Patent Description:
A digital assistant interprets natural language input in spoken and/or textual form and determines a user request based on the input. The digital assistant then performs actions based on the user request. The actions include providing information and/or performing tasks responsive to the user request.

<CIT> discloses a technique which includes outputting, by a computing device associated with a user and for playback at a first volume level by an audio output device, first audio data, receiving, by the computing device, audio input data, and responsive to determining, by the computing device, that the audio input data includes speech associated with an entity different from the user, determining, by the computing device and based at least in part on the audio input data, whether to output second audio data. The method may also include, responsive to determining to output the second audio data: determining, by the computing device, a second volume level lower than the first volume level, and outputting, by the computing device and for playback at the second volume level by the audio output device, the second audio data.

<CIT> discloses an information presentation apparatus and an information presentation method that are capable of making presentation information outputted as audio easily understandable to a user. The information presentation apparatus is provided with: an acquisition unit that acquires presentation information to be presented to a user; a generation unit that generates support information to be presented to the user together with the presentation information on the basis of the acquired presentation information and synthesizes audio corresponding to the generated support information; and a presentation unit that presents the audio synthesized in accordance with the support information as speech of a first agent.

There is provided a method according to claim <NUM>.

There is also provided a computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of an electronic device, the one or more programs including instructions for performing the method.

There is also provided an electronic device comprising: a speaker; one or more processors; and memory storing one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for performing the method.

For a better understanding of the various described embodiments, reference should be made to the Detailed Description below, in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the figures.

<FIG> and <FIG> depict an exemplary system for providing audio information to a user, according to various embodiments.

In some embodiments, the communication of the second type includes conversational sounds. In some embodiments, the communication of the second type includes compressed audio. In some embodiments, the communication of the second type includes a lexical utterance reproduced by an electronic device. In some embodiments, the technique further includes determining the external sound is a lexical utterance reproduced by an electronic device by determining a location corresponding to a source of the external sound. In some embodiments, the location is determined with a directional microphone array.

According to some embodiments, a technique for providing audio information includes receiving speech input from a source, the speech input including one or more instructions; detecting one or more visual characteristics associated with the source of the speech input; detecting the speech input has stopped; in response to detecting the speech input has stopped, determining whether the one or more visual characteristics associated with the source indicate that further speech input from the source is expected; in accordance with a determination that further speech input from the source is not expected, providing a response to the one or more instructions; in accordance with a determination that further speech input from the source is expected, forgoing providing a response to the one or more instructions.

In some embodiments, the one or more visual characteristics include eye gaze, facial expression, hand gesture, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the technique further includes, in accordance with the determination that further speech input from the source is expected, forgoing providing the response to the one or more instructions for a predetermined time; and after the predetermined time and in accordance with a determination that the speech input from the source has not resumed, providing a response to the to the one or more instructions.

The following description sets forth exemplary methods, parameters, and the like. It should be recognized, however, that such description is not intended as a limitation on the scope of the present disclosure but is instead provided as a description of exemplary embodiments.

<FIG> and <FIG> depict exemplary system <NUM> for providing audio information to a user, according to various embodiments.

In some embodiments, as illustrated in <FIG>, system <NUM> includes device 100a. Device 100a includes various components, such as processor(s) <NUM>, RF circuitry(ies) <NUM>, memory(ies) <NUM>, image sensor(s) <NUM>, orientation sensor(s) <NUM>, microphone(s) <NUM>, location sensor(s) <NUM>, speaker(s) <NUM>, display(s) <NUM>, and touch-sensitive surface(s) <NUM>. These components optionally communicate over communication bus(es) <NUM> of device 100a.

In some embodiments, elements of system <NUM> are implemented in a base station device (e.g., a computing device, such as a remote server, mobile device, or laptop) and other elements of the system <NUM> are implemented in an auxiliary device (such as an audio playback device, television, monitor, or head-mounted display (HMD) device), where the auxiliary device is in communication with the base station device. In some embodiments, device 100a is implemented in a base station device or an auxiliary device.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in some embodiments, system <NUM> includes two (or more) devices in communication, such as through a wired connection or a wireless connection. First device 100b (e.g., a base station device) includes processor(s) <NUM>, RF circuitry(ies) <NUM>, memory(ies) <NUM>. These components optionally communicate over communication bus(es) <NUM> of device 100b. Second device 100c (e.g., an auxiliary device) includes various components, such as processor(s) <NUM>, RF circuitry(ies) <NUM>, memory(ies) <NUM>, image sensor(s) <NUM>, orientation sensor(s) <NUM>, microphone(s) <NUM>, location sensor(s) <NUM>, speaker(s) <NUM>, display(s) <NUM>, and touch-sensitive surface(s) <NUM>. These components optionally communicate over communication bus(es) <NUM> of device 100c.

