Method and apparatus for providing a virtual assistant to a communication participant
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for providing a customized virtual assistant to a first party of a communication between the first party and a second party, comprising:
- injecting the customized virtual assistant into the communication, wherein the customized virtual assistant comprises software that is executed on a communication terminal used by the first party for conduct of the communication; and
accessing, during the communication, a virtual assistant software module for the first party from a proxy node, wherein the virtual assistant is customized by the proxy node to allow the virtual assistant software module to be selectively included in the virtual assistant based on a selection of one or more supported external applications.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for providing a virtual assistant to at least one party of a communication. The virtual assistant is injected into the communication, for example, by a VXML engine. The operation of the virtual assistant is controlled by one or more software modules that are obtained from a proxy node. The software modules allow commands received from or destined for the party to be interpreted. The virtual assistant may optionally be customized based on a selection of the one or more supported external applications. The proxy node provides at least one method for the party that allows the party to access functionality provided by at least one external application. The proxy node interprets signals from the virtual assistant; converts the signals from the virtual assistant into commands for the external application; and converts one or more of commands, messages and data from the external application into signals understood by the virtual assistant.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for providing a customized virtual assistant to a first party of a communication between the first party and a second party, comprising:
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injecting the customized virtual assistant into the communication, wherein the customized virtual assistant comprises software that is executed on a communication terminal used by the first party for conduct of the communication; and accessing, during the communication, a virtual assistant software module for the first party from a proxy node, wherein the virtual assistant is customized by the proxy node to allow the virtual assistant software module to be selectively included in the virtual assistant based on a selection of one or more supported external applications. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for providing a customized virtual assistant to a party of a communication, comprising:
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a memory; and at least one processor, coupled to the memory, operative to; inject the customized virtual assistant into the communication; and access a virtual assistant software module for the party from a proxy node, wherein the virtual assistant is customized by the proxy node to allow the virtual assistant software module to be selectively included in the virtual assistant based on a selection of one or more supported external applications. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for providing a customized virtual assistant to a party of a communication to access an external application, comprising:
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customizing the customized virtual assistant by a proxy node to allow a software module to be selectively included in the virtual assistant of a user based on a selection of one or more supported external applications; interpreting, by the proxy node, signals from the customized virtual assistant; converting, by the proxy node, the signals from the customized virtual assistant into commands for the external application; and converting, by the proxy node, at least one of commands, messages and data from the external application into signals understood by the customized virtual assistant; wherein the virtual assistant is injected into the communication; and wherein the communication is established independently of the customized virtual assistant. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A system for providing a customized virtual assistant to allow at least one party of a communication to access an external application, comprising:
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a memory; and at least one processor, coupled to the memory, operative to; customize the customized virtual assistant to allow a virtual assistant software module to be selectively included in the virtual assistant of a given user or set of users based on a selection of one or more supported external applications; interpret signals from the customized virtual assistant; convert the signals from the customized virtual assistant into commands for the external application; and convert one or more of commands, messages and data from the external application into signals understood by the customized virtual assistant. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification