Method and apparatus for automating collaboration over communications devices

• US 20060095556A1
• Filed: 10/28/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SRI International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SRI International, Inc.
• Inventors: Frandsen, Michael W., Arnold, James F., Cheyer, Adam J., Mason, Shane C., Onalan, Ayse
• Application Number:
  US11/262,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20060095556A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method for automating or arranging a group communication among at least two participants includes receiving a user request (e.g., from one of the participants) for the group communication and delegating at least a portion of the user request to at least one service provider for processing. Delegation is based on general strategies for satisfying user requests, as well as knowledge of the capabilities of the available service providers.

Claims

1. Method for arranging a group communication among at least two participants, said method comprising:

receiving a user request for said group communication; and

delegating at least a portion of the user request to at least one service provider for processing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said user request comprises at least one of:

a requested day for said group communication, a requested time for said group communication, said at least two participants or at least one constraint on scheduling of said group communication.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

registering said at least one service provider prior to said delegating, such that said at least one service provider is capable of providing an associated service per said delegation.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving processed results from said at least one service provider; and

delivering said processed results to said at least two participants.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said user is one of said at least two participants.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one service provider is at least one of:

a system agent, a reasoning agent, a dialog agent, a modality agent, an application agent, a content agent or a conversion agent.

7. A computer readable medium containing an executable program for arranging a group communication among at least two participants, where the program performs the steps of:

receiving a user request for said group communication; and

delegating at least a portion of the user request to at least one service provider for processing.

8. An apparatus for arranging a group communication among at least two participants, said apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a user request for said group communication; and

means for delegating at least a portion of the user request to at least one service provider for processing.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said means for receiving is further adapted to provide advice regarding how to satisfy said user request to said means for delegating.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said means for delegating maintains information regarding said at least one service provider, including at least one of:

a name of said at least one service provider, a functionality of said at least one service provider, an interface of said at least one service provider and a human language associated with said functionality.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said means for delegating maintains a general set of strategies for satisfying user requests including said user request.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said at least one service provider is dynamically added to and removed from said apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said at least one service provider is at least one of:

a system agent, a reasoning agent, a dialog agent, a modality agent, an application agent, a content agent or a conversion agent.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said system agent performs at least one system-level functionality with regard to said arranging.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said reasoning agent performs at least one kind of inference or learning relevant to an application domain associated with said user request.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said dialog agent manages incoming and outgoing communications with regard to said arranging.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said modality agent controls devices and input/output streams associated with said apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said application agent wraps a functionality of an underlying application or system.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said content agent manages data records.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said conversion agent translates between a first information format and a second information format.

21. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

at least one strategy agent for maintaining domain- or goal-specific information for use in devising strategies to satisfy said user request.