Dynamic volume adjustment for virtual assistants

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon program code executable by a processor of a computing device, the program code comprising:

• code that causes the processor to receive a first voice query or command from a user;
• code that causes the processor to recognize content of the first voice query or command;
• code that causes the processor to process the first voice query or command based on the recognized content;
• code that causes the processor to determine a first auditory response to be output to the user;
• code that causes the processor to identify a first plurality of criteria for automatically determining a first output volume level for the first auditory response, the first plurality of criteria including content-based criteria and environment-based criteria, the content-based criteria including an identity criterion that is based on an identity of the user;
• code that causes the processor to calculate a first set of values for the first plurality of criteria;
• code that causes the processor to combine the first set of values to determine the first output volume level;
• code that causes the processor to output the first auditory response to the user at the first output volume level;
• code that causes the processor to receive, after the first auditory response has been output to the user at the first output volume level, a verbal signal from the user that the first auditory response is too loud;
• code that causes the processor to save, in response to receiving the verbal indication from the user that the auditory response is too loud, the first set of values for the plurality of criteria and an indication of the verbal signal;
• and
• code that causes the processor to, upon receiving a second voice query or command from the user:
• determine a second auditory response to be output to the user;
• identify a second plurality of criteria for automatically determining a second output volume level for the second auditory response;
• calculate a second set of values for the second plurality of criteria;
• and
• compare the second set of values for the second plurality of criteria with the saved first set of values for the first plurality of criteria;
• and
• if the second set of values is determined to be substantially similar to the first set of values:
• set the second output volume level to be lower than the first output volume level;
• and
• cause the second auditory response to be output to the user at the second output volume level.

A computing device comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory having stored thereon program code which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:
• receive a first voice query or command from a user;
• recognize content of the first voice query or command;
• process the first voice query or command based on the recognized content;
• determine a first auditory response to be output to the user;
• identify a first plurality of criteria for automatically determining a first output volume level for the first auditory response, the first plurality of criteria including content-based criteria and environment-based criteria, the content-based criteria including an identity criterion that is based on an identity of the user;
• calculate a first set of values for the first plurality of criteria;
• combine the first set of values to determine the first output volume level;
• output the first auditory response to the user at the first output volume level;
• receive, after the first auditory response has been output to the user at the first output volume level, a verbal signal from the user that the first auditory response is too loud;
• save, in response to receiving the verbal indication from the user that the auditory response is too loud, the first set of values for the plurality of criteria and an indication of the verbal signal;
• and
• upon receiving a second voice query or command from the user:
• determine a second auditory response to be output to the user;
• identify a second plurality of criteria for automatically determining a second output volume level for the second auditory response;
• calculate a second set of values for the second plurality of criteria;
• and
• compare the second set of values for the second plurality of criteria with the saved first set of values for the first plurality of criteria;
• and
• if the second set of values is determined to be substantially similar to the first set of values:
• set the second output volume level to be lower than the first output volume level;
• and
• cause the second auditory response to be output to the user at the second output volume level.