Abstract: Techniques for remotely executing a secondary-device driver for generating commands for a secondary device are described herein. For instance, a secondary device (or “appliance”) may reside within an environment, along with a device to which the secondary device communicatively couples. The device may be configured to send control signals to the secondary device for causing the secondary device to perform certain operations. For instance, a user in the environment may provide, to the device, a request that the secondary device perform a certain operation. The device, which may lack some or all of a device driver associated with the secondary device, may then work with a remote service that executes the device driver for the purpose of receiving a command from the device driver and sending the command along to the secondary device. Upon receiving the command, the secondary device may perform the operation.

Abstract: Techniques for creating groups of devices for controlling these groups with voice commands are described herein. For instance, an environment may include an array of secondary devices (or “smart appliances”, or simply “devices”) that are configured to perform an array of operations. Users may request to create different groups of these devices, such that the users may control entire groups at a single time with individual voice commands.

Abstract: Techniques for creating groups of devices for controlling these groups with voice commands are described herein. For instance, an environment may include an array of secondary devices (or “smart appliances”, or simply “devices”) that are configured to perform an array of operations. Users may request to create different groups of these devices, such that the users may control entire groups at a single time with individual voice commands.

Abstract: Techniques for remotely executing a secondary-device driver for generating commands for a secondary device are described herein. For instance, a secondary device (or “appliance”) may reside within an environment, along with a device to which the secondary device communicatively couples. The device may be configured to send control signals to the secondary device for causing the secondary device to perform certain operations. For instance, a user in the environment may provide, to the device, a request that the secondary device perform a certain operation. The device, which may lack some or all of a device driver associated with the secondary device, may then work with a remote service that executes the device driver for the purpose of receiving a command from the device driver and sending the command along to the secondary device. Upon receiving the command, the secondary device may perform the operation.

Abstract: Techniques for remotely executing a secondary-device driver for generating commands for a secondary device are described herein. For instance, a secondary device (or “appliance”) may reside within an environment, along with a device to which the secondary device communicatively couples. The device may be configured to send control signals to the secondary device for causing the secondary device to perform certain operations. For instance, a user in the environment may provide, to the device, a request that the secondary device perform a certain operation. The device, which may lack some or all of a device driver associated with the secondary device, may then work with a remote service that executes the device driver for the purpose of receiving a command from the device driver and sending the command along to the secondary device. Upon receiving the command, the secondary device may perform the operation.

Abstract: Techniques for creating groups of devices for controlling these groups with voice commands are described herein. For instance, an environment may include an array of secondary devices (or “smart appliances”, or simply “devices”) that are configured to perform an array of operations. Users may request to create different groups of these devices, such that the users may control entire groups at a single time with individual voice commands.

Abstract: Techniques for defining a set of predefined device capabilities generally offered by available voice-controllable devices are described herein. Thereafter, as a particular user introduces new secondary devices into his environment and registers these devices, the techniques may identify the capabilities of the new device and map these capabilities to one or more of the predefined device capabilities of the set.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure permit upgrading software and/or testing operation of an electronic device within an unopened package. In one embodiment, an electronic device can be powered on inductively while contained in its unopened packaging. In other aspects, the powered on electronic device can receive a software upgrade and/or test information. In addition, the electronic device can validate the software upgrade, and can replace software present in the electronic device with the received software upgrade. The electronic device also can validate at least a portion of the test information, and can implement one or more tests as conveyed in the test information. Further, the electronic device can communicate information wirelessly in response to the test(s). Such information can be indicative or otherwise representative of one or more results of the implemented test(s).

Abstract: A voice controlled assistant has a housing to hold one or more microphones, one or more speakers, and various computing components. The voice controlled assistant facilitates transactions and other functions primarily through verbal interactions with a user. In some situations, a transaction may require entry of a code, which the user may wish to enter in a non-verbal way. A control knob is rotatably mounted to the housing and non-verbal manual entry of the code may be accomplished via rotations of the control knob. In other implementations, the code may be entered through use of a companion application executing on another device separate from the voice controlled assistant.

Abstract: Network-based services may be provided to a user through the user of a speech-based user device located within a user environment. The speech-based user device may accept speech commands from a user and may also interact with the user by means of generated speech. Operating state of the speech-based user device may be provided to the network-based service and stored by the service. Applications that provide services through the speech-based interface may request and obtain the stored state information.

Abstract: Network-based services may be provided to a user through the user of a speech-based user device located within a user environment. The speech-based user device may accept speech commands from a user and may also interact with the user by means of generated speech. Operating state of the speech-based user device may be provided to the network-based service and stored by the service. Applications that provide services through the speech-based interface may request and obtain the stored state information.