Tackling Echo and Feedback in Voice Command Processing

Published on: May 29, 2025

On November 19, 2023, RHOTO faced a technical challenge that is not uncommon in modern voice recognition systems. The issue involved the system potentially processing its own speech as a new user command, especially in scenarios where a speakerphone is used, leading to feedback or echo.

To address this, a specialized mechanism was implemented within the PHP script, aimed at recognizing and disregarding echoed input or feedback. This enhancement focused on instances where the incoming voice command significantly matched the system's last verbal response.

The solution involved several key steps: retrieving the last response given by the system, calculating similarity using PHP's 'similar_text()' function, and conducting an echo detection check. If the similarity percentage exceeded 70%, the script would recognize the input as an echo or feedback and skip processing. Additionally, each new response generated by the system is stored for comparison with the next incoming command.

The benefits of this update are manifold. It reduces false triggers and enhances the user experience by providing a more coherent interaction. Moreover, the integration of this solution within the existing script flow ensures scalability and ease of maintenance.

In conclusion, this innovative update has significantly improved RHOTO's robustness in handling real-world scenarios where feedback or echo might be present. This ensures more accurate and reliable user interactions, marking a step forward in the evolution of voice recognition technology.