Adjunct use of instant messenger software to enable communications to or between chatterbots or other software agents

• US 20010033298A1
• Filed: 02/28/2001
• Published: 10/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smartsheet Inc.
• Original Assignee: Benjamin Slotznick
• Inventors: Slotznick, Benjamin
• Granted Patent: US 6,907,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/758
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services

Abstract

A user'"'"'s chatterbot participates in a chat session with other users and the other users'"'"' chatterbots. The originator of an incoming instant message is identified to such a degree that a buddy on a buddy list is able to determine that the instant message was sent by a user'"'"'s chatterbot (e.g., “Jackie'"'"'s chatterbot”), and not the user (“Jackie”). The chatterbots can communicate with other chatterbots while the chatterbots'"'"' users listen to the chatterbots converse. The chatterbots may respond to messages originated by other chatterbots'"'"' messages and buddies'"'"' (users'"'"') messages.

Claims

1. A method of processing messages transmitted and received during an electronic chat session, the chat session having a plurality of participants, each message including the identity of the source of the message, each source being a participant in the chat session that is either a human user or a software controlled agent associated with the human user, the software controlled agent being capable of mimicking human conversation, the method comprising:

(a) a first software controlled agent automatically generating a first text message, the first agent being associated with a first human user;

(b) automatically generating a first source identifier for the first text message and attaching it to the first text message, the first source identifier including the identities of the first human user and the first agent; and

(c) transmitting the first source identifier and the first text message to at least one other participant in the chat session.

2. The method of

claim 1

, further comprising:

(d) a second software controlled agent receiving the transmitted first source identifier and the first text message, and in response thereto;

(i) automatically generating a second text message;

(ii) automatically generating a second source identifier for the second text message and attaching it to the second text message, the second source identifier including the identities of the second agent and a second human user associated with the second agent; and

(iii) transmitting the second source identifier and the second text message to at least one other participant in the chat session.

3. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the at least one other participant is a second software controlled agent.

4. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the at least one other participant is a second human user.

5. A method of processing messages transmitted and received during an electronic chat session, the chat session having a plurality of participants, each message including the identity of the source of the message, each source being a participant in the chat session that is either a human user or a software controlled agent associated with the human user, the software controlled agent being capable of mimicking human conversation, the method comprising:

(a) a first participant transmitting a first source identifier and first text message, the first source identifier including the identity of the first participant; and

(b) a software controlled agent receiving the transmitted first source identifier and the first text message, and in response thereto;

(i) automatically generating a second text message;

(ii) automatically generating a second source identifier for the second text message and attaching it to the second text message, the second source identifier including the identities of the agent and a human user associated with the agent; and

(iii) transmitting the second source identifier and the second text message to at least one other participant in the chat session.

6. The method of

claim 5

, further comprising:

(c) generating at least one hidden message including instructions for controlling an animated image of the software controlled agent, wherein the hidden message is not displayed.

7. The method of

claim 5

, wherein the at least one other participant is a software controlled agent.

8. The method of

claim 5

, wherein the at least one other participant is a human user.

9. A method of presenting audible messages to participants in an electronic chat session, each participant being either a human user or a software controlled agent associated with the human user, the software controlled agent capable of mimicking human conversation and having distinguishing audible characteristics, the method comprising:

(a) a first software controlled agent receiving a first message generated by a participant in the chat session, the first agent being associated with a first human user;

(b) determining whether the first message was generated by a second human user or a second software controlled agent associated with the second human user; and

(c) if it is determined in step (b) that the first message was generated by the second agent;

(i) the first agent presenting the first message to the first human user in an audible format having a first set of distinguishing audible characteristics associated with the identity of the second agent;

(ii) the first agent automatically generating a second message and transmitting the second message to at least one other participant in the chat session; and

(iii) the first agent presenting the second message to the first human user in an audible format having a second set of distinguishing audible characteristics associated with the identity of the first agent.

10. The method of

claim 9

, wherein the first and second human users can listen to a conversation occurring between the first and second software controlled agents.

11. The method of

claim 9

, further comprising:

(d) displaying on a display screen, animated images representing the first and second software controlled agents.

12. The method of

claim 9

, further comprising:

(d) if it is determined in step (b) that the first message was generated by the second human user, presenting the first message to the first human user in a text format.

13. The method of

claim 9

, wherein the first and second messages are text messages which are converted to speech by the first and second agents.

14. The method of

claim 9

, wherein the software controlled agents transmit sound files to a sound file player.

15. A method of communicating confidential information during an electronic chat session, the chat session having a plurality of participants, wherein the participants include human users and associated software controlled agents, the software controlled agents having artificial intelligence, the method comprising:

(a) a first human user requesting a first software controlled agent associated with the first human user to request information from a second software controlled agent associated with a second human user;

(b) the second agent receiving authorization to release the requested information; and

(c) the second agent transmitting the requested information, wherein the transmitted information is not revealed to the human users.

