Abstract: Techniques for joining a device of a third user to a communication between a device of a first user and a device of a second user are described herein. For instance, two or more users may utilize respective computing devices to engage in a telephone call, a video call, an instant-messaging session, or any other type of communication in which the users communicate with each other audibly and/or visually. In some instances, a first user of the two users may issue a voice command requesting to join a device of a third user to the communication. One or more computing devices may recognize this voice command and may attempt to join a device of a third user to the communication.

Abstract: Configurable core domains of a speech processing system are described. A core domain output data format for a given command is originally configured with default content portions. When a user indicates additional content should be output for the command, the speech processing system creates a new output data format for the core domain. The new output data format is user specific and includes both default content portions as well as user preferred content portions.

Abstract: A system has multiple audio-enabled devices that communicate with one another over an open microphone mode of communication. When a user says a trigger word, the nearest device validates the trigger word and opens a communication channel with another device. As the user talks, the device receives the speech and generates an audio signal representation that includes the user speech and may additionally include other background or interfering sound from the environment. The device transmits the audio signal to the other device as part of a conversation, while continually analyzing the audio signal to detect when the user stops talking. This analysis may include watching for a lack of speech in the audio signal for a period of time, or an abrupt change in context of the speech (indicating the speech is from another source), or canceling noise or other interfering sound to isolate whether the user is still speaking.

Abstract: Techniques for naming devices via voice commands are described herein. For instance, a user may issue a voice command to a voice-controlled device stating, “you are the kitchen device”. Thereafter, the device may respond to voice commands directed, by name, to this device. For instance, the user may issue a voice command requesting to “play music on my kitchen device”. Given that the user has configured the device to respond to this name, the device may respond to the command by outputting the requested music.

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: A system has multiple audio-enabled devices that communicate with one another over an open microphone mode of communication. When a user says a trigger word, the nearest device validates the trigger word and opens a communication channel with another device. As the user talks, the device receives the speech and generates an audio signal representation that includes the user speech and may additionally include other background or interfering sound from the environment. The device transmits the audio signal to the other device as part of a conversation, while continually analyzing the audio signal to detect when the user stops talking. This analysis may include watching for a lack of speech in the audio signal for a period of time, or an abrupt change in context of the speech (indicating the speech is from another source), or canceling noise or other interfering sound to isolate whether the user is still speaking.

Abstract: A hub is configured to provide voice control without assistance from a remote system, which allows the hub to provide a user with the ability to control second devices in an environment by issuing voice commands, even when the hub is unable to communicate with the remote system over a wide area network (e.g., the Internet). The hub is also configured to execute rules without assistance from the remote system, which allows the hub to execute rules, even when the hub is unable to communicate with the remote system over a wide area network (e.g., the Internet).

Abstract: Techniques for naming devices via voice commands are described herein. For instance, a user may issue a voice command to a voice-controlled device stating, “you are the kitchen device”. Thereafter, the device may respond to voice commands directed, by name, to this device. For instance, the user may issue a voice command requesting to “play music on my kitchen device”. Given that the user has configured the device to respond to this name, the device may respond to the command by outputting the requested music.

Abstract: Configurable core domains of a speech processing system are described. A core domain output data format for a given command is originally configured with default content portions. When a user indicates additional content should be output for the command, the speech processing system creates a new output data format for the core domain. The new output data format is user specific and includes both default content portions as well as user preferred content portions.

Abstract: A system is provided for determining privacy controls for output including sensitive data. A user may subscribe to receive an output in the future based on the occurrence of an event. The system may determine when the event is occurred triggering the output, and determine that the output includes outputting sensitive data. The system may determine output data that does not include the sensitive data, send the output data to a device, and may request the user to provide an authentication input to receive the sensitive data.

Abstract: A system is provided for determining privacy controls for output including sensitive data. A user may subscribe to receive an output in the future based on the occurrence of an event. The system may determine when the event is occurred triggering the output, and determine that the output includes outputting sensitive data. The system may determine output data that does not include the sensitive data, send the output data to a device, and may request the user to provide an authentication input to receive the sensitive data.

Abstract: A hub is configured to provide voice control without assistance from a remote system, which allows the hub to provide a user with the ability to control second devices in an environment by issuing voice commands, even when the hub is unable to communicate with the remote system over a wide area network (e.g., the Internet). The hub is also configured to execute rules without assistance from the remote system, which allows the hub to execute rules, even when the hub is unable to communicate with the remote system over a wide area network (e.g., the Internet).

Abstract: Techniques for joining a device of a third user to a communication between a device of a first user and a device of a second user are described herein. For instance, two or more users may utilize respective computing devices to engage in a telephone call, a video call, an instant-messaging session, or any other type of communication in which the users communicate with each other audibly and/or visually. In some instances, a first user of the two users may issue a voice command requesting to join a device of a third user to the communication. One or more computing devices may recognize this voice command and may attempt to join a device of a third user to the communication.

Abstract: Configurable core domains of a speech processing system are described. A core domain output data format for a given command is originally configured with default content portions. When a user indicates additional content should be output for the command, the speech processing system creates a new output data format for the core domain. The new output data format is user specific and includes both default content portions as well as user preferred content portions.

Abstract: Techniques for performing outputting additional content associated with but nonresponsive to an input command are described. A system receives input data from a device. The system determines an intent representing the input data and receives first output data responsive to the input data. The system determines, based on context data, that additional content associated with the first output data but nonresponsive to the input data should be output. The system receives second output data associated with but nonresponsive to the input data thereafter. The system then presents first content corresponding to the first output data and second content corresponding to the second output data.

Abstract: Techniques for performing outputting additional content associated with but nonresponsive to an input command are described. A system receives input data from a device. The system determines an intent representing the input data and receives first output data responsive to the input data. The system determines, based on context data, that additional content associated with the first output data but nonresponsive to the input data should be output. The system receives second output data associated with but nonresponsive to the input data thereafter. The system then presents first content corresponding to the first output data and second content corresponding to the second output data.

Abstract: A system is provided for determining privacy controls for output including sensitive data. A user may subscribe to receive an output in the future based on the occurrence of an event. The system may determine when the event is occurred triggering the output, and determine that the output includes outputting sensitive data. The system may determine output data that does not include the sensitive data, send the output data to a device, and may request the user to provide an authentication input to receive the sensitive data.

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 joining a device of a third user to a communication between a device of a first user and a device of a second user are described herein. For instance, two or more users may utilize respective computing devices to engage in a telephone call, a video call, an instant-messaging session, or any other type of communication in which the users communicate with each other audibly and/or visually. In some instances, a first user of the two users may issue a voice command requesting to join a device of a third user to the communication. One or more computing devices may recognize this voice command and may attempt to join a device of a third user to the communication.