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: 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: A speech recognition platform configured to receive an audio signal that includes speech from a user and perform automatic speech recognition (ASR) on the audio signal to identify ASR results. The platform may identify: (i) a domain of a voice command within the speech based on the ASR results and based on context information associated with the speech or the user, and (ii) an intent of the voice command. In response to identifying the intent, the platform may perform a corresponding action, such as streaming audio to the device, setting a reminder for the user, purchasing an item on behalf of the user, making a reservation for the user or launching an application for the user. The speech recognition platform, in combination with the device, may therefore facilitate efficient interactions between the user and a voice-controlled device.

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 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: Synchronized output of audio on a group of devices comprises sending audio data from an audio distribution master device to one or more slave devices in the group. In group mode, a slave can be configured to receive audio data directly from a master device acting as a soft wireless access point (WAP) in an environment that includes a traditional WAP. In response to a user request to output audio via the slave in individual mode, the slave may be configured to dynamically switch to receiving audio data via the WAP in the environment without routing the audio data through the master device acting as the soft WAP. This dynamic switching to receiving audio data via the WAP in individual mode can reduce bandwidth consumption on the master device.

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: 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: 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: 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: A language-based system may be configured to interact with a user by understanding natural language of the user and may provide functions and services in response to such natural language. Certain functions and services may be provided by third-party applications that register serviceable intents with the language-based system. A serviceable intent indicates an intent that the third-party application is able to fulfill or service. Upon determining an intent of the user based on natural language interaction with the user, the system identifies one of the third-party applications that has specified a matching serviceable intent and selects that application for use by the user.

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 creating a persistent connection between client devices and one or more remote computing resources, which may form a portion of a network-accessible computing platform. This connection may be considered “permanent” or “nearly permanent” to allow the client device to both send data to and receive data from the remote resources at nearly any time. In addition, both the client device and the remote resources may establish virtual channels over this single connection. If no data is exchanged between the client device and the remote computing resources for a threshold amount of time, then the connection may be severed and the client device may attempt to establish a new connection with the remote computing resources.

Abstract: A speech-based system includes a local device in a user premises and a remote service that uses the local device to conduct speech dialogs with a user. The local device may also be directed to play audio such as music, audio books, etc. When designating audio for playing by the local device, the remote service may specify that the audio is either background audio or foreground audio. For background audio, the service indicates whether the background audio is mixable. For foreground audio, the service indicates an interrupt behavior. When the local device is playing background audio and receives foreground audio, the background audio is paused, attenuated, or not changed based on the indicated interrupt behavior of the foreground audio and whether the background audio has been designated as being mixable.

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: Synchronized output of audio on a group of devices comprises sending audio data from an audio distribution master device to one or more slave devices in the group. In group mode, a slave can be configured to receive audio data directly from a master device acting as a soft wireless access point (WAP) in an environment that includes a traditional WAP. In response to a user request to output audio via the slave in individual mode, the slave may be configured to dynamically switch to receiving audio data via the WAP in the environment without routing the audio data through the master device acting as the soft WAP. This dynamic switching to receiving audio data via the WAP in individual mode can reduce bandwidth consumption on the master device.

Abstract: A speech recognition platform configured to receive an audio signal that includes speech from a user and perform automatic speech recognition (ASR) on the audio signal to identify ASR results. The platform may identify: (i) a domain of a voice command within the speech based on the ASR results and based on context information associated with the speech or the user, and (ii) an intent of the voice command. In response to identifying the intent, the platform may perform a corresponding action, such as streaming audio to the device, setting a reminder for the user, purchasing an item on behalf of the user, making a reservation for the user or launching an application for the user. In some instances, the speech recognition platform engages in a back-and-forth dialog with the user in order to properly fulfill the user's request.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for presenting multiple media items based on one or more rules defining how the items are to be presented. One media item may be presented, and during presentation any number of additional media items may be received or scheduled for presentation. Rules may define which media items have priority over others, which media items may interrupt others or be interrupted, which media items may be delayed or presented early, whether particular media items are time-critical such that they are not to be delayed but rather should take presentation priority over others, etc. Metadata may be associated with particular media items or categories thereof. The metadata can provide details regarding how the rules should be applied to those media items. User feedback may also be obtained, and may affect the further application of the rules.

Abstract: Techniques for creating a persistent connection between client devices and one or more remote computing resources, which may form a portion of a network-accessible computing platform. This connection may be considered “permanent” or “nearly permanent” to allow the client device to both send data to and receive data from the remote resources at nearly any time. In addition, both the client device and the remote resources may establish virtual channels over this single connection. If no data is exchanged between the client device and the remote computing resources for a threshold amount of time, then the connection may be severed and the client device may attempt to establish a new connection with the remote computing resources.