Abstract: A system that determines that devices are co-located in an acoustic region and selects a single device to which to send incoming notifications for the acoustic region. The system may group devices into separate acoustic regions based on selection data that selects between similar audio data received from multiple devices. The system may select the best device for each acoustic region based on a frequency that the device was selected previously, input/output capabilities of the device, a proximity to a user, or the like. The system may send a notification to a single device in each of the acoustic regions so that a user receives a single notification instead of multiple unsynchronized notifications. The system may also determine that acoustic regions are associated with different locations and select acoustic regions to which to send a notification based on location.

Abstract: Systems and methods for precomputed communication parameters are disclosed. A request to establish a communication channel may be received from a first device at a remote system. The remote system may query precached communication parameters associated with the first device to identify modalities and/or codecs associated with the first device. The remote system may also identify the second device to establish the communication channel with and may identify modalities and/or codecs associated with the second device, such as by utilizing user accounts associated with the devices. A transport-address type may be identified, such as based on whether the devices are associated with the same network access point identifier and/or based on past communication channels established between the devices.

Abstract: This disclosure describes, in part, context-driven device arbitration techniques to select a speech interface device from multiple speech interface devices to provide a response to a command included in a speech utterance of a user. In some examples, the context-driven arbitration techniques may include executing multiple pipeline instances to analyze audio signals and device metadata received from each of the multiple speech interface devices which detected the speech utterance. A remote speech processing service may execute the multiple pipeline instances and analyze the audio signals and/or metadata, at various stages of the pipeline instances, to determine which speech interface device is to respond to the speech utterance.

Abstract: Techniques for a natural language processing (NLP) system to implement more than one assistant are described. The NLP system may receive a natural language input corresponding to more than one user command. The NLP system may respond to a first command, of the natural language input, using a TTS voice of a first NLP system assistant. The NLP system may respond to a second command, of the natural language input, using a TTS voice of a second NLP system assistant.

Abstract: A system that determines that devices are co-located in an acoustic region and selects a single device to which to send incoming notifications for the acoustic region. The system may group devices into separate acoustic regions based on selection data that selects between similar audio data received from multiple devices. The system may select the best device for each acoustic region based on a frequency that the device was selected previously, input/output capabilities of the device, a proximity to a user, or the like. The system may send a notification to a single device in each of the acoustic regions so that a user receives a single notification instead of multiple unsynchronized notifications. The system may also determine that acoustic regions are associated with different locations and select acoustic regions to which to send a notification based on location.

Abstract: Techniques for using validated communications identifiers of a user's communications profile to resolve entries in another user's contact list are described. When a user imports a contact list, the contact list may include multiple entities related to the same person. The system may identify one of the entries in the contact list that corresponds to a validated communications identifier stored in another user's communications profile. The system may identify other validated communications identifiers in the other user's communications profile and cross-reference them against the entries of the contact list. If the system determines the contact list includes entries for the different validated communications identifiers of the other user, the system may consolidate the entries into a single entry associated with the other user.

Abstract: Synchronized output of audio on a group of devices can comprise sending audio data from an audio distribution master device to one or more slave devices in the group. Scores can be assigned to respective audio playback devices, the scores being indicative of a performance level of the respective audio playback devices acting as a master device. The device with the highest score is designated as a candidate master device and one or more remaining devices are designated as a candidate slave(s). A throughput test is conducted with the highest scoring device acting as the candidate master device. The results of the throughput test are used to determine a master device for a group of devices. Latency of the throughput test can be reduced by using a prescribed time period for completion of the throughput test, and/or by selecting a first group configuration to passes the throughput test.

Abstract: Techniques for a natural language processing (NLP) system to implement more than one assistant during a dialog between one or more users and the NLP system are described. The NLP system may receive a first natural language input and associate same with a dialog identifier. The NLP system may output audio, responsive to the first natural language input, in a first NLP system assistant's voice. Thereafter, the NLP system may receive a second natural language input and associate same with the dialog identifier. The NLP system may output audio, responsive to the second natural language input, in a second NLP system assistant's voice.

Abstract: Techniques for a natural language processing (NLP) system to implement more than one assistant are described. The NLP system may receive a natural language input corresponding to more than one user command. The NLP system may respond to a first command, of the natural language input, using a TTS voice of a first NLP system assistant. The NLP system may respond to a second command, of the natural language input, using a TTS voice of a second NLP system assistant.

Abstract: Techniques for a natural language processing (NLP) system to implement more than one assistant are described. The NLP system may receive a natural language input from a device. The NLP system may also receive one or more signals representing one or more assistants to be implemented with respect to the natural language input. The NLP system may intelligently select an assistant to be invoked with respect to the natural language input. Once the assistant is selected, the NLP system may cause content, output to a user, to have characteristics specific to the assistant.

