Using Context Information To Facilitate Processing Of Commands In A Virtual Assistant
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for interpreting user input to perform a task on a computing device having at least one processor, comprising:
- at a processor, receiving context information from a context source;
at an output device, prompting a user for input;
at an input device, receiving user input;
at the processor, interpreting the received user input to derive a representation of user intent;
at the processor, identifying at least one task and at least one parameter for the task, based at least in part on the derived representation of user intent;
at the processor, executing the at least one task using the at least one parameter, to derive a result;
at the processor, generating a dialog response based on the derived result; and
at the output device, outputting the generated dialog response;
wherein at least one of the steps of prompting the user for input, interpreting the receiving user input, identifying the at least one task and at least one parameter for the task, and generating the dialog response is performed using the received context information.
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Abstract
A virtual assistant uses context information to supplement natural language or gestural input from a user. Context helps to clarify the user'"'"'s intent and to reduce the number of candidate interpretations of the user'"'"'s input, and reduces the need for the user to provide excessive clarification input. Context can include any available information that is usable by the assistant to supplement explicit user input to constrain an information-processing problem and/or to personalize results. Context can be used to constrain solutions during various phases of processing, including, for example, speech recognition, natural language processing, task flow processing, and dialog generation.
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Citations
60 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for interpreting user input to perform a task on a computing device having at least one processor, comprising:
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at a processor, receiving context information from a context source; at an output device, prompting a user for input; at an input device, receiving user input; at the processor, interpreting the received user input to derive a representation of user intent; at the processor, identifying at least one task and at least one parameter for the task, based at least in part on the derived representation of user intent; at the processor, executing the at least one task using the at least one parameter, to derive a result; at the processor, generating a dialog response based on the derived result; and at the output device, outputting the generated dialog response; wherein at least one of the steps of prompting the user for input, interpreting the receiving user input, identifying the at least one task and at least one parameter for the task, and generating the dialog response is performed using the received context information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A computer program product for interpreting user input to perform a task on a computing device having at least one processor, comprising:
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a nontransitory computer-readable storage medium; and computer program code, encoded on the medium, configured to cause at least one processor to perform the steps of; receiving context information from a context source; causing an output device to prompt a user for input; receiving user input via an input device; interpreting the received user input to derive a representation of user intent; identifying at least one task and at least one parameter for the task, based at least in part on the derived representation of user intent; executing the at least one task using the at least one parameter, to derive a result; generating a dialog response based on the derived result; and causing the output device to output the generated dialog response; wherein the computer program code is configured to cause at least one processor to perform at least one of the steps of causing the output device to prompt the user for input, interpreting the receiving user input, identifying the at least one task and at least one parameter for the task, and generating the dialog response using the received context information. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A system for interpreting user input to perform a task, comprising:
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an output device, configured to prompt a user for input; an input device, configured to receive user input; at least one processor, communicatively coupled to the output device and to the input device, configured to perform the steps of; receiving context information from a context source; interpreting the received user input to derive a representation of user intent; identifying at least one task and at least one parameter for the task, based at least in part on the derived representation of user intent; executing the at least one task using the at least one parameter, to derive a result; and generating a dialog response based on the derived result; wherein the output device is further configured to output the generated dialog response; and wherein at least one of prompting the user for input, interpreting the receiving user input, identifying the at least one task and at least one parameter for the task, and generating the dialog response is performed using the received context information. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification