TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure generally relates to digital assistants configured to cause outputs via input/output (I/O) devices and, more specifically, to a system and method for generating a modified input/output device policy for multiple users.

BACKGROUND

As manufacturers improve the functionality of devices such as vehicles, computers, mobile phones, appliances, and the like, through the addition of digital features, manufacturers and end-users may desire enhanced device functionalities. The manufacturers, as well as the relevant end-users, may desire digital features which improve user experiences and interactions and features which provide for greater connectivity. Certain manufacturers may include device-specific features, such as setup wizards and virtual assistants, to improve device utility and functionality. Further, certain software packages may be added to devices, either at the point of manufacture, or by the user after purchase, to improve device functionality. Such software packages may provide functionalities including, as examples, voice control of computer systems, facial recognition and biometric authentication, and the like.

While the features and functionalities described hereinabove provide for certain enhancements to a user's experience when interacting with a device, the same features and functionalities, as may be added to a device by a user or manufacturer, fail to include certain aspects which may allow for a further-enhanced user experience. First, certain currently-implemented digital assistants and other user experience features may fail to provide for adaptive adjustment of the operation of the assistant or feature. For example, a digital assistant configured to manage cell phone operation based on voice commands may allow for the selection of certain music to play through a device speaker, but may not be configured to learn a user's preferences and automatically update the music selection based on detected user responses such as facial expressions, speech, gestures, and the like.

In addition, certain currently-implemented digital assistants and other user experience features may fail to provide for adjustment of assistant or feature operation based on context or environment data. As an example, where two users are riding in a car together, both users may wish to be able to adjust the operation of the car's music-player system. However, the music-player system may be configured to respond to only one user, such as by only accepting a “next song” voice command from the driver. In such a situation, although the second user may wish to also adjust the music system, the system may be limited to accepting input only from a first user. As a result, although an adaptive mode supporting dual-user operation may be appropriate in a case of two users in the same environment, the same adaptive mode may not be supported by currently-implemented digital assistants and other user experience features.

It would therefore be advantageous to provide a solution that would overcome the challenges noted above.

SUMMARY

A summary of several example embodiments of the disclosure follows. This summary is provided for the convenience of the reader to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments and does not wholly define the breadth of the disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments nor to delineate the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. For convenience, the term “some embodiments” or “certain embodiments” may be used herein to refer to a single embodiment or multiple embodiments of the disclosure.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein include a method for generating a modified input/output (I/O) device policy for multiple users. The method comprises generating a modified policy based on a first policy and a second policy, wherein the modified policy is generated when a first user and a second user are located within a predetermined distance of each other, wherein the first policy is generated for the first user based on a first dataset including data related to the first user with respect to at least one I/O device, wherein the second policy is generated for the second user based on data related to the at least one I/O device; and executing at least one plan based on the modified policy, wherein executing the at least one plan further comprises causing the at least one I/O device to output a signal for causing at least one action by an external system with respect to the outside world.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein also include a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for causing a processing circuitry to execute a process, the process comprising generating a modified policy based on a first policy and a second policy, wherein the modified policy is generated when a first user and a second user are located within a predetermined distance of each other, wherein the first policy is generated for the first user based on a first dataset including data related to the first user with respect to at least one I/O device, wherein the second policy is generated for the second user based on data related to the at least one I/O device; and executing at least one plan based on the modified policy, wherein executing the at least one plan further comprises causing the at least one I/O device to output a signal for causing at least one action by an external system with respect to the outside world.

In addition, certain embodiments disclosed herein include a system for generating a modified input/output (I/O) device policy for multiple users. The system comprises: a processing circuitry; and a memory, the memory containing instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, configure the system to: generate a modified policy based on a first policy and a second policy, wherein the modified policy is generated when a first user and a second user are located within a predetermined distance of each other, wherein the first policy is generated for the first user based on a first dataset including data related to the first user with respect to at least one I/O device, wherein the second policy is generated for the second user based on data related to the at least one I/O device; and execute at least one plan based on the modified policy, wherein executing the at least one plan further comprises causing the at least one I/O device to output a signal for causing at least one action by an external system with respect to the outside world.

