IP Library Granted Patent US 11,107,468
Granted Patent B2
US 11,107,468 · App. 16/367,147 · Granted Aug 31, 2021

Apparatus, method, and program product for context-based communications

Inventors: John Carl Mese (Cary, NC); Nathan J. Peterson (Oxford, NC); Russell Speight VanBlon (Raleigh, NC); Mark Patrick Delaney (Raleigh, NC)
Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE. LTD.
G10L15/22H04L67/141
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,107,468
App. No.
16/367,147
Granted
Aug 31, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Apparatuses, methods, and program products are disclosed for context-based communications. One apparatus includes a processor, a microphone, and a memory that stores code executable by the processor. The code is executable by the processor to receive, via the microphone, information indicating to initiate communications between the apparatus and a second device. The code is executable by the processor to transmit a request for the communications to the second device. The code is executable by the processor to, in response to transmitting the request, receive contextual awareness information corresponding to the second device. The code is executable by the processor to facilitate the communications between the apparatus and the second device based on the contextual awareness information.

Claims (35)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a microphone; and

a memory that stores code executable by the processor to:

receive, via the microphone, information indicating to initiate intercom communications between the apparatus and a second device;

transmit a request for the intercom communications to the second device;

in response to transmitting the request, receive contextual awareness information corresponding to an ability of the second device to participate in intercom communications; and

facilitate the intercom communications between the apparatus and the second device based on the contextual awareness information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the information indicating to initiate the communications comprises information received from a voice command.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a voice-controlled electronic device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the contextual awareness information comprises information related to an activity of the second device.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the activity comprises playing music, performing a search, providing audible information, or some combination thereof.

6. A method comprising:

receiving, at a microphone of a first device, information indicating to initiate intercom communications between the first device and a second device;

transmitting, from the first device, a request for the intercom communications to the second device;

in response to transmitting the request, receiving contextual awareness information corresponding to an ability of the second device to participate in intercom communications; and

facilitating the intercom communications between the first device and the second device based on the contextual awareness information.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the information indicating to initiate the communications comprises information received from a voice command.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first device and the second device are voice-controlled electronic devices.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the contextual awareness information comprises information related to an activity of the second device.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the activity comprises playing music, performing a search, providing audible information, or some combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the contextual awareness information comprises information related to a user near the second device.

12. The method of claim 6 , wherein the contextual awareness information comprises an audible response, a setting, a selection, or some combination thereof corresponding to a user of the second device.

13. The method of claim 6 , further comprising facilitating the communications between the first device and the second device based on a user of the first device.

14. The method of claim 6 , further comprising facilitating the communications between the first device and the second device based on a hierarchical relationship corresponding to a first user of the first device and a second user of the second device.

15. A program product comprising a computer readable storage medium that stores code executable by a processor, the executable code comprising code to perform:

receiving, at a microphone of a first device, information indicating to initiate intercom communications between the first device and a second device;

transmitting, from the first device, a request for the intercom communications to the second device;

in response to transmitting the request, receiving contextual awareness information corresponding to an ability of the second device to participate in intercom communications; and

facilitating the intercom communications between the first device and the second device based on the contextual awareness information.

16. The program product of claim 15 , wherein the contextual awareness information comprises information related to an activity of the second device.

17. The program product of claim 15 , wherein the contextual awareness information comprises information related to a user near the second device.

18. The program product of claim 15 , wherein the contextual awareness information comprises an audible response, a setting, a selection, or some combination thereof corresponding to a user of the second device.

19. The program product of claim 15 , wherein the executable code further comprises code to perform facilitating the communications between the first device and the second device based on a user of the first device.

20. The program product of claim 15 , wherein the executable code further comprises code to perform facilitating the communications between the first device and the second device based on a hierarchical relationship corresponding to a first user of the first device and a second user of the second device.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2025
From: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 069870/0670 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2022
From: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD
To: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 060638/0044 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2019
From: MESE, JOHN CARL; PETERSON, NATHAN J; VANBLON, RUSSELL SPEIGHT; DELANEY, MARK PATRICK
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 048730/0511 →