Systems and Methods For Disabling Voice Assistant Audio Monitoring and Data Capture For Smart Speakers and Smart Systems
A hotel room internet-of-things (IOT) controller includes: a housing configured for table-top mounting; a system controller operable by a hotel guest to wirelessly control environmental parameters in the hotel room using voice commands; a touch interactive screen extending above the housing; a voice capture circuit; and a switch disposed proximate an outside surface of the housing and manually operable between: i) a first position in which the voice capture circuit is connected to the system controller; ii) a second position in which the voice capture circuit is disconnected from the system controller; and iii) an additional step and secondary method to confirm through a double opt-in or opt-out through a user interface on the device or mobile device connected to the system.
1 . A hotel room internet-of-things (IOT) controller, comprising:
a housing configured for table-top mounting;
a system controller operable by a hotel guest to wirelessly control environmental parameters in the hotel room using voice commands;
a touch interactive screen extending above the housing;
a voice capture circuit; and
a switch disposed proximate an outside surface of the housing and manually operable between: i) a first position in which the voice capture circuit is connected to the system controller; and ii) a second position in which the voice capture circuit is disconnected from the system controller.
2 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein:
the voice capture circuit is enabled when the switch is in the first position; and
the voice capture circuit is disabled when the switch is in the second position.
3 . The controller of claim 2 , wherein:
the system controller supplies power to the voice capture circuit when the switch is in the first position; and
no power is supplied to the voice capture circuit when the switch is in the second position.
4 . The controller of claim 3 , wherein:
the switch is disposed proximate an outside surface of the housing in the first position; and
the switch is extended from the outside surface in the second position.
5 . The controller of claim 4 , wherein the switch comprises one of a toggle, a button, a slide mechanism, a pull tab, and dial.
6 . The controller of claim 5 , wherein the voice circuit comprises a microphone.
7 . The controller of claim 6 , wherein the voice circuit further comprises a voice processor.
8 . The controller of claim 2 , further comprising a selectively illuminated region exhibiting a first state when the switch is in the first position and exhibiting a second state when the switch is in the second position.
9 . The controller of claim 8 , wherein the first and second states correspond to first and colors, respectively.
10 . The controller of claim 9 , wherein the selectively illuminated region comprises a boundary surrounding at least a portion of the switch. ii. The controller of claim 1 , further comprising a first connecter associated with the voice circuit and a second connector associated with the system controller.
12 . The controller of claim ii, wherein:
moving the switch from the second position to the first position brings the first connector into mechanical and electrical engagement with the second connector; and
moving the switch from the first position to the second position mechanically and electrically disconnects the first connector from the second connector.
13 . The controller of claim 12 , wherein the first and second connectors comprise USB connections.
14 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the system controller is configured to provide at least one of:
a first audio confirmation when the switch is in the first position; and
a second audio confirmation when the switch is in the second position.
15 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the display is configured to provide at least one of:
a first visual confirmation when the switch is in the first position; and
a second visual confirmation when the switch is in the second position.
16 . A smart speaker, comprising:
a system control circuit configured to execute tasks in response to voice commands;
a voice processing circuit; and
a manual actuator configured to selectively: i) connect the voice processing circuit to the system control circuit; and ii) isolate the voice processing circuit from the system control circuit.
17 . The smart speaker of claim 16 , wherein the manual actuator is movable between:
a first position in which the voice processing circuit is enabled; and
a second position in which the voice processing circuit is disabled.
18 . The smart speaker of claim 17 , wherein the voice processing circuit comprises a microphone.
19 . The smart speaker of claim 18 , whereon the microphone is physically separated from the system control circuit when the manual actuator is in the second position.
20 . A method of controlling the recording of a sensed event by a smart device of the type including a first circuit board having a system controller and a second circuit board having a sensor, the method comprising:
connecting the first circuit board to the second circuit board to enable recording;
disconnecting the first circuit board from the second circuit board to prevent recording; and
confirming the connected or disconnected state on at least one of: i) a display located on the device; and ii) a mobile device.