System <NUM> includes processor(s) <NUM> and memory(ies) <NUM>. Processor(s) <NUM> include one or more general processors, one or more graphics processors, and/or one or more digital signal processors. In some embodiments, memory(ies) <NUM> are one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums (e.g., flash memory, random access memory) that store computer-readable instructions configured to be executed by processor(s) <NUM> to perform the techniques described below.

System <NUM> includes RF circuitry(ies) <NUM>. RF circuitry(ies) <NUM> optionally include circuitry for communicating with electronic devices, networks, such as the Internet, intranets, and/or a wireless network, such as cellular networks and wireless local area networks (LANs). RF circuitry(ies) <NUM> optionally includes circuitry for communicating using near-field communication and/or short-range communication, such as Bluetooth®.

System <NUM> includes display(s) <NUM>. In some embodiments, display(s) <NUM> include a first display (e.g., a left eye display panel) and a second display (e.g., a right eye display panel), each display for displaying images to a respective eye of the user. Corresponding images are simultaneously displayed on the first display and the second display. Optionally, the corresponding images include the same virtual objects and/or representations of the same physical objects from different viewpoints, resulting in a parallax effect that provides a user with the illusion of depth of the objects on the displays. In some embodiments, display(s) <NUM> include a single display. Corresponding images are simultaneously displayed on a first area and a second area of the single display for each eye of the user. Optionally, the corresponding images include the same virtual objects and/or representations of the same physical objects from different viewpoints, resulting in a parallax effect that provides a user with the illusion of depth of the objects on the single display.

In some embodiments, system <NUM> includes touch-sensitive surface(s) <NUM> for receiving user inputs, such as tap inputs and swipe inputs. In some embodiments, display(s) <NUM> and touch-sensitive surface(s) <NUM> form touch-sensitive display(s).

System <NUM> includes image sensor(s) <NUM>. Image sensors(s) <NUM> optionally include one or more visible light image sensor, such as charged coupled device (CCD) sensors, and/or complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensors operable to obtain images of physical objects from the real environment. Image sensor(s) also optionally include one or more infrared (IR) sensor(s), such as a passive IR sensor or an active IR sensor, for detecting infrared light from the real environment. For example, an active IR sensor includes an IR emitter, such as an IR dot emitter, for emitting infrared light into the real environment. Image sensor(s) <NUM> also optionally include one or more event camera(s) configured to capture movement of physical objects in the real environment. Image sensor(s) <NUM> also optionally include one or more depth sensor(s) configured to detect the distance of physical objects from system <NUM>. In some embodiments, system <NUM> uses CCD sensors, event cameras, and depth sensors in combination to detect the physical environment around system <NUM>. In some embodiments, image sensor(s) <NUM> include a first image sensor and a second image sensor. The first image sensor and the second image sensor are optionally configured to capture images of physical objects in an environment from two distinct perspectives. In some embodiments, system <NUM> uses image sensor(s) <NUM> to receive user inputs, such as hand gestures. In some embodiments, system <NUM> uses image sensor(s) <NUM> to detect the position and orientation of system <NUM> and/or display(s) <NUM> in the environment. For example, system <NUM> uses image sensor(s) <NUM> to track the position and orientation of one or more objects in the environment.

In some embodiments, system <NUM> includes microphones(s) <NUM>. System <NUM> uses microphone(s) <NUM> to detect sound from the user and/or the environment of the user. In some embodiments, microphone(s) <NUM> includes an array of microphones (including a plurality of microphones) that optionally operate in tandem, such as to identify ambient noise or to locate the source of sound in space of the environment.

System <NUM> includes orientation sensor(s) <NUM> for detecting orientation and/or movement of system <NUM> and/or display(s) <NUM>. For example, system <NUM> uses orientation sensor(s) <NUM> to track changes in the position and/or orientation of system <NUM> and/or display(s) <NUM>, such as with respect to physical objects in the environment. Orientation sensor(s) <NUM> optionally include one or more gyroscopes and/or one or more accelerometers.

In some embodiments, system <NUM> implements a digital assistant. The digital assistant interprets natural language input in spoken and/or textual form and determines one or more instructions based on the input. The digital assistant then performs actions based on the instructions. In some embodiments, the actions include providing audio information and/or performing tasks responsive to the instructions. The term "digital assistant" can refer to any information processing system capable of interpreting natural language input and performing actions responsive to the input.

