Virtual assistant conversations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10809876-B2
Application number	US-201816148109-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 1, 2018
Priority date	Dec 31, 2013
Publication date	Oct 20, 2020
Grant date	Oct 20, 2020

Abstract

Techniques and architectures for implementing a team of virtual assistants are described herein. The team may include multiple virtual assistants that are configured with different characteristics, such as different functionality, base language models, levels of training, visual appearances, personalities, and so on. The characteristics of the virtual assistants may be configured by trainers, end-users, and/or a virtual assistant service. The virtual assistants may be presented to end-users in conversation user interfaces to perform different tasks for the users in a conversational manner. The different virtual assistants may adapt to different contexts. The virtual assistants may additionally, or alternatively, interact with each other to carry out tasks for the users, which may be illustrated in conversation user interfaces.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
under control of a first computing device configured with executable instructions,
using first virtual assistant on the first computing device to communicate with a second virtual assistant on a second computing device;
causing the first virtual assistant and the second virtual assistant to communicate;
causing the first virtual assistant to determine the second virtual assistant lacks a function to complete a task;
communicating a request from the first virtual assistant to the second computing device for permission to communicate with a third virtual assistant on the second computing device, wherein the third virtual assistant has the function to complete the task;
upon receiving the permission, causing one or more dialog representations to be presented in a conversation user interface connected to either both of the first computing device and the second computing device, the conversation user interface illustrating the communication between the first virtual assistant and the third virtual assistant.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first virtual assistant and the third virtual assistant communicate to perform the task for a user.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more dialog representations are presented over a period of time in a back-and-forth manner to emulate a human conversation.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more dialog representations indicate information that is communicated between the first virtual assistant and the third virtual assistant.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first virtual assistant and the third virtual assistant are associated with different entities.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more dialog representations include a summary conversation item that represents an entirety of the conversation among the first virtual assistant and the second virtual assistant and the third virtual assistant.

Assignees

• Verint Americas Inc

Inventors

• Brown Fred A
• Miller Tanya M

Classifications

• H04L51/02 Primary

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

• G06F3/167

  Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback · CPC title

• G06F3/04817 Primary

  using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) · CPC title

• G06F9/453

  Help systems · CPC title

• G06Q10/10

  Office automation; Time management · CPC title