ASSISTIVE AGENT

• US 20140278343A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GeoSymm Ventures LLC (Jeffrey M. Gross)
• Original Assignee: Bao Tran
• Inventors: Tran, Bao
• Granted Patent: US 9,201,865 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/30 Semantic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/53 Processing of non-Latin text kana-to-kanji conversion G06F40/129; vowelisation G06F40/232
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/58 Use of machine translation, e.g. for multi-lingual retrieval, for server-side translation for client devices or for real-time translation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing automated assistance for a user by receiving a user request for assistance and determining semantics of the user request and identifying at least one domain, at least one task, and at least one parameter for the user request. The systems and methods can include searching a semantic database on the Internet for the at least one matching domain, task, and parameter and responding to the user request.

Claims

1. A method for providing automated assistance for a user using a computing device selected from the group consisting of:

a telephone;

a wireless communicator;

a tablet computer;

a laptop computer;

a personal digital assistant;

a desktop computer;

a processor with memory;

a kiosk;

a consumer electronic device;

a consumer entertainment device;

a music player;

a camera;

a television;

an electronic gaming unit; and

a set-top box, the method comprising;

receiving a user request for assistance;

determining semantics of the user request and identifying at least one domain, at least one task, and at least one parameter for the user request;

searching a semantic database on the Internet for the at least one matching domain, task, and parameter; and

responding to the user request.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising searching for the at least one matching domain, task and parameter in one of:

a semantic hotel database, a semantic restaurant database, a semantic local event database, semantic concert database, a semantic media database, a semantic book database, a semantic music database, a semantic travel database, and a semantic flight database.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving user voice with the user request spoken in a first language;

translating the user request spoken in the first language to the second language;

compensating for translation errors based on user history;

generating a response in the second language; and

translating the response to the first language and rendering the response to the user.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising forwarding the request to a call center agent for handling.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the user request comprises recognizing user voice.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving user voice with the user request spoken in a first language;

translating the user request spoken in the first language to the second language;

compensating for translation errors based on user history;

searching for responsive data in the second language; and

translating the response to the first language and rendering the response to the user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the semantic database comprises user generated reviews or recommendations.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising identifying options available from a third party computer for the user and requesting from the third party computer available options that match the user request.

10. The method of claim 9, comprising presenting available options to the user to confirm.

11. The method of claim 9, comprising presenting available time or location options to the user to confirm.

12. The method of claim 9, comprising automatically making a reservation for an available option on behalf of the user.

13. The method of claim 1, comprising eliciting more information on the user request and restating the user request as a confirmation to the user.

14. The method of claim 1, comprising disambiguating alternative parsing by identifying at least two competing semantic interpretations of the user request;

and receiving clarification from the user to resolve ambiguity.

15. The method of claim 1, comprising processing the user input using at least one selected from the group consisting of:

data from a short term memory describing at least one previous interaction in a current session; and

data from a long term memory describing at least one characteristic of the user.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the semantic database comprises a triple store database.

17. The method of claim 1, comprising managing emails by filtering important emails and responding to the rest on the user'"'"'s behalf, wherein a user provides guidance on how to pick out key emails and a virtual assistant copies the user before sending out any responses to reduce the risk of errors.

18. The method of claim 1, comprising performing social chores for the user including writing notes on behalf of the user.

19. The method of claim 1, comprising performing travel research including finding hotels, booking airfares and mapping out trip itineraries.

20. The method of claim 1, comprising managing a calendar for the user, dealing with meeting invitations from others, scheduling appointments with clients and helping to plan events.

7. The method of claim 7, wherein the second language comprises English, French or Chinese.