Typically, the natural language input requests either an informational answer or performance of a task by the digital assistant. The digital assistant responds to the input by providing requested information in an audio format and/or by performing the requested task. For example, when a user asks the digital assistant "What is the weather forecast for tomorrow?", the digital assistant may respond with the audio answer of "Tomorrow is forecast to be sunny, with a high of <NUM> degrees and a low of <NUM> degrees". As another example, when a user requests "Set an alarm for <NUM>:<NUM> am tomorrow", the digital assistant performs the task of setting a respective alarm and provides an audio confirmation of "An alarm has been set for <NUM>:<NUM> am tomorrow".

In some embodiments, visual information is provided in addition to or instead of audio information (e.g., text, video, animations, etc.). Furthermore, in some embodiments, the provided information includes media content (e.g., music or video content) and the digital assistant controls playback of the media content (e.g., starting and stopping the music or video content).

In some cases, it would be advantageous to interrupt the provision of audio information by the digital assistant. For example, if a user begins speaking to another person while the digital assistant is providing audio information, then the user may not hear the information being provided by the digital assistant. In this case, system <NUM> stops providing the audio information until the conversation between the user and the other person has concluded. In this way, system <NUM> provides audio information with the digital assistant in a more polite manner.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, before providing audio information (or resuming the provision of stopped audio information), system <NUM> detects visual characteristics that indicate it is appropriate for the audio information to be provided by the digital assistant. For example, when a user provides a request but stops speaking to think (e.g., "Schedule a meeting for Monday at <NUM>:<NUM> am with Tom and also. "), system <NUM> detects that additional speech is expected and waits to provide audio information.

<FIG> depicts an example of electronic device <NUM> providing audio information <NUM> in an environment <NUM>, according to various embodiments. In some embodiments, electronic device <NUM> is an embodiment of system <NUM>, as described in reference to <FIG>. Audio information <NUM> is provided using speaker(s) <NUM> in response to a received input. In some embodiments, the received input is a natural language input in spoken or textual form that includes one or more instructions for a digital assistant implemented by electronic device <NUM>. Electronic device <NUM> determines the one or more instructions based on the received input and provides audio information <NUM> based on the one or more instructions. In some embodiments, the received input includes a triggering command (e.g., "Hello Computer") that identifies the input as instructions for the digital assistant.

In some embodiments, after the input from the user has stopped, electronic device <NUM> determines whether visual characteristics of the user indicate that further input is expected before providing audio information <NUM>. Examples of visual characteristics include eye gaze, facial expressions, and/or hand gestures. For example, if electronic device <NUM> detects a person's eyes gazing upward after they have stopped speaking, then electronic device <NUM> determines that further speech is expected from the person because the upward gaze indicates the person is thinking. In some embodiments, after determining that further input is expected, electronic device <NUM> waits for a predetermined time. If no further input is provided during the predetermined time, then electronic device <NUM> proceeds with providing audio information <NUM>. If the visual characteristics of the user do not indicate that further input is expected, then electronic device <NUM> proceeds with providing audio information <NUM> after the input from the user has stopped.

If electronic device <NUM> detects external sound <NUM> from external sound source <NUM> while providing audio information <NUM>, then electronic device <NUM> determines whether external sound <NUM> warrants stopping the provision of the audio information <NUM> based on the type of external sound <NUM>. For some types of external sounds <NUM>, stopping audio information <NUM> is unnecessary. For example, conversational sounds that indicate a person is listening or thinking, such as "hmm", "um", "okay", "uh huh", "yes", "I see", and the like, would not warrant stopping the provision of audio information <NUM>. Other types of external sounds <NUM> also would not warrant stopping the provision of audio information <NUM>, such as external sounds <NUM> that are compressed audio (e.g., sounds from media content such as music or video) or speech being reproduced by an electronic device (e.g., lexical utterances emitted by a television).

In some embodiments, if electronic device <NUM> determines that external sound <NUM> has characteristics consistent with compressed audio, then electronic device <NUM> continues providing audio information <NUM> (e.g., compressed audio is a type of external sound that does not warrant stopping audio information <NUM>). In other embodiments, when electronic device <NUM> determines that external sound <NUM> has characteristics consistent with compressed audio, electronic device <NUM> further determines characteristics of the external sound source <NUM> and/or the content of the compressed audio. Based on the characteristics of the external sound source <NUM> emitting the compressed audio and/or the content of the compressed audio, electronic device <NUM> can continue providing audio information <NUM> or stop the audio information <NUM>. For example, if electronic device <NUM> determines external sound source <NUM> is a television or other device emitting low-priority audio, then electronic device <NUM> continues providing audio information <NUM>. Examples of low-priority audio include prerecorded audio such as music or movies, television programs, or radio broadcasts. However, if electronic device <NUM> determines external sound source <NUM> is a telephone or other device emitting high-priority audio, then electronic device <NUM> can stop providing audio information <NUM> so as to not distract from the high-priority audio. Examples of high-priority audio include audio of a person speaking in approximately real-time (e.g., a telephone conversion), an alarm, or a warning message.

