Google patents system that asks users to confirm voice commands
This filing describes a method for improving how devices detect wake words like "Hey Google." When the system is unsure if a hotword was spoken, it asks the user to confirm, then uses that answer to adjust its sensitivity settings for future detections.
In the filing’s own words
Techniques are described herein for improving performance of machine learning model(s) and thresholds utilized in determining whether automated assistant function(s) are to be initiated. A method includes: receiving, via one or more microphones of a client device, audio data that captures a spoken utterance of a user; processing the audio data using a machine learning model to generate a predicted output that indicates a probability of one or more hotwords being present in the audio data; determining that the predicted output satisfies a secondary threshold that is less indicative of the one or more hotwords being present in the audio data than is a primary threshold; in response to determining that the predicted output satisfies the secondary threshold, prompting the user to indicate whether or not the spoken utterance includes a hotword; receiving, from the user, a response to the prompting; and adjusting the primary threshold based on the response.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method implemented by one or more processors, the method comprising: receiving, via one or more microphones of a client device, audio data that captures a spoken utterance of a user; processing the audio data using a machine learning model to generate a predicted output that indicates a probability of one or more hotwords being present in the audio data; determining that the predicted output satisfies a secondary threshold that is less indicative of the one or more hotwords being present in the audio data than is a primary threshold; in response to determining that the predicted output satisfies the secondary threshold, prompting the user to indicate whether or not the spoken utterance includes a hotword; receiving, from the user, a response to the prompting; and adjusting the primary threshold based on the response.
Facts
- Company
- Google (GOOGLE LLC)
- Official title
- USER MEDIATION FOR HOTWORD/KEYWORD DETECTION
- Publication number
- US20260279349A1
- Application number
- 19678072
- Filed
- May 14, 2026
- Published
- Sep 17, 2026
- Inventors
- 3
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G10L 15/197 Physics & computingG10L 15/063 Physics & computingG10L 15/22 Physics & computingG10L 2015/088 Physics & computingG10L 2015/223 Physics & computingMore from Google in Audio & voice
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.