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: 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: A speech-based system utilizes a speech interface device located in the home of a user. The system may interact with different users based on different user profiles. The system may include messaging services that generate and/or provide messages to the user through the speech interface device. The speech interface device may have indicators that are capable of being illuminated in different colors. To notify a user regarding the currently active user profile, each user profile is associated with a different color and the color of the active profile is displayed on the speech interface device when the user is interacting with the system. To notify the user regarding awaiting messages, different types of messages are associated with different colors and the colors of the message types of waiting messages are displayed on the speech interface whenever the user is not interacting with the system.

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 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: A system in which a customer service agent (CSA) is able to assist a customer with obtaining a desired response from a speech-controlled appliance while protecting customer data. The customer service agent submits queries to a natural language understanding (NLU) processor that performs entity resolution using personalized library information stored in an entity library based on the customer identity information and/or an device identifier. The CSA is shielded from the entity library itself, as well as data stored on the speech-controlled appliance. The CSA can instruct the NLU processor to deliver results to multiple endpoints, including both the customer's appliance and the CSA agent's console.

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: 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 speech-based system is configured to use its audio-based user interface to present various types of device status information such as wireless signal strengths, communication parameters, battery levels, and so forth. In described embodiments, the system is configured to understand spoken user requests for device and system status. For example, the user may speak a request to obtain the current wireless signal strength of the speech-based system. The speech-based system may respond by determining the signal strength and by playing speech or other sound informing the user of the signal strength. Furthermore, the system may monitor operational parameters to detect conditions that may degrade the user experience, and may report such conditions using generated speech or other sounds.

Abstract: A speech-based system utilizes a speech interface device located in the home of a user. The system may interact with different users based on different user profiles. The system may include messaging services that generate and/or provide messages to the user through the speech interface device. The speech interface device may have indicators that are capable of being illuminated in different colors. To notify a user regarding the currently active user profile, each user profile is associated with a different color and the color of the active profile is displayed on the speech interface device when the user is interacting with the system. To notify the user regarding awaiting messages, different types of messages are associated with different colors and the colors of the message types of waiting messages are displayed on the speech interface whenever the user is not interacting with the system.

Abstract: A system and method for performing text-to-speech (TTS) processing of textual works, such a literary works. The system and method process text of these works and determine offsets corresponding to one or more of chapters, paragraphs, sentences, words, section of dialogs, sections of other context. Using these offsets, the system and method determine which portion and how much of a work to process using TTS processing at a time to produce a high quality audio output. This audio output may then be sent to a user device to allow the user device to play the audio output of the TTS processing.

Abstract: A user device outputs an unlock code or sends a signal that automatically unlocks a locked container housing a deliverable product when the user device authenticates the container, thereby indicating that the container has been delivered to an intended recipient. The device is associated with a user profile and stores a private key that is inaccessible except by the device. When a product order becomes associated with the user profile, a public key that pairs with the private key is encoded on a storage medium of the container. When the container is brought into proximity with the device, if the device determines that the public key encoded on the storage medium corresponds to the private key stored on the device, the device displays or audibly outputs an unlock code or sends a wireless signal that automatically unlocks the container. The container can also include sensors for detecting theft or tampering.

Abstract: Weather data is used to create and/or update a flight plan prior to and/or during flight by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The weather data may be received using sensors onboard the UAV and/or the weather data may be received from other sources, such as weather aggregators, other UAVs, other vehicles, and/or local weather stations. In some embodiments, a UAV may be prematurely grounded after initiating flight toward a destination in response to some weather conditions identified in near real-time weather data, such as heavy winds and/or heavy precipitation. In various embodiments, the UAVs may leverage air stream information included in the weather data to cause flight along with an air stream, and thereby reduce power resources used to fly to a destination.

Abstract: A system and method for performing text-to-speech (TTS) processing of textual works, such a literary works. The system and method process text of these works and determine offsets corresponding to one or more of chapters, paragraphs, sentences, words, section of dialogues, sections of other context. Using these offsets, the system and method determine which portion and how much of a work to process using TTS processing at a time to produce a high quality audio output. This audio output may then be sent to a user device to allow the user device to play the audio output of the TTS processing.

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 speech-based system is configured to use its audio-based user interface to present various types of device status information such as wireless signal strengths, communication parameters, battery levels, and so forth. In described embodiments, the system is configured to understand spoken user requests for device and system status. For example, the user may speak a request to obtain the current wireless signal strength of the speech-based system. The speech-based system may respond by determining the signal strength and by playing speech or other sound informing the user of the signal strength. Furthermore, the system may monitor operational parameters to detect conditions that may degrade the user experience, and may report such conditions using generated speech or other sounds.

Abstract: An audio device may be configured to produce output audio and to also capture input audio for speech recognition. Beamforming may be used to produce directional audio signals that emphasize sounds received from different directions. Acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) may be used to remove components of output audio from the directional input signals. AEC may be implemented by an adaptive filter based on dynamically optimized filter coefficients. The filter coefficients may be analyzed to detect the presence of potentially problematic reflective surfaces near the audio device. When such a reflective surface is detected, the user may be notified by illuminating a directional indicator on a housing of the audio device, where the directional indicator indicates the direction of the potentially problematic surface relative to the audio device.