SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR VIRTUAL ASSISTANT NETWORKS

• US 20140244712A1
• Filed: 04/02/2014
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Artificial Solutions Iberia SL
• Original Assignee: Artificial Solutions Iberia SL
• Inventors: Jonsson, Rebecca, Wieweg, Andreas, Hjelm, David, Walters, Gareth, Gustavii, Ebba, Petrovic-Lundberg, Sonja
• Granted Patent: US 9,172,747 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/00 Computing arrangements using knowledge-based models
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46

Abstract

A system for the operation of a virtual assistant network, comprising a plurality of virtual assistants stored and operating on network-connected devices, and a plurality of virtual assistant brokers stored and operating on network-connected devices, wherein the virtual assistants receive user requests and send the requests to the virtual assistant brokers, and wherein the virtual assistant brokers delegate the requests to other virtual assistants for fulfillment.

Claims

1. A system for operating a virtual assistant network, comprising:

a plurality of virtual assistants stored and operating on network-connected devices; and

a plurality of virtual assistant brokers stored and operating on network-connected devices;

wherein a first virtual assistant receives a request from a user via a communications network;

wherein the first virtual assistant determines that it cannot fulfill the request and forwards the user request to a first virtual assistant broker;

wherein the first virtual assistant broker identifies a plurality of second virtual assistants that may be capable of fulfilling the user request;

wherein the first virtual assistant broker sends a list of the plurality of second virtual assistants to the first virtual assistant;

wherein the first virtual assistant selects a third virtual assistant from among the plurality of second virtual assistants and forwards the user request to the third virtual assistant;

wherein the first virtual assistant receives a response from the third virtual assistant; and

wherein the first virtual assistant presents the response in a suitable format to the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein communications between virtual assistants and virtual assistant brokers is carried out using a virtual assistant markup language, wherein the virtual assistant markup language allows for standardized communication between the virtual assistants, between virtual assistants and virtual assistant brokers, and between the virtual assistant brokers.

3. The system of claim 1, further wherein the first virtual assistant forwards the user request directly to the third virtual assistant based on information received in a prior interaction from the first virtual assistant broker.

4. The system of claim 1, further wherein the first virtual assistant broker forwards the user requests to a second virtual assistant broker.

5. A method for operating a virtual assistant network, comprising the steps of:

receiving a request, at a first virtual assistant stored and operating on a network-connected computing device, from a user;

determining that the first virtual assistant cannot fulfill the request;

forwarding the user request to a first virtual assistant broker stored and operating on a network-connected computer;

identifying, by the first virtual assistant broker, a plurality of second virtual assistants that may be capable of fulfilling the user request;

sending a list of the plurality of second virtual assistants from the first virtual assistant broker to the first virtual assistant;

selecting a third virtual assistant from among the plurality of second virtual assistants;

forwarding the user request from the first virtual assistant to the third virtual assistant;

receiving a response from the third virtual assistant; and

presenting the response in a suitable format to the user.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of forwarding the user request to a second virtual assistant broker.