How Voice Assistants Listen for More Commands Without a Wake Word
This patent describes how a voice assistant can keep listening for follow-up commands after an initial request, without needing you to say its wake word again, based on the type of command you just gave.
Original patent title: “Speech-based attention span for voice user interface”
This patent describes how a voice assistant can keep listening for follow-up commands after an initial request, without needing you to say its wake word again, based on the type of command you just gave. Granted to Amazon Technologies in 2020 with 24 claims and 87 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2037.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent details a method for a voice assistant system to maintain an "attention span" after a user's initial command. After a device receives a first command, triggered by a keyword, and a server processes it and sends a response (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1), the server decides if that command type (e.g., asking a question) is likely to be followed by another command. If so, the server instructs the device to continue sending audio data for a period without requiring the user to say the wake word again (Claim 1). For example, if you say "Alexa, what's the weather?" and it responds, the system might then listen for a follow-up like "What about tomorrow?" without you needing to say "Alexa" again. The system can also stop this "attention span" if the command type suggests it's no longer needed, such as after starting media playback (Claim 2).
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Voice assistants that always require a wake word for every single command.
- Systems that keep listening indefinitely without a time threshold or specific command type trigger.
- Devices that decide to keep listening on their own, rather than being explicitly instructed by a server (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Systems that only listen for follow-up commands if the user has explicitly enabled a general "continuous listening" mode, rather than based on the type of the previous command (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Systems that process all subsequent audio as commands without first determining if it represents speech intended for processing (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 4).
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in the system intelligently deciding when to extend its listening period without a wake word, based on the type of command just given. Instead of always requiring the wake word or always listening for a fixed period, it makes a context-aware decision.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Amazon Alexa's "Follow-Up Mode"
Google Assistant's "Continued Conversation"
Apple Siri's follow-up questions
Most modern smart speaker interactions
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent addresses a common frustration with voice assistants: constantly repeating the wake word. By allowing for a brief "attention span," it makes interactions feel more natural and conversational. This improved user experience is crucial for the widespread adoption and daily use of smart speakers and other voice-controlled devices, making them more integrated into homes and workflows.
Filed
September 1, 2017
Granted
November 24, 2020
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Amazon Technologies Inc., the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, continues to develop and integrate this type of functionality into its Alexa-enabled devices. Google and Apple also implement similar "continued conversation" features in their respective voice assistant ecosystems, aiming for more natural interactions.
Market impact
This patent's underlying concept has significantly improved the user experience of voice assistants, moving them from rigid, one-command-at-a-time interactions to more fluid conversations. This enhancement has been critical in driving the adoption of smart speakers and voice-controlled interfaces in homes and vehicles, making the technology more accessible and less frustrating for everyday use.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent details a method for a voice assistant system to maintain an "attention span" after a user's initial command. After a device receives a first command, triggered by a keyword, and a server processes it and sends a response (Claim 1), the server decides if that command type (e.g., asking a question) is likely to be followed by another command. If so, the server instructs the device to continue sending audio data for a period without requiring the user to say the wake word again (Claim 1). For example, if you say "Alexa, what's the weather?" and it responds, the system might then listen for a follow-up like "What about tomorrow?" without you needing to say "Alexa" again. The system can also stop this "attention span" if the command type suggests it's no longer needed, such as after starting media playback (Claim 2).
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the system intelligently deciding when to extend its listening period without a wake word, based on the type of command just given. Instead of always requiring the wake word or always listening for a fixed period, it makes a context-aware decision.
What it does not cover
- Voice assistants that always require a wake word for every single command.
- Systems that keep listening indefinitely without a time threshold or specific command type trigger.
- Devices that decide to keep listening on their own, rather than being explicitly instructed by a server (Claim 1).
- Systems that only listen for follow-up commands if the user has explicitly enabled a general "continuous listening" mode, rather than based on the type of the previous command (Claim 1).
- Systems that process all subsequent audio as commands without first determining if it represents speech intended for processing (Claim 4).
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
High impact
Citation count
39/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
16/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$293K – $936K
Midpoint $585K · 10.8 yr remaining · industry ×1.5
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
24 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Pemberton, J. D. N., Kahan, E. S. Z., Owen, R. D., Mok, S. M., & Bishop, D. (2020). How Voice Assistants Listen for More Commands Without a Wake Word (U.S. Patent No. 10,847,149). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10847149/speech-based-attention-span-for-voice-user-interface
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Voice Assistants Listen for More Commands Without a Wake Word cover?
This patent describes how a voice assistant can keep listening for follow-up commands after an initial request, without needing you to say its wake word again, based on the type of command you just gave.
Who owns patent US 10847149?
Amazon Technologies owns this patent, granted in 2020.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 1, 2037, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 10847149 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 87 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent addresses a common frustration with voice assistants: constantly repeating the wake word. By allowing for a brief "attention span," it makes interactions feel more natural and conversational. This improved user experience is crucial for the widespread adoption and daily use of smart speakers and other voice-controlled devices, making them more integrated into homes and workflows.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Voice assistants that always require a wake word for every single command.
Same assignee
More from Amazon Technologies
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