user interaction, or a complexity of the task; cause the first assistant device to play back a first message including a query to postpone the task; and save a completion state of the task in association with a user account of the user in response to a request to postpone the task.

9 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions identify the second assistant device by identifying a second assistant device in proximity to a location of the first assistant device with a different set of capabilities than the first assistant device.

10 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions further cause the at least one computing device to at least:
obtain a request to authenticate the user account on a second assistant device; authenticate the user account on the second device; identify a postponed task associated with the user account; determine that the second assistant device has a different set of capabilities than the first assistant device, the different set of capabilities facilitating completion of the task; and cause the second assistant device to play back a second message including a query to complete the task.

11 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further cause the at least one computing device to at least:
obtain a request to resume the task on behalf of the user; retrieve the completion state of the task from the user account; populate one or more fields associated with the task based upon the completion state; and cause the second assistant device to play back a third message including a prompt comprising a status of the task.

12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the suggestion signal is based upon a historical error rate associated at least one past user interaction corresponding to the user account, wherein the historical error rate indicates an error rate that exceeds an error threshold.

13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the suggestion signal is based upon a location of the first assistant device, wherein the location is associated with a noise level that exceeds a noise threshold.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the suggestion signal is based the first assistant device lacking a display or keyboard to complete the task.

15 . A method comprising:
identifying a task to be performed using a voice assistant on a first assistant device; identifying a set of capabilities of the first assistant device; generating a suggestion signal that the task should be completed on the second assistant device based upon the set of capabilities, a past user interaction, or a complexity of the task; causing the first assistant device to play back a first message including a query to postpone the task; and saving a completion state of the task in association with a user account of the user in response to a request to postpone the task.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising identifying the second assistant device by identifying a second assistant device in proximity to a location of the first assistant device with a different set of capabilities than the first assistant device.

17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
obtaining a request to authenticate the user account on a second assistant device; authenticating the user account on the second device; identifying a postponed task associated with the user account; determining that the second assistant device has a different set of capabilities than the first assistant device, the different set of capabilities facilitating completion of the task; and causing the second assistant device to play back a second message including a query to complete the task.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
obtaining a request to resume the task on behalf of the user; retrieving the completion state of the task from the user account; populating one or more fields associated with the task based upon the completion state; and causing the second assistant device to play back a third message including a prompt comprising a status of the task.

19 . The

Assignees

• Vmware Inc

Inventors

• Shetty Rohit Pradeep
• Aluvala Suman

Classifications

• H04L67/535

  Tracking the activity of the user (network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34) · CPC title

• H04W12/63

  Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent · CPC title

• H04L63/0853

  using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234) · CPC title

• G06F3/167

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

• G06Q10/103 Primary

  Workflow collaboration or project management · CPC title