Generally, external sounds <NUM> of a type that convey more substantial information, are conversations between people, or otherwise include high-priority audio warrant stopping the provision of audio information <NUM>. These types of external sounds <NUM> include directly-vocalized lexical utterances (e.g., external sound <NUM> emitted by a person speaking in the environment <NUM>). For example, if a person begins speaking to another person in the environment <NUM> while audio information <NUM> is being provided, then electronic device <NUM> can stop the provision of audio information <NUM> upon detecting the speech. Stopping the provision of audio information <NUM> allows the two people to have a conversation without being distracted or interrupted by audio information <NUM>. Similarly, a person in the environment <NUM> making a follow-up request to the digital assistant or otherwise conveying substantial speech would also warrant stopping the provision of audio information <NUM>. Notably, audio information <NUM> is stopped without a user needing to say a silencing or triggering command, such as "stop", "quiet", "end", and the like. In some embodiments, stopping the audio information <NUM> includes fading out the audio information <NUM>.

In some embodiments, electronic device <NUM> determines the type of external sound <NUM> based at least in part on a location of the external sound source <NUM> in the environment <NUM>. In some embodiments, the location of the external sound source <NUM> is determined using a microphone array capable of detecting a direction and/or distance of a sound source. If the location of external sound source <NUM> corresponds to a person (and, optionally, the external sound <NUM> is not a conversational sound indicate the person is listening or thinking), then electronic device <NUM> determines that external sound <NUM> is substantial and stops the provision of audio information <NUM>. However, if the location of external sound source <NUM> is determined to correspond to an electronic device (e.g., a television or loudspeaker), then electronic device <NUM> continues to provide audio information <NUM>. In this way, electronic device <NUM> does not stop providing audio information <NUM> even when the external sound <NUM> being emitted by the electronic device sounds like human speech (e.g., a lexical utterance being spoken in a television program).

In some embodiments, after stopping the provision of audio information <NUM>, electronic device <NUM> waits to resume the audio information <NUM> until an appropriate time. For example, if a person is speaking to another person in the environment <NUM>, electronic device <NUM> waits to resume audio information <NUM> until further communication between the two people is no longer expected. In some embodiments, electronic device <NUM> detects that further communication is expected based on visual characteristics of one or more people making the external sounds <NUM>, such as eye gaze, facial expressions, and/or hand gestures. For example, if electronic device <NUM> detects a person's eyes gazing upward after they have stopped speaking, then electronic device <NUM> determines that further speech is expected from the person because the upward gaze indicates the person is thinking.

Once electronic device <NUM> determines it is appropriate for the audio information <NUM> to continue, electronic device <NUM> provides resumed audio information <NUM>. In some embodiments, electronic device <NUM> determines it is appropriate for audio information <NUM> to continue based on visual characteristics of one or more people, such as eye gaze, facial expressions, and/or hand gestures. For example, if system detects a person's eyes are gazing in the direction speaker(s) <NUM>, then electronic device <NUM> determines that providing resumed audio information is appropriate.

In some embodiments, the audio information <NUM> is divided into predefined segments, and the resumed audio information begins with the segment where the audio information <NUM> was stopped. In this way, the resumed audio information can begin with a full phrase or word. In some embodiments, the resumed audio information includes a rephrased version of a previously provided segment of audio information <NUM>. The rephrased version of the previously provided segment of audio information <NUM> reminds the listener of where the audio information <NUM> was stopped without repeating the same (e.g., verbatim) audio information.

Turning now to <FIG>, a flow chart of exemplary process <NUM> for providing audio information is depicted, according to various embodiments. Process <NUM> can be performed using an electronic device (e.g., 100a, <NUM>). The electronic device is, for example, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a handheld mobile device, an audio playback device, a television, a monitor, a head-mounted display (HMD) device, or a heads-up display device. It should be recognized that, in other embodiments, process <NUM> is performed using two or more electronic devices, such as a user device that is communicatively coupled to another device, such as a base device. In these embodiments, the operations of process <NUM> are distributed in any manner between the user device and the other device. Although the blocks of process <NUM> are depicted in a particular order in <FIG>, it should be appreciated that these blocks can be performed in other orders. Further, one or more blocks of process <NUM> can be partially performed, optionally performed, combined with another block(s), and/or additional blocks can be performed.

