Virtual assistant identification of nearby computing devices
In one example, a method includes method comprising: receiving audio data generated by a microphone of a current computing device; identifying, based on the audio data, one or more computing devices that each emitted a respective audio signal in response to speech reception being activated at the current computing device; and selecting either the current computing device or a particular computing device from the identified one or more computing devices to satisfy a spoken utterance determined based on the audio data.
1. A battery powered device comprising:
one or more microphones,
one or more speakers;
one or more processors; and
memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause one or more of the processors to:
recognize speaking of a predetermined phrase in audio data received via one or more of the microphones;
in response to recognizing the speaking of the predetermined phrase:
transmit a request that:
causes a second computing device, that is located in a physical environment with the battery powered device, to emit a second device audio signal via a second device speaker component of the second computing device, and
causes a third computing device, that is also located in the physical environment, to emit a third device audio signal via a third device speaker component of the third computing device,
wherein the second device audio signal has a second device emission frequency,
wherein the third device audio signal has a third device emission frequency, and
wherein the second device audio signal and the third device audio signal are each above a range of human hearing;
detect, at the battery powered device and via one or more of the microphones of the battery powered device, the second device audio signal and the third device audio signal;
determine, based on at least (i) the second device audio signal as detected at the battery powered device and (ii) the third device audio signal as detected at the battery powered device, that the second computing device is closer to to the battery powered device than is the third computing device; and
in response to determining that the second computing device is closer to the battery powered device than is the third computing device:
cause the second computing device to provide audible output.
2. The battery powered device of claim 1 , wherein in determining, based on at least (i) the second device audio signal as detected at the battery powered device and (ii) the third device audio signal as detected at the battery powered device, that the second computing device is closer to the battery powered device than is the third computing device, one or more of the processors are to:
determine that the second computing device is closer to the battery powered device than is the third computing device based on a second device audio signal strength of the second device audio signal as detected at the battery powered device and a third device audio signal strength of the third device audio signal as detected at the battery powered device.
3. The battery powered device of claim 2 , wherein the second device emission frequency differs from the third device emission frequency.
4. The battery powered device of claim 2 , wherein in causing the particular computing device to provide the audible output, one or more of the processors are to:
cause the particular computing device to play music as the audible output.
5. The battery powered device of claim 1 , wherein in transmitting the request, one or more of the processors are to:
transmit a second device request that causes the second computing device to emit the second device audio signal, and
transmit a third device request that causes the third computing device to emit the third device audio signal.
6. The battery powered device of claim 5 , wherein the second device request specifies one or more audio characteristics of the second device audio signal and wherein the third device request specifies one or more audio characteristics of the third device audio signal.
7. The battery powered device of claim 6 , wherein the one or more audio characteristics of the second device audio signal include the second device emission frequency for the second device audio signal, and wherein the one or more audio characteristics of the third device audio signal include the third device emission frequency for the third device audio signal.
8. The battery powered device of claim 7 , wherein the second device emission frequency differs from the third device emission frequency.
9. The battery powered device of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the processors, in executing the instructions, are further to:
determine that the second computing device is eligible for selection.
10. The battery powered device of claim 9 , wherein one or more of the processors, in executing the instructions, are further to:
determine that the third computing device is eligible for selection.
11. The battery powered device of claim 10 , wherein one or more of the processors, in executing the instructions, are further to:
determine that a fourth computing device is not eligible for selection.
12. A system comprising:
one or more processors; and
memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause one or more of the processors to:
activate speech reception at only a first computing device, wherein activating the speech reception at only the first computing device is in response to detecting speech reception input at only the first computing device;
receive audio data via one or more microphones of the first computing device, wherein receiving the audio data via the one or more microphones of the first computing device is in response to the speech reception being activated at the first computing device;
determine, based on the audio data, a spoken utterance that is captured in the audio data;
select, from a plurality of additional devices that can each satisfy the spoken utterance, a particular device for satisfying the spoken utterance, wherein in selecting the particular device one or more of the processors are to:
determine that, among the plurality of additional devices, the particular device is most proximal to the first computing device, and
select the particular device responsive to determining that the particular device is the most proximal to the first computing device, wherein proximity to the first computing device is utilized in the selecting responsive to speech reception being activated at the first computing device; and
in response to selecting the particular device:
cause the particular device to satisfy the spoken utterance.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein one or more of the processors, in executing the instructions, are further to, at a later time that is subsequent to causing the particular device to satisfy the utterance:
again activate speech reception at only the first computing device in response to detecting the speech reception input at only the first computing device;
receive additional audio data via the one or more microphones of the first computing device, wherein in receiving the additional audio data via the one or more microphones of the first computing device one or more of the processors are to receive the additional audio data in response to the speech reception again being activated at the first computing device;
determine, based on the additional audio data, an additional spoken utterance that is captured in the additional audio data, wherein the additional spoken utterance is the same as the spoken utterance;
select, from the plurality of additional devices that can each satisfy the additional spoken utterance, an alternate particular device for satisfying the additional spoken utterance, wherein in selecting the alternate particular device one or more of the processors are to:
determine that, among the plurality of additional devices and at the later time, the alternate particular device is most proximal to the first computing device, and
select the alternate particular device responsive to determining that the alternate particular device is the most proximal to the first computing device, wherein proximity to the first computing device is utilized in the selecting responsive to speech reception again being activated at the first computing device; and
in response to selecting the alternate particular device:
cause the alternate particular device to satisfy the additional spoken utterance.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein in causing the particular device to satisfy the spoken utterance one or more of the processors are to:
transmit, to the particular device, data that causes the particular device to satisfy the spoken utterance.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein transmitting the data is via a Wi-Fi network, and wherein the first computing device and the particular device are both connected to the Wi-Fi network.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein in causing the particular device to satisfy the spoken utterance one or more of the processors are to cause the particular device to produce output responsive to the spoken utterance.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the output comprises light.
18. The system of claim 16 , wherein in determining that the particular device is most proximal to the first computing device one or more of the processors are to determine that the particular device is most proximal to the first computing device based on analysis of an audio signal that is emitted by the particular device and that is captured in the audio data.
19. The system of claim 12 , wherein in determining that the particular device is most proximal to the first computing device one or more of the processors are to determine that the particular device is most proximal to the first computing device based on analysis of an audio signal that is emitted by the particular device and that is captured in the audio data.