Concurrency rules for network microphone devices having multiple voice assistant services
AssigneeSonos, Inc.
InventorsJoseph Dureau, Luis R. Vega Zayas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for managing concurrent voice assistants are disclosed. A network microphone device is associated with a first voice assistant service (VAS). The device receives a request to associate with a second VAS different than the first. The device accesses a concurrency rules engine to determine concurrency restrictions. If the rules engine indicates concurrency is prohibited, concurrency can be restricted by (i) disassociating the network microphone device and the first VAS, and associating the network microphone device with the second VAS; or (ii) precluding associating the network microphone device with the second VAS and maintaining association with the first VAS.
Claims23
A network microphone device comprising:
- one or more microphones;
- one or more processors;
- and
- one or more computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
- associating the network microphone device with a first voice assistant service (VAS);
- receiving a command to associate the network microphone device with a second VAS different from the first;
- after receiving the command, accessing a rules engine to determine first concurrency restrictions;
- based at least in part on the determination of the first concurrency restrictions, restricting concurrency by precluding associating the network microphone device with the second VAS;
- receiving a command to associate the work microphone device with a third VAS different from the first VAS and different from the second VAS;
- after receiving the command, accessing the rules engine to determine second concurrency frictions;
- and
- based at least in part on the determination of the second concurrency restrictions, associating the network microphone device with the third VAS while maintaining association between the network microphone device and the first VAS.
A method, comprising:
- associating a network microphone device with a first voice assistant service (VAS);
- receiving a command to associate the network microphone device with a second VAS different from the first;
- after receiving the command, accessing a rules engine to determine first concurrency restrictions;
- based at least in part on the determination of the concurrency restrictions, restricting concurrency by precluding associating the network microphone device with the second VAS;
- receiving a command to associate the network microphone device with a third VAS different from the first VAS and different from the second VAS;
- after receiving the command, accessing the rules engine to determine second concurrency restrictions;
- and
- based at least in part on the determination of the second concurrency restrictions, associating the network microphone device with the third VAS while maintaining association between the network microphone device and the first VAS.
One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a network microphone device, cause the network microphone device to perform operations comprising:
- associating a network microphone device with a first voice assistant service (VAS);
- receiving a command to associate the network microphone device with a second VAS different from the first;
- after receiving the command, accessing a rules engine to determine first concurrency restrictions;
- and
- based at least in part on the determination of the concurrency restrictions, restricting concurrency by precluding associating the network microphone device with the second VAS;
- receiving a command to associate the network microphone device with a third VAS different from the first VAS and different from the second VAS;
- after receiving the command, accessing the rules engine to determine second concurrency restrictions;
- and
- based at least in part on the determination of the second concurrency restrictions, associating the network microphone device with the third VAS while maintaining association between the network microphone device and the first VAS.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.