Use of avatar with event processing

• US 20050125229A1
• Filed: 12/08/2003
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kurzweil Ainetworks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Kurzweil Ainetworks Incorporated
• Inventors: Kurzweil, Raymond C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,965,771 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/270
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command

Abstract

Conducting commerce over a network, e.g., the Internet includes receiving a transaction request from a user as text input, using natural programming language to analysis the text input to build conversations with the user based on the transaction request. The technique also includes generating a voice-synthesized response in accordance with the transaction through an avatar and tracking the transaction by storing the transaction in the database.

Claims

1. A method of conducting commerce comprising:

receiving a transaction request from a user as text input;

using natural programming language to analysis the text input to build conversations with the user based on the transaction request;

conducting the transaction with the user based on the text input;

generating a voice-synthesized response in accordance with the transaction through an avatar; and

tracking the transaction by storing the transaction in the database.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein tracking comprises:

searching a database find related information associated with conducting the transaction.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein tracking comprises:

generating follow-up messages to send to the use that is based on added information stored in the database.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the follow-up messages with the user are statistically analyzed to generate marketing related information.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the transaction is a user request as to order status for an order being tracked in the database.

6. The method of claim 1 in which generating the response comprises:

searching a database in conjunction with the match; and

animating the avatar with a voice and facial movements corresponding text produced from the match.

7. The method of claim 6 in which animating comprises generating helpful verbal suggestions for conducting the transaction.

8. The method of claim 7 in which animating comprises natural language programming (NLP) techniques to develop and build conversations between the user and the avatar.

9. The method of claim 1 in which receiving the text input is in response to a suggestion generated by the avatar.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the program performs an inquiry as to financial information related to the user.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the program supports a sales transaction.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the program supports a help desk inquiry that involves customer support for a product or service.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the program supports a report for customer support to report a malfunctioning product, system, or service.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the program calls another program to process an inquiry.

15. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium, for conducting commerce comprises instructions for causing a computer to:

receive a transaction request from a user as text input;

use natural programming language to analysis the text input to build conversations with the user based on the transaction request;

conducting the transaction with the user based on the text input;

generate a voice-synthesized response in accordance with the transaction through an avatar; and

track the transaction by storing the transaction in the database.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein instructions to track comprise instructions to:

searching a database for related information associated with conducting the transaction.

17. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein instructions to track comprise instructions to:

generating follow-up messages to send to the use that is based on added information stored in the database.

18. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein responses the follow-up messages are received and the responses are statistically analyzed to generate marketing related information.

19. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the transaction is a user request as to order status for an order being tracked in the database.

20. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein instructions to generate the response comprise instructions to:

search a conversational engine in conjunction with the match; and

animate the avatar with a voice and facial movements corresponding text produced from the match.

21. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein instructions to animate comprise instructions to generate verbal suggestions for conducting the transaction.

22. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein instructions to animate comprise instructions to use natural language processing (NLP) techniques to develop and build conversations between the user and the avatar.

23. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the program performs an inquiry as to financial information related to the user.

24. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the program supports a sales transaction.

25. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the program supports a help desk inquiry that involves customer support for a product or service.

26. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the program supports a report for customer support to report a malfunctioning product, system, or service.

27. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the program calls another program to process an inquiry.

28. A system for conducting commerce, the system comprising:

a server computer for

receiving a transaction request from a user as text input;

using natural programming language to analysis the text input to build conversations with the user based on the transaction request;

conducting the transaction with the user based on the text input;

generating a voice-synthesized response in accordance with the transaction through an avatar; and

tracking the transaction by storing the transaction in the database; and

a client system for sending the text input to the server.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the client system runs a web browser program.

30. The system of claim 28 wherein the server generates follow-up messages to send to the use that is based on added information stored in the database.

31. The system of claim 28 wherein the server receives responses to the follow-up messages and statistically analyzes the responses to generate marketing related information.