System and method for conducting a communication exchange

• US 8,589,803 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2008
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schroeter, Horst, Chang, E-Lee, Roberts, Linda, Clayton, Darnell, Khandelwal, Madhur
• Primary Examiner(s): Refai, Ramsey
• Assistant Examiner(s): TITCOMB, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US12/265,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20100115422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,840 Days
• Field of Search: 715/706, 715/751
• US Class Current: 715/751
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an avatar engine having a controller to retrieve a user profile associated with a user, present the user an avatar having characteristics that correlate to the user profile, detect one or more responses of the user during a communication exchange between the user and the avatar, identify from the one or more responses a need of the user, establish a communication session with a second avatar engine responsive to the identified need of the user, engage in a communication exchange with the second avatar engine in relation to the identified need of the user, and identify one or more results from the communication exchange. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a memory to store instructions; and

a processor coupled with the memory, wherein the processor, responsive to executing the instructions, performs operations comprising;

retrieving a user profile associated with a first user;

presenting via a display device, a first avatar having characteristics associated with the user profile of the first user;

identifying a need of the first user by analyzing an outcome of a prior interaction between the first avatar and the first user without receiving an express directive from the first user that identifies the need;

selecting a second avatar engine from among a group of avatar engines based on the need of the first user, wherein the second avatar engine is associated with a second avatar of a second user, and wherein the need of the first user is associated with the second user;

establishing a communication session with the second avatar engine according to the need of the first user;

exchanging autonomous communications with the second avatar engine in relation to the need of the first user, wherein a portion of the autonomous communications with the second avatar engine comprises a negotiation with the second avatar engine on behalf of the first user that is independent from input of both the first user and the second user; and

identifying a result from the autonomous communications.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor further performs operations comprising presenting by way of the first avatar the result, and wherein the identifying of the need of the first user further comprises analyzing previous responses of the first user during previous communication exchanges between the first user and the first avatar, and wherein the need of the first user is based on scheduling requirements with the second user.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the need of the first user corresponds to obtaining search information, wherein the processor further performs operations comprising:

providing data representative of the search information to the second avatar engine;

receiving search results based on a search initiated by the second avatar engine; and

presenting the search results by way of the first avatar.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein a second portion of the autonomous communications with the second avatar engine comprises a second negotiation with the second avatar engine on behalf of the first avatar that is based on input from the second user, wherein the input comprises a confirmation of a proposed result generated by the second avatar engine.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the second negotiation comprises:

receiving a request for information associated with the search information from the second avatar engine; and

supplying the information that is requested to the second avatar engine.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the need of the first user further corresponds to a request directed to the second user, and wherein the processor further performs operations comprising:

informing the second avatar engine of the request;

receiving from the second avatar engine a response to the request; and

presenting by way of the first avatar a meeting request response.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the processor further performs operations comprising updating a calendar of the first user responsive to the meeting request response.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a first set top box that communicates with the second avatar engine over an internet protocol television network, and wherein the second avatar engine comprises a second set top box.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the device and the second avatar engine comprise web servers providing web services.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the user profile comprises one of demographic profiling information of the first user, psychographic profiling information of the first user, or user preferences supplied by the first user.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor further performs operations comprising determining the demographic profiling information of the first user from media consumption behavior of the first user.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the demographic profiling information of the first user is based on one of age, gender, income, occupation, or education.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the psychographic profiling information is based on one of user traits, user attitudes, user interests, or user lifestyles determined from media consumption behavior.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a mobile phone.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is located outside of a premises of the first user, wherein the first avatar is presented at a communication device of the first user by way of a cellular communication system.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the communication device of the first user corresponds to a mobile phone.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device, comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

retrieving a user profile associated with a first user;

presenting via a display device, a first avatar having characteristics associated with the user profile of the first user;

identifying a need of the first user by analyzing an outcome of a prior interaction between the first avatar and the first user without receiving an express directive from the first user that identifies the need;

selecting a second avatar engine from among a group of avatar engines based on the need of the first user, wherein the second avatar engine is associated with a second avatar of a second user, and wherein the need of the first user is associated with the second user;

establishing a communication session with the second avatar engine according to the need of the first user;

exchanging autonomous communications with the second avatar engine in relation to the need of the first user, wherein a portion of the autonomous communications with the second avatar engine comprises a negotiation with the second avatar engine on behalf of the first user that is independent from input of both the first user and the second user; and

identifying a result from the autonomous communications.

18. The storage device of claim 17, wherein the instructions cause the processor to further perform operations comprising presenting the result by way of the first avatar.

19. The storage device of claim 17, wherein the need of the first user corresponds to obtaining search information, wherein the instructions cause the processor to further perform operations comprising:

providing data representative of the search information to the second avatar engine;

receiving search results based on a search initiated by the second avatar engine; and

presenting the search results by way of the first avatar.

20. The storage device of claim 19, wherein a second portion of the autonomous communications with the second avatar engine comprises a second negotiation with the second avatar engine on behalf of the first avatar that is based on input from the second user, wherein the input comprises a confirmation of a proposed result generated by the second avatar engine.

21. The storage device of claim 20, wherein the second negotiation comprises:

receiving a request for information associated with the search information from the second avatar engine; and

supplying the information that is requested to the second avatar engine.

22. The storage device of claim 17, wherein the need of the first user further corresponds to a request directed to the second user, and wherein the instructions cause the processor to further perform operations comprising:

informing the second avatar engine of the request;

receiving from the second avatar engine a response to the request; and

presenting by way of the first avatar a meeting request response.

23. The storage device of claim 17, wherein the second avatar engine comprises a set top box device and wherein the communications session is established via an internet protocol television network.

24. A method, comprising:

presenting, by a first system comprising a processor, a first avatar associated with a first user via a display device;

identifying, by the first system, a need of the first user by analyzing an outcome of a prior interaction of the first user and the first avatar without receiving an express directive from the first user that identifies the need;

selecting, by the first system, a second avatar from among a group of avatars based on the need of the first user, wherein the second avatar is associated with a second system comprising a second processor and with a second user;

initiating, by the first system, an autonomous communication session with the second system according to the need that is identified for the first user;

exchanging, by the first system, autonomous communications with the second system in relation to the need of the first user, wherein a portion of the autonomous communications with the second system comprises a negotiation with the second system on behalf of the first user that is independent from input of both the first user and the second user; and

identifying, by the first system, a result from the negotiation.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the first system and the second system operate in a first set top box and a second set top box, respectively, that are in communication with each other over an internet protocol television network.