PERSONAL VIRTUAL ASSISTANT

• US 20080201306A1
• Filed: 03/21/2008
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Sanders, Derek, Cooper, Robert S., Ulmer, Richard M., Peebles, Edward, McElroy, Jeff F., Rolandi, Walter
• Granted Patent: US 8,000,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/527 Centralised call answering arrangements not requiring operator intervention

Abstract

A computer-based virtual assistant includes a virtual assistant application running on a computer capable of receiving human voice communications from a user of a remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization to the remote user interface, the virtual assistant application enabling the user to access email and voicemail messages of the user, the virtual assistant application selecting a responsive action to a verbal query or instruction received from the remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization characterizing the selected responsive action to the remote user interface, and the virtual assistant waiting a predetermined period of time, and if no canceling indication is received from the remote user interface, proceeding to perform the selected responsive action, and if a canceling indication is received from the remote user interface halting the selected responsive action and transmitting a new vocalization to the remote user interface. Also a method of using the virtual assistant.

Claims

1. A computer-based virtual assistant comprising:

a virtual assistant application running on a computer capable of receiving human voice communications from a user of a remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization to the remote user interface, the virtual assistant application enabling the user to access email and voicemail messages of the user;

the virtual assistant application selecting a responsive action to a verbal query or instruction received from the remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization characterizing the selected responsive action to the remote user interface; and

the virtual assistant waiting a predetermined period of time, and if no canceling indication is received from the remote user interface, proceeding to perform the selected responsive action; and

if a canceling indication is received from the remote user interface halting the selected responsive action and transmitting a new vocalization to the remote user interface.

2. The computer-based virtual assistant according to claim 1, wherein the canceling indication received from the remote user interface is a vocal instruction.

3. The computer-based virtual assistant according to claim 1, wherein the canceling indication received from the remote user interface is a DTMF tone.

4. The computer-based virtual assistant according to claim 1, wherein the new vocalization indicates that the selected responsive action has been canceled.

5. The computer-based virtual assistant according to claim 1, wherein the selected responsive action is dialing a telephone number.

6. The computer-based virtual assistant according to claim 1, wherein the virtual assistant application enables the user to send voice mail messages.

7. The computer-based virtual assistant according to claim 1, wherein the virtual assistant application enables the user to reply to and forward email messages.

8. The computer-based virtual assistant according to claim 1, wherein the virtual assistant application enables the user to access scheduling data of the user.

9. The computer-based virtual assistant according to claim 1, wherein the virtual assistant application is configured to inform the user via a pager when a new voice or email message arrives.

10. The computer-based virtual assistant according to claim 1, wherein the virtual assistant application is configured to filter incoming voice mail and email as instructed by the user.

11. The computer-based virtual assistant according to claim 1, further comprising:

a communications interface to communicate over a network, the network being one of a public switched telephone network, a packet switched telephone network, and a wireless telecommunications network.

12. A method comprising the steps of:

providing a virtual assistant application running on a computer capable of receiving human voice communications from a user of a remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization to the remote user interface, the virtual assistant application enabling the user to access email and voicemail messages of the user;

receiving by the virtual assistant a verbal query or a verbal instruction from the remote user interface;

selecting a responsive action to the verbal query or the verbal instruction;

transmitting a vocalization characterizing the selected responsive action to the remote user interface;

waiting a predetermined period of time; and

if no canceling indication is received from the remote user interface within the predetermined period of time, proceeding to perform the selected responsive action; and

if a canceling indication is received from the remote user interface within the predetermined period of time, halting the selected responsive action and transmitting a new vocalization to the remote user interface.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said step of receiving by the virtual assistant a verbal query or a verbal instruction comprises the step of receiving an instruction to telephone an individual and including the additional steps of:

determining whether at least two telephone numbers for the individual are available to the virtual assistant;

determining whether the user has previously telephoned the individual;

determining the number at which the user last telephoned the individual; and

if the number at which the user last telephoned the individual comprises one of the at least two telephone numbers, automatically calling the individual at the number at which the user last telephoned the individual.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

receiving voice mail messages via the virtual assistant application.

15. The method according to claim 14 further comprising:

replying to and forwarding email messages via the virtual assistant application.

16. The method according to claim 15 further comprising:

accessing scheduling data of the user via the virtual assistant application.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein the transmitting step occurs over a network, selected from the group consisting of a public switched telephone network, a packet switched telephone network, and a wireless telecommunications network.

18. A computer-based virtual assistant comprising:

a virtual assistant application running on a computer capable of receiving human voice communications from a user of a remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization to the remote user interface, the virtual assistant application enabling the user to access email and voicemail messages of the user;

the virtual assistant application selecting a responsive action to a verbal query or instruction received from the remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization characterizing the selected responsive action to the remote user interface; and

the virtual assistant waiting a predetermined period of time, and if no canceling indication is received from the remote user interface, proceeding to perform the selected responsive action; and

if a canceling indication is received from the remote user interface halting the selected responsive action and transmitting a new vocalization to the remote user interface;

wherein the virtual assistant application performs processes to allow the user to;

send voice mail messages;

reply to and forward email messages; and

retrieve information from an electronic address book.

19. The computer-based virtual assistant of claim 18, wherein the virtual assistant application performs processes to allow the user to access scheduling data of the user.

20. The computer-based virtual assistant of claim 18, wherein the virtual assistant application performs processes to allow the user to access information on the World Wide Web.