At block <NUM>, audio information (e.g., <NUM>) responsive to received input is provided using a speaker (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>). In some embodiments, the received input includes a triggering command.

At block <NUM>, while providing the audio information, an external sound (e.g. <NUM>) is detected.

At block <NUM>, in accordance with a determination that the external sound is a communication of a first type, the provision of the audio information is stopped. In some embodiments, stopping the provision of the audio information includes fading out the audio information. In some embodiments, the communication of the first type includes a directly-vocalized lexical utterance. Optionally, the directly-vocalized lexical utterance excludes silencing commands.

In some embodiments, the external sound is determined to be a directly-vocalized lexical utterance by determining a location corresponding to a source of the external sound (e.g., <NUM>). In some embodiments, the location corresponding to the source of the external sound is determined with a directional microphone array.

At block <NUM>, after stopping the provision of the audio information, one or more visual characteristics associated with the communication of the first type are detected. The one or more visual characteristics include eye gaze, facial expression, hand gesture, or a combination thereof.

At block <NUM>, the communication of the first type is detected to have stopped.

At block <NUM>, in response to detecting the communication of the first type has stopped, a determination is made whether the one or more visual characteristics indicate that further communication of the first type is expected.

At block <NUM>, in accordance with a determination that further communication of the first type is not expected, resumed audio information is provided. In some embodiments, the resumed audio information is provided after stopping the provision of the audio information and in accordance with a determination that the communication of the first type has stopped. In some embodiments, the audio information is divided into predefined segments, and the resumed audio information begins with the segment where the audio information was stopped. In some embodiments, the resumed audio information includes a rephrased version of a previously provided segment of the audio information.

At block <NUM>, in accordance with a determination that further communication of the first type is expected, the provision of the audio information continues to be stopped.

At block <NUM>, in accordance with a determination that the external sound is a communication of a second type, the provision of the audio information is continued. In some embodiments, the communication of the second type includes conversational sounds (e.g., sounds that indicate a person is listening or thinking, such as "hmm", "um", "okay", "uh huh", "yes", "I see", and the like). In some embodiments, the communication of the second type includes compressed audio. In some embodiments, the communication of the second type includes a lexical utterance (e.g., speech) reproduced by an electronic device. In some embodiments, the external sound is determined to be a lexical utterance reproduced by an electronic device by determining a location corresponding to a source of the external sound (e.g., <NUM>). In some embodiments, the location of the source of the external sound is determined with a directional microphone array.

At block <NUM>, speech input including one or more instructions is received from a source.

At block <NUM>, one or more visual characteristics associated with the source of the speech input are detected. The one or more visual characteristics include eye gaze, facial expression, hand gesture, or a combination thereof.

At block <NUM>, the speech input is detected to have stopped.

At block <NUM>, in response to detecting the speech input has stopped, a determination is made whether the one or more visual characteristics associated with the source indicate that further speech input from the source is expected.

At block <NUM>, in accordance with a determination that further speech input from the source is not expected, a response to the one or more instructions is provided.

At block <NUM>, in accordance with a determination that further speech input from the source is expected, a response to the one or more instructions is not provided. In some embodiments, in accordance with the determination that further speech input from the source is expected, the response to the one or more instructions is not provided for a predetermined time. After the predetermined time, and in accordance with a determination that the speech input from the source has not resumed, a response to the to the one or more instructions is provided.

Executable instructions for performing the features of methods <NUM> and/or <NUM> described above are, optionally, included in a transitory or non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (e.g., memory(ies) <NUM>) or other computer program product configured for execution by one or more processors (e.g., processor(s) <NUM>). Further, some operations in method <NUM> are, optionally, included in method <NUM> and some operations in method <NUM> are, optionally, included in method <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A method, comprising:
providing (<NUM>), using a speaker (<NUM>), audio information responsive to received input;
while providing the audio information, detecting (<NUM>) an external sound;
in accordance with a determination that the external sound is a communication of a first type, stopping (<NUM>) the provision of the audio information;
in accordance with a determination that the external sound is a communication of a second type, continuing (<NUM>) the provision of the audio information;
after stopping (<NUM>) the provision of the audio information:
detecting (<NUM>) a gaze direction of a user associated with the communication of the first type; and
detecting (<NUM>) the communication of the first type has stopped;
in response to detecting the communication of the first type has stopped, determining (<NUM>) whether the gaze direction of the user is in a first direction or a second direction;
in accordance with a determination that the gaze direction of the user is in the first direction, providing (<NUM>) resumed audio information; and
in accordance with a determination that the gaze direction of the user is in the second direction, continuing (<NUM>) to stop the provision of the audio information.