16. An article of manufacture for processing messages transmitted and received during an electronic chat session, the chat session having a plurality of participants, each message including the identity of the source of the message, each source being a participant in the chat session that is either a human user or a software controlled agent associated with the human user, the software controlled agent being capable of mimicking human conversation, the article of manufacture comprising a computer-readable medium holding computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

(a) a first software controlled agent automatically generating a first text message, the first agent being associated with a first human user;

(b) automatically generating a first source identifier for the first text message and attaching it to the first text message, the first source identifier including the identities of the first human user and the first agent; and

(c) transmitting the first source identifier and the first text message to at least one other participant in the chat session.

17. The article of manufacture of

claim 16

, wherein the computer-executable instructions perform a method further comprising:

(d) a second software controlled agent receiving the transmitted first source identifier and the first text message, and in response thereto;

(i) automatically generating a second text message;

(ii) automatically generating a second source identifier for the second text message and attaching it to the second text message, the second source identifier including the identities of the second agent and a second human user associated with the second agent; and

(iii) transmitting the second source identifier and the second text message to at least one other participant in the chat session.

18. The article of manufacture of

claim 16

, wherein the at least one other participant is a second software controlled agent.

19. The article of manufacture of

claim 16

, wherein the at least one other participant is a second human user.

20. An article of manufacture for processing messages transmitted and received during an electronic chat session, the chat session having a plurality of participants, each message including the identity of the source of the message, each source being a participant in the chat session that is either a human user or a software controlled agent associated with the human user, the software controlled agent being capable of mimicking human conversation, the article of manufacture comprising a computer-readable medium holding computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

(a) a first participant transmitting a first source identifier and first text message, the first source identifier including the identity of the first participant; and

(b) a software controlled agent receiving the transmitted first source identifier and the first text message, and in response thereto;

(i) automatically generating a second text message;

(ii) automatically generating a second source identifier for the second text message and attaching it to the second text message, the second source identifier including the identities of the agent and a human user associated with the agent; and

(iii) transmitting the second source identifier and the second text message to at least one other participant in the chat session.

21. The article of manufacture of

claim 20

, wherein the computer-executable instructions perform a method further comprising:

(c) generating at least one hidden message including instructions for controlling an animated image of the software controlled agent, wherein the hidden message is not displayed.

22. The article of manufacture of

claim 20

, wherein the at least one other participant is a software controlled agent.

23. The article of manufacture of

claim 20

, wherein the at least one other participant is a human user.

24. An article of manufacture for presenting audible messages to participants in an electronic chat session, each participant being either a human user or a software controlled agent associated with the human user, the software controlled agent capable of mimicking human conversation and having distinguishing audible characteristics, the article of manufacture comprising a computer-readable medium holding computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

(a) a first software controlled agent receiving a first message generated by a participant in the chat session, the first agent being associated with a first human user;

(b) determining whether the first message was generated by a second human user or a second software controlled agent associated with the second human user; and

(c) if it is determined in step (b) that the first message was generated by the second agent;

(i) the first agent presenting the first message to the first human user in an audible format having a first set of distinguishing audible characteristics associated with the identity of the second agent;

(ii) the first agent automatically generating a second message and transmitting the second message to at least one other participant in the chat session; and

(iii) the first agent presenting the second message to the first human user in an audible format having a second set of distinguishing audible characteristics associated with the identity of the first agent.

25. The article of manufacture of

claim 24

, wherein the first and second human users can listen to a conversation occurring between the first and second software controlled agents.

26. The article of manufacture of

claim 24

, wherein the computer-executable instructions perform a method further comprising:

(d) displaying on a display screen, animated images representing the first and second software controlled agents.

27. The article of manufacture of

claim 24

, wherein the computer-executable instructions perform a method further comprising:

(d) if it is determined in step (b) that the first message was generated by the second human user, presenting the message to the first human user in a text format.

28. The article of manufacture of

claim 24

, wherein the first and second messages are text messages which are converted to speech by the first and second agents.

29. The article of manufacture of

claim 24

, wherein the software controlled agents transmit sound files to a sound file player.

30. An article of manufacture for communicating confidential information during an electronic chat session, the chat session having a plurality of participants, wherein the participants include human users and associated software controlled agents, the software controlled agents having artificial intelligence, the article of manufacture comprising a computer-readable medium holding computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

(a) a first human user requesting a first software controlled agent associated with the first human user to request information from a second software controlled agent associated with a second human user;

(b) the second agent receiving authorization to release the requested information; and

(c) the second agent transmitting the requested information, wherein the transmitted information is not revealed to the human users.