Abstract: A user can utter a voice command in an environment where multiple audio playback devices are located to have audio output on a single device, or a predefined group of devices in a synchronized manner. In instances when the voice command uttered by the user does not specify a target for audio output, an implicit target selection algorithm can evaluate one or more criteria to determine an appropriate target for output of the audio corresponding to the voice command. An example criterion is met if a predetermined time period has lapsed since a last utterance was detected by a device in the environment. However, other criteria can be evaluated for determining a target output device(s).

Abstract: Synchronized output of audio on a group of devices can comprise sending audio data from an audio distribution master device to one or more slave devices in the group. Scores can be assigned to respective audio playback devices, the scores being indicative of a performance level of the respective audio playback devices acting as a master device. The device with the highest score is designated as a candidate master device and one or more remaining devices are designated as a candidate slave(s). A throughput test is conducted with the highest scoring device acting as the candidate master device. The results of the throughput test are used to determine a master device for a group of devices. Latency of the throughput test can be reduced by using a prescribed time period for completion of the throughput test, and/or by selecting a first group configuration to passes the throughput test.

Abstract: Described herein is a system for allocating resources among multiple skills to enable multitasking. The system tracks use of resources using skill sessions. In one case, the system suspends a skill session to release a resource for allocation to another resource. In another case, the system determines if multiple skill sessions can remain active and use resources to provide output to the user at the same time.

Abstract: Techniques for synchronously outputting content by one or more devices are described. A system may receive a user command and may receive content responsive to the command from an application(s). The content may include various kinds of data (e.g., audio data, image data, video data, etc.). The system may also receive a presentation framework from the application, with the presentation framework indicating how content responsive to the input command should be synchronously output by one or more devices. The system determines one or more devices proximate to the user, determines which of the one or more devices may be used to output content indicated in the presentation framework, and causes the one or more devices to output content in a synchronous manner.

Abstract: A user can utter a voice command in an environment where multiple audio playback devices are located to have audio output on a single device, or a predefined group of devices in a synchronized manner. In instances when the voice command uttered by the user does not specify a target for audio output, an implicit target selection algorithm can evaluate one or more criteria to determine an appropriate target for output of the audio corresponding to the voice command. An example criterion is met if a predetermined time period has lapsed since a last utterance was detected by a device in the environment. However, other criteria can be evaluated for determining a target output device(s).

Abstract: Techniques for using validated communications identifiers of a user's communications profile to resolve entries in another user's contact list are described. When a user imports a contact list, the contact list may include multiple entities related to the same person. The system may identify one of the entries in the contact list that corresponds to a validated communications identifier stored in another user's communications profile. The system may identify other validated communications identifiers in the other user's communications profile and cross-reference them against the entries of the contact list. If the system determines the contact list includes entries for the different validated communications identifiers of the other user, the system may consolidate the entries into a single entry associated with the other user.

Abstract: Techniques for detecting spam accounts in a system are described. When a system creates a user profile, the system may ingest a blocked communications list. The system may determine how many times each blocked communications number represented in the ingested blocked communications list is included in blocked communications lists of various users of the system. If a blocked communications number represented in the ingested blocked communications list is included in at least a threshold number of other blocked communications lists, the system may mark the communications number as spam at a system level and engage in appropriate mitigation techniques (e.g., throttle the phone numbers activity, disable the phone number's ability to communicate with system devices, etc.).

Abstract: A speech-based system includes a local device in a user premises and a network-based control service that directs the local device to perform actions for a user. The control service may specify a first action that is to be performed upon detection by the local device of a stimulus. In some cases, performing the first action may rely on the availability of network communications with the control service or with another service. In these cases, the control service also specifies a second, fallback action that does not rely upon network communications. Upon detecting the stimulus, the local device performs the first action if network communications are available. If network communications are not available, the local device performs the second, fallback action.

Abstract: A speech-based system includes a local device in a user premises and a network-based control service that directs the local device to perform actions for a user. The control service may specify a first action that is to be performed upon detection by the local device of a stimulus. In some cases, performing the first action may rely on the availability of network communications with the control service or with another service. In these cases, the control service also specifies a second, fallback action that does not rely upon network communications. Upon detecting the stimulus, the local device performs the first action if network communications are available. If network communications are not available, the local device performs the second, fallback action.

Abstract: Techniques for synchronously outputting content by one or more devices are described. A system may receive a user command and may receive content responsive to the command from an application(s). The content may include various kinds of data (e.g., audio data, image data, video data, etc.). The system may also receive a presentation framework from the application, with the presentation framework indicating how content responsive to the input command should be synchronously output by one or more devices. The system determines one or more devices proximate to the user, determines which of the one or more devices may be used to output content indicated in the presentation framework, and causes the one or more devices to output content in a synchronous manner.