Objective
- Perform a landscape search in the area of Smart Speakers
- Use PCS to derive insights and gain competitive perspective
- Understand the value chain and recent M&A activities
Introduction
A smart speaker is a type of wireless speaker and smart device that utilizes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other standards to extend usage beyond audio playback. This can include, but not be limited to, features such as compatibility across a number of services and platforms, peer-to-peer connection through mesh networking, intelligent personal assistants, and others. Each can have its own designated interface and features in-house, usually launched or controlled via application or home automation software.
Search in PCS
A search on PCS for Smart speaker was performed with the following search strategy:
(tac:speaker AND tac:home automation ) OR (tac:music system and tac:user-interaction ) OR (tac:speaker AND tac:user interaction and text:home ) OR (tac:speaker AND tac:voice command and text:smart-home ) OR (tac:speaker and tac:automation and text:music ) OR ((tac:bluetooth speaker OR tac:wireless speaker OR tac:NFC connected speaker OR tac:wifi speaker OR tac:wifi connected speaker ) and text:smart home ) OR (tac:smart speaker OR tac:intelligent speaker OR tac:networked speaker OR tac:talking speaker or tac:interactive speaker ) OR (tac:user interactive music system ) OR (tac:speaker and text:on demand music ) OR (tac:speaker and tac:user tracking and text:home ) OR (tac:speaker and tac:intelligent user-interface ) OR (tac:music and text:intelligent user-interface ) OR (tac:speaker and tac:user-interaction ) OR (text:voice controlled speaker ) OR (text:voice controlled music system) OR (text:speech controlled speaker) OR (text:speech controlled music system) |
Top Assignee
- All Top Players have Smart speakers products in market.
- Sonos - The Home Sound System
- Sony - BSP60
- Qualcomm - APQ8009/APQ8017 platform based etc
Top Assignee Insights
A) MIcrosoft technology Licensing
- Microsoft has patents related to smart speakers as shown below
B) Sony
- Patents from Sony mentions about connecting speakers wirelessly
Bibliographic Analytics
Main CPC’s:
- H04R - Electric communication technique---> loudspeakers, microphones, gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers/deaf-aid sets/public address systems