A computer-implemented method for protecting identity metrics may include (i) receiving, by a computing device and from an originating device, an identity metric encrypted by an identity metric protection module on the originating device, where the identity metric includes biometric data about an operator of the originating device, (ii) requesting, by an identity metric protection module on the computing device, a decryption key from an identity metric protection server, (iii) receiving, by the identity metric protection module, the decryption key from the identity metric protection server, (iv) decrypting, by the identity metric protection module, the identity metric with the decryption key received from the identity metric protection server, and (v) providing the decrypted identity metric to an application on the computing device that uses the identity metric to convey a communication from the operator of the originating device. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

A computer-implemented method for protecting identity metrics may include (i) receiving, by a computing device and from an originating device, an identity metric encrypted by an identity metric protection module on the originating device, where the identity metric includes biometric data about an operator of the originating device, (ii) requesting, by an identity metric protection module on the computing device, a decryption key from an identity metric protection server, (iii) receiving, by the identity metric protection module, the decryption key from the identity metric protection server, (iv) decrypting, by the identity metric protection module, the identity metric with the decryption key received from the identity metric protection server, and (v) providing the decrypted identity metric to an application on the computing device that uses the identity metric to convey a communication from the operator of the originating device. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Aspects of the present disclosure involve processing audio signals to determine the presence and proximity of a user to a computing device, such as a voice-controlled computing device located within an environment. When the proximity of the user in comparison to the computing device is within an acceptable threshold, a voice command is detected that is associated with the user of a plurality of users located in the environment. In some instances, a device command is generated based on the voice command. The device command is executed, for example, at the computing device.

Disclosed herein are example techniques to support multiple voice assistant services. An example implementation may involve a playback device capturing audio from the one or more microphones into one or more buffers as a sound data stream monitoring the sound data stream for a wake word associated with a specific voice assistant service and monitoring the sound data stream for a wake word associated with the media playback system. The playback device generates a second wake-word event corresponding to a voice input when sound data matching the wake word associated with the media playback system in a portion of the sound data stream is detected. The playback device determines that the voice input includes sound data matching one or more playback commands and sends sound data representing the voice input to a voice assistant associated with the media playback system for processing of the second voice input.

Disclosed herein are example techniques to support multiple voice assistant services. An example implementation may involve a playback device capturing audio from the one or more microphones into one or more buffers as a sound data stream monitoring the sound data stream for a wake word associated with a specific voice assistant service and monitoring the sound data stream for a wake word associated with the media playback system. The playback device generates a second wake-word event corresponding to a voice input when sound data matching the wake word associated with the media playback system in a portion of the sound data stream is detected. The playback device determines that the voice input includes sound data matching one or more playback commands and sends sound data representing the voice input to a voice assistant associated with the media playback system for processing of the second voice input.

Systems, methods, and devices for adaptably authenticating a user are disclosed. A device captures a user input, and sends data corresponding thereto to a system. The system determines natural language understanding (NLU) results representing the user input. A user authentication component of the system receives the NLU results and determines a skill configured to perform an action responsive to the user input. The user authentication component adaptably performs user authentication based on a user authentication condition associated with the skill. If the user can be authenticated to the satisfaction of the condition, the NLU results data are sent to the skill, along with an indicator representing the user was authenticated by the system.

Systems, methods, and devices for adaptably authenticating a user are disclosed. A device captures a user input, and sends data corresponding thereto to a system. The system determines natural language understanding (NLU) results representing the user input. A user authentication component of the system receives the NLU results and determines a skill configured to perform an action responsive to the user input. The user authentication component adaptably performs user authentication based on a user authentication condition associated with the skill. If the user can be authenticated to the satisfaction of the condition, the NLU results data are sent to the skill, along with an indicator representing the user was authenticated by the system.

The present disclosure discloses a man-machine dialogue mode switching method, which is applicable to an electronic device. The method includes receiving a current user sentence spoken by a current user; determining whether a dialogue field to which the current user sentence belongs is a preset dialogue field; if yes, switching the current dialogue mode to a full-duplex dialogue mode; and if not, switching the current dialogue mode to a half-duplex dialogue mode. In the present disclosure, the dialogue mode is switched by determining whether the dialogue field to which the current user sentence belongs is the preset dialogue field, and the dialogue mode can be automatically switched and adjusted according to the difference of the dialogue fields, such that the man-machine dialogue is always in the most suitable dialogue mode and can be realized smoothly.

The present disclosure discloses a man-machine dialogue mode switching method, which is applicable to an electronic device. The method includes receiving a current user sentence spoken by a current user; determining whether a dialogue field to which the current user sentence belongs is a preset dialogue field; if yes, switching the current dialogue mode to a full-duplex dialogue mode; and if not, switching the current dialogue mode to a half-duplex dialogue mode. In the present disclosure, the dialogue mode is switched by determining whether the dialogue field to which the current user sentence belongs is the preset dialogue field, and the dialogue mode can be automatically switched and adjusted according to the difference of the dialogue fields, such that the man-machine dialogue is always in the most suitable dialogue mode and can be realized smoothly.

The control device includes: a detection unit that detects a predetermined speech/motion of a user who is present in an output destination space of a directional speaker; an identification unit that identifies, in accordance with the predetermined speech/motion, an audio source of interest among audio sources and a directional speaker as an object to be controlled; and an output control unit that causes the identified directional speakers to output audio supplied from the identified audio source.