# US 11,442,692 B1 · Acoustic workflow system distribution > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,442,692 B1 - Document ID: US11442692B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/202,642 - Filed: 2021-03-16 - Published: 2022-09-22 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2021-03-16 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Dinesh Kumar B; Sarbajit K. Rakshit - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11442692B1 ## CPC - G06F 3/167: {Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback} - G06F 3/165: {Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path} - G06F 11/0709: {in a distributed system consisting of a plurality of standalone computer nodes, e.g. clusters, client-server systems} - G06F 11/0736: {in functional embedded systems, i.e. in a data processing system designed as a combination of hardware and software dedicated to performing a certain function (testing or monitoring of automated control systems G05B23/02)} - G06F 11/0784: {Routing of error reports, e.g. with a specific transmission path or data flow} - G06F 11/327: {Alarm or error message display} - H04N 1/00403: {Voice input means, e.g. voice commands} - G06F 11/0772: {Means for error signaling, e.g. using interrupts, exception flags, dedicated error registers} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A workflow initiation is detected by a first electronic device. The workflow initiation is directed to a connected environment workflow. The connected environment workflow is related to performance of a set of one or more workflow tasks. It is determined that a first remote task of the set of workflow tasks is directed at a second electronic device. The determination is in response to the workflow initiation. A communication failure is identified. The communication failure is based on the first remote task. The communication failure is a failure to communicate with the second electronic device. An acoustic command is generated in response to the communication failure. The acoustic command is related to the first remote task. The acoustic command is provided to the second electronic device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: detecting, by a first electronic device, a workflow initiation, wherein: the workflow initiation is directed to a connected environment workflow, and the connected environment workflow related to performance of a set of one or more workflow tasks; determining, in response to the workflow initiation, a first remote task of the set of workflow tasks is directed at a second electronic device; identifying, based on the first remote task, a communication failure with the second electronic device; generating, in response to the communication failure, an acoustic command, the acoustic command related to the first remote task; and providing the acoustic command to the second electronic device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: retrieving, in response to the communication failure, one or more device specifications related to the second electronic device, and wherein the acoustic command is generated based on the one or more device specifications. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the acoustic command is an ultrasonic command. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the providing the acoustic command comprises: identifying a third electronic device that is communicatively coupled to the first electronic device through a network connection; determining the third electronic device is separated from the second electronic device by a first distance; and determining the first electronic device is separated from the second electronic device by a second distance. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: transmitting, through the network connection and based on the second distance being greater than the first distance, the acoustic command to the third electronic device; and causing the acoustic command to be played by the third electronic device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: determining the second distance being less than the first distance; and causing the acoustic command to be played by the first electronic device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the providing the acoustic command comprises: determining a distance between the first electronic device and the second electronic device; and adjusting, in response to the distance, a volume parameter of an output device communicatively coupled to the first electronic device; and causing, after the adjustment of the volume parameter, the acoustic command to be played by the first electronic device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device and the second electronic device were previously paired together through a network connection, and wherein the communication failure is the first electronic device unable to communicate through the network with the second electronic device, the method further comprising: determining, through the network and before the communication failure, a second device wake command of the second electronic device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the generating the acoustic command comprises: appending the second device wake command to a portion of the acoustic command related to the first remote task. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the generating the acoustic command comprises: identifying a second workflow task of the set of workflow tasks of the connected environment workflow, the second workflow task to occur before the first workflow task; and generating, based on the second workflow task and the first workflow task, a first delay amount of the first workflow task, the first delay amount based on the length of time to complete the second workflow task. ### Claim 11 A system, the system comprising: a memory, the memory containing one or more instructions; and a processor, the processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the processor, in response to reading the one or more instructions, configured to: detect, by a first electronic device, a workflow initiation, wherein: the workflow initiation is directed to a connected environment workflow, and the connected environment workflow related to performance of a set of one or more workflow tasks; determine, in response to the workflow initiation, a first remote task of the set of workflow tasks is directed at a second electronic device; identify, based on the first remote task, a communication failure to communicate with the second electronic device; generate, in response to the communication failure, an acoustic command, the acoustic command related to the first remote task; and provide the acoustic command to the second electronic device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the acoustic command is an ultrasonic command. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to: retrieve, in response to the communication failure, one or more device specifications related to the second electronic device, and wherein the acoustic command is generated based on the one or more device specifications. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the provide the acoustic command comprises: identify a third electronic device that is communicatively coupled to the first electronic device through a network connection; determine the third electronic device is separated from the second electronic device by a first distance; and determine the first electronic device is separated from the second electronic device by a second distance. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to: transmit, through the network connection and based on the second distance being greater than the first distance, the acoustic command to the third electronic device; and cause the acoustic command to be played by the third electronic device. ### Claim 16 A computer program product, the computer program product comprising: one or more computer readable storage media; and program instructions collectively stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, the program instructions configured to: detect, by a first electronic device, a workflow initiation, wherein: the workflow initiation is directed to a connected environment workflow, and the connected environment workflow related to performance of a set of one or more workflow tasks; determine, in response to the workflow initiation, a first remote task of the set of workflow tasks is directed at a second electronic device; identify, based on the first remote task, a communication failure to communicate with the second electronic device; generate, in response to the communication failure, an acoustic command, the acoustic command related to the first remote task; and provide the acoustic command to the second electronic device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the acoustic command is an ultrasonic command. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the provide the acoustic command comprises: determine a distance between the first electronic device and the second electronic device; and adjust, in response to the distance, a volume parameter of an output device communicatively coupled to the first electronic device; and cause, based on the adjusted volume parameter, the acoustic command to be played by the first electronic device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the first electronic device and the second electronic device were previously paired together through a network connection, and wherein the communication failure is the first electronic device unable to communicate through the network with the second electronic device, the program instruction further configured to: determine, through the network and before the communication failure, a second device wake command of the second electronic device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the generating the acoustic command comprises: append the second device wake command to a portion of the acoustic command related to the first remote task.