Apple files patent for Siri's motion-based voice recognition

Apple has applied for a patent for a system that would enable Siri to track head and mouth motions using motion sensing, increasing accuracy and consuming less battery power. To identify human speech, the system would use already-in-use motion sensors like an accelerometer or gyroscope. It might be incorporated with other Apple goods.  

The patent application was originally filed in January of this year and describes a system for determining whether “motion data” matches a word or phrase. Diagrams specifically mention Siri with simple voice commands such as “Hey Siri,” “skip,” or “next song,” and how all those inputs can be improved thanks to an algorithm analyzing users’ mouth parts. 

Motion sensors in devices "may detect muscle movement, vibrations, head motions, and the like and output a stream of data representing the specific force, angular rate, and/or orientation created by said motions," Apple boffins wrote in their patent filing. These sensors could be embedded in wearable devices like a pair of AirPods, "smart glasses, or the like." 

Apple even describes the use of motion sensing as an alternative to audio sensors that have to remain active and continually record a buffer of sound in anticipation of the wake word, which could serve to improve battery life and offer the side-effect of improved privacy.