US 12,308,026 B2
Vehicle avatar devices for interactive virtual assistant
Shenbin Zhao, Shanghai (CN); Jianchao Lin, Shanghai (CN); Nan Li, Beijing (CN); David Yu, Shanghai (CN); Lei Shiah, Shanghai (CN); Chien-Pang Lin, New Taipei (TW); Bruno Xu, Beijing (CN); Feng Xia, Chengdu (CN); and Feng Liu, Shanghai (CN)
Assigned to Cerence Operating Company, Burlington, MA (US)
Filed by Cerence Operating Company, Burlington, MA (US)
Filed on Mar. 2, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/684,529.
Application 17/684,529 is a continuation of application No. PCT/CN2019/104012, filed on Sep. 2, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0012342 A1, Jan. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. G10L 15/22 (2006.01); G06F 3/16 (2006.01); G10L 25/63 (2013.01); H04R 1/40 (2006.01); H04R 3/00 (2006.01); H05B 47/12 (2020.01); B60Q 9/00 (2006.01); G01C 21/36 (2006.01)
CPC G10L 15/22 (2013.01) [G06F 3/167 (2013.01); G10L 25/63 (2013.01); H04R 1/406 (2013.01); H04R 3/005 (2013.01); H05B 47/12 (2020.01); B60Q 9/00 (2013.01); G01C 21/3629 (2013.01); G10L 2015/223 (2013.01); H04R 2499/13 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising using a vehicle's voice assistant, said voice assistant being an interactive voice assistant, wherein said vehicle comprises plural zones, each of which is associated with a corresponding microphone and a corresponding avatar, wherein using said vehicle's voice assistant includes:
receiving a speech signal from a microphone in a zone of said vehicle, said signal including a command or question uttered by a speaker in said zone, said zone being one of a plurality of zones in said vehicle, each of which has a corresponding microphone;
sending zone information to an avatar associated with the zone, the avatar being one of a plurality of avatars, each of which is associated with a corresponding one of said zones; and
controlling a lighting display of the avatar device to indicate a status of said vehicle's voice assistant, said status being one of a plurality statuses.