Forming chatbot output based on user state

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10157615-B2
Application number	US-201815915599-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2018
Priority date	Sep 27, 2016
Publication date	Dec 18, 2018
Grant date	Dec 18, 2018

Abstract

Techniques are described herein for chatbots to achieve greater social grace by tracking users' states and providing corresponding dialog. In various implementations, input may be received from a user at a client device operating a chatbot, e.g., during a first session between the user and the chatbot. The input may be semantically processed to determine a state expressed by the user to the chatbot. An indication of the state expressed by the user may be stored in memory for future use by the chatbot. It may then be determined, e.g., by the chatbot based on various signals, that a second session between the user and the chatbot is underway. In various implementations, as part of the second session, the chatbot may output a statement formed from a plurality of candidate words, phrases, and/or statements based on the stored indication of the state expressed by the user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method implemented using one or more processors and comprising:
receiving, at a first client device that executes a first portion of a virtual assistant, input from a user, wherein the input is received during a first session between the user and the virtual assistant, and the input is based on user interface input generated by the user via one or more input devices of the client device;
semantically processing, by the virtual assistant, the input from the user to determine a state expressed by the user to the virtual assistant;
storing, by the virtual assistant in memory hosted on a cloud infrastructure that is accessible to the first client device and at least a second client device of the user, an indication of the state expressed by the user during the first session for future use by the virtual assistant;
determining, by the virtual assistant based on one or more signals, that a second session between the user and the virtual assistant that is distinct from the first session is underway, wherein the one or more signals include the user invoking at least a second portion of the virtual assistant on the second client device;
forming, by a third portion of the virtual assistant that executes on the cloud infrastructure or the second portion of the automated assistant, based on the stored indication of the state expressed by the user, a natural language output from a plurality of candidate words, phrases, or statements, wherein the natural language output raises the state expressed by the user during the first session; and
outputting, by the virtual assistant via one or more output devices of the second client device, as part of the second session, the natural language output.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the natural language output formed from the plurality of candidate words, phrases, or statements comprises a greeting selected from a plurality of candidate greetings.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the state expressed by the user is a negative sentiment, and the natural language output formed from the plurality of candidate words, phrases, or statements comprises an inquiry of whether the user or other individual about which the state was expressed has improved.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the natural language output is formed on the cloud infrastructure.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the natural language output is formed at the second client device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more signals further include detection of one or more intervening interactions between the user and the client device other than dialog between the user and the virtual assistant.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more signals further include passage of a predetermined time interval since a last interaction between the user and the virtual assistant.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more signals further include detection of a change in a context of the user since a last interaction between the user and the virtual assistant.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual assistant obtains the plurality of candidate words, phrases, or statements from prior message exchange threads between multiple individuals.

10. A system comprising one or more processors and memory operably coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the memory stores instructions that, in response to execution by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the following operations:
receiving, at a first client device that executes a first portion of a virtual assistant, input from a user, wherein the input is received during a first session between the user and the virtual assistant, and the input is based on user interface input generated by the user via one or more input devices of the client device;
semantically processing, by the virtual assistant, the input from the user to determine a state expressed by the user to the virtual assistant;
storing, by the virtual assistant in memory hosted on a cloud infrastructure that is accessible to the first client device and at least a second client device of the user, an indication of the state expressed by the user during the first session for future use by the virtual assistant;
determining, by the virtual assistant based on one or more signals, that a second session between the user and the virtual assistant that is distinct from the first session is underway, wherein the one or more signals include the user invoking at least a second portion of the virtual assistant on the second client device;
forming, by a third portion of the virtual assistant that executes on the cloud infrastructure or the second portion of the automated assistant, based on the stored indication of the state expressed by the user, a natural language output from a plurality of candidate words, phrases, or statements, wherein the natural language output raises the state expressed by the user during the first session; and
outputting, by the virtual assistant via one or more output devices of the second client device, as part of the second session, the natural language output.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the natural language output formed from the plurality of candidate words, phrases, or statements comprises a greeting selected from a plurality of candidate greetings.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the state expressed by the user is a negative sentiment, and the natural language output formed from the plurality of candidate words, phrases, or statements comprises an inquiry of whether the user or other individual about which the state was expressed has improved.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the natural language output is formed on the cloud infrastructure.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the natural language output is formed at the second client device.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more signals further include detection of one or more intervening interactions between the user and the client device other than dialog between the user and the virtual assistant.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more signals further include passage of a predetermined time interval since a last interaction between the user and the virtual assistant.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more signals further include detection of a change in a context of the user since a last interaction between the user and the virtual assistant.

18. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, in response to execution of the instructions by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the following operations:
receiving, at a first client device that executes a first portion of a virtual assistant, input from a user, wherein the input is received during a first session between the user and the virtual assistant, and the input is based on user interface input generated by the user via one or more input devices of the client device;
semantically processing, by the virtual assistant, the input from the user to determine a state expressed by the user to the virtual assistant;
storing, by the virtual assistant in memory hosted on a cloud infrastructure that is accessible to the first client device and at least a second client device of the user, an indication of the state expressed by the user during the first session for future use by the virtual assistant;
determining, by the virtual assistant based on one or more signals, that a second session between the user and the virtual assistan

Assignees

• Google Llc

Inventors

• Horling Bryan
• Kogan David
• Garrett Maryam
• Kunkle Daniel
• Quah Wan Fen Nicole
• He Ruijie
• Yuan Wangqing
• Chen Wei
• Itz Michael

Classifications

• G06F16/3329

  Natural language query formulation · CPC title

• G10L15/22 Primary

  Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue · CPC title

• G06F16/9535 Primary

  Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation · CPC title

• G10L15/26

  Speech to text systems (G10L15/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04L51/02

  using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages · CPC title