A method for processing speech, comprising semantically parsing a received natural language speech input with respect to a plurality of predetermined command grammars in an automated speech processing system; determining if the parsed speech input unambiguously corresponds to a command and is sufficiently complete for reliable processing, then processing the command; if the speech input ambiguously corresponds to a single command or is not sufficiently complete for reliable processing, then prompting a user for further speech input to reduce ambiguity or increase completeness, in dependence on a relationship of previously received speech input and at least one command grammar of the plurality of predetermined command grammars, reparsing the further speech input in conjunction with previously parsed speech input, and iterating as necessary. The system also monitors abort, fail or cancel conditions in the speech input.

A method for processing speech, comprising semantically parsing a received natural language speech input with respect to a plurality of predetermined command grammars in an automated speech processing system; determining if the parsed speech input unambiguously corresponds to a command and is sufficiently complete for reliable processing, then processing the command; if the speech input ambiguously corresponds to a single command or is not sufficiently complete for reliable processing, then prompting a user for further speech input to reduce ambiguity or increase completeness, in dependence on a relationship of previously received speech input and at least one command grammar of the plurality of predetermined command grammars, reparsing the further speech input in conjunction with previously parsed speech input, and iterating as necessary. The system also monitors abort, fail or cancel conditions in the speech input.

Provided is a method and system for controlling an Internet of Things (IoT) device. An IoT control method configured as a computer may include registering an IoT device as a buddy through an open application programmer interface (API) of a messenger service platform; creating a group chat room by grouping a plurality of IoT devices among IoT devices registered as the buddy; and providing a messaging service participated in by the plurality of IoT devices through the group chat room.

Techniques are provided for power optimization of home automation system devices (e.g., battery-powered devices). In one example embodiment, the power optimization is based on service states for a room associated with the device. A service state is determined for each of one or more services available in the room. The device is maintained in a low-power inactive state while there are no active services in the room. In response to at least one service being activated, the device transitions from the inactive state to a full-power in-use state. Such transition is performed preemptively, absent any current attempt to use the device by a user or another device. In response to expiration of a timer since a last use of the device or the transition to the in-use state was made and no actual use occurred, the device exits the in-use state and may eventually return to the inactive state.

Provided is a method for food management with a kitchen appliance for at least partially automated processing of a recipe. The method includes the following steps: receiving user-specific health data that can be assigned to a user profile, and generating an evaluation of the health data for the user profile by a computing unit. The present disclosure also provides a kitchen appliance for preparing food and a system for preparing food with the kitchen appliance.

Disclosed are various embodiments for an automated temperature logging and predictive alerting system for monitoring items that are being cooled or heated. In one embodiment, a predictive logging application may compare a predicted temperature curve of an item to a predefined slope to predict whether or not the item will meet a target threshold. The target threshold may be a target temperature or duration rule that can be aggregated discontinuously over a single day or multiple days. If the projected temperature curve is predicted to not meet the target threshold, the logging application may send alerts notifying a client of available corrective actions. In projecting the predicted slope, the predictive logging application may train machine learning models to analyze historical data associated with the item and the user.

A method and system for dynamically reconfiguring control pairing in a system comprising a controlling device, a first controlled device, and a second controlled device. An example method includes, when the controlling device is set to control state of the first controlled device, a processor determining that the first controlled device has experienced an operational failure. Further, the example method includes, responsive to the determining, the processor engaging in dynamic reconfiguration of the system, the dynamic reconfiguration causing the controlling device to control state of a second device instead of or in addition to the controlling device controlling state of the first controlled device.

Systems and methods are disclosed with respect to using a distributed ledger, such as a blockchain, for tracking changes for a user. Example methods may include implementing one or more servers, each of the one or more servers maintaining a copy of a distributed ledger; detecting a change in a policy or claim status for a user; responding to the detection of the change, including: (i) generating, via a server of the one or more servers, a transaction record for the distributed ledger including data corresponding to the change; (ii) generating a hash value representative of at least the transaction record using at least a generated nonce value; and (iii) storing the transaction record and the hash value to each copy of the distributed ledger at the one or more servers; and performing a function based upon the transaction record stored to the distributed ledger.

A method and system for dynamically reconfiguring control pairing in a system comprising a controlling device, a first controlled device, and a second controlled device. An example method includes, when the controlling device is set to control state of the first controlled device, a processor determining that the first controlled device has experienced an operational failure. Further, the example method includes, responsive to the determining, the processor engaging in dynamic reconfiguration of the system, the dynamic reconfiguration causing the controlling device to control state of a second device instead of or in addition to the controlling device controlling state of the first controlled device.

Various arrangements for integrating control of multiple cloud-based smart-home devices are presented. Registration information may be received for a first and second smart-home device that are controlled using different cloud-based server systems. A determination may be made that that the first smart-home device and the second smart-home device share a common function. The first smart-home device and the second smart-home device may be assigned to a common operating characteristic group based on the common function being shared by the first smart-home device and the second smart-home device. A control element may be provided that allows for control of smart-home devices with the common operating characteristic group. The control element may be used to control the common function.