Patent US6728679B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6728679B1
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Self-updating user interface/entertainment device that simulates personal interaction
Assignee: Koninklijke Philips NV
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Filing: 2000-10-30
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Granted: 2004-04-27
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Expires: 2020-10-30
Abstract
Abstract An interaction simulator has the ability to dynamically update response templates and response data by retrieving current information from a data source. The interaction simulator may interact verbally or by other means such as gesture, typed text, or other means to generate a “dialogue. ” The interaction simulator, by dynamically updating its responses, is able to be more interesting and useful to users and also more personally relevant than prior art, so-called chatterbots. The device also reduces the required number of rules and library of response data that must be retained compared to prior art conversation simulators. The criteria used to create new response data can come from fixed specifications, for example, the current weather, or from the content of previous conversations (for example, the system creating a new template about a topic indicated by the user to be of interest to him/her).
Inventors
- 👤 Hugo J. Strubbe
- 👤 Larry J. Eshelman
- 👤 Srinivas Gutta
- 👤 John Milanski
- 👤 Daniel Pelletier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:29
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/011
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A conversation simulator for simulating conversational interaction with a user, comprising: a controller programmed to receive first, second, and third user inputs, each chronologically separated by at least one reply from said controller; said first user input including a natural language declaration as distinguished from a query or a command; an output device connected to said controller to output said corresponding replies; an input device connected to apply said first, second, and third user inputs to said controller; said controller being connected to a first external data source; said controller being connected to a first data store containing reply data, said controller being programmed to generate said at least one reply corresponding to said first user input responsively to said first user input and said reply data; said controller being connected also to a second external data source to retrieve live data periodically from said second external data source; said controller being further programmed to generate said at least one reply corresponding to said second user input responsively to said live data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
A conversation simulator for simulating conversational interaction with a user, comprising: a controller programmed to receive first, second, and third user inputs, each chronologically separated by at least one reply from said controller; said first user input including a natural language declaration as distinguished from a query or a command; an output device connected to said controller to output said corresponding replies; an input device connected to apply said first, second, and third user inputs to said controller; said controller being connected to a first external data source; said controller being connected to a first data store containing reply data, said controller being programmed to generate said at least one reply corresponding to said first user input responsively to said first user input and said reply data; said controller being connected also to a second external data source to retrieve live data periodically from said second external data source; said controller being further programmed to generate said at least one reply corresponding to said second user input responsively to said live data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A conversation simulator as in claim 1 , wherein said live data is responsive to said first user input.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A conversation simulator as in claim 1 , wherein said live data is retrieved responsive solely to a predefined schedule.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A conversation simulator as in claim 1 , wherein said second external data source includes a network and said live data includes natural language text.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A conversation simulator as in claim 2 , wherein said at least one reply corresponding to each of said first, second, and third user inputs includes natural language speech or text.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A conversation simulator as in claim 2 , wherein said at least one reply corresponding to said first user input is not responsive to data retrieved from said first external data source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A conversation simulator as in claim 2 , wherein said second external data source include a network and said live data includes one of weather and current news.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A conversation simulator as in claim 7 , wherein said at least one reply corresponding to each of said first, second, and third user inputs includes natural language speech or text.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A conversation simulator as in claim 1 , wherein said second external data source include a network and said live data includes one of weather and current news.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A conversation simulator as in claim 1 , wherein said at least one reply corresponding to each of said first, second, and third user inputs includes natural language speech or text.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A conversation simulator as in claim 1 , wherein said at least one reply corresponding to said first user input is not responsive to data retrieved from said first external data source.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A conversation simulator as in claim 1 , wherein said first, second, and third user inputs include audible speech and said input device includes an audio transducer.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
170 words
A device for simulating personal interaction with a user, comprising: a controller programmed to receive first, second, and third user inputs, each chronologically separated by at least one reply from said controller; said first user input including a natural language declaration as distinguished from a query or a command; an output device connected to said controller to output said corresponding replies; an input device connected to apply said first, second, and third user inputs to said controller; said controller being connected to a first external data source; said controller being connected to a first data store containing reply data, said controller being programmed to generate said at least one reply corresponding to said first user input responsively to said first user input and said reply data; said controller being connected also to a second external data source to retrieve live data responsive to said first user input; said controller being further programmed to generate said at least one reply corresponding to said second user input responsively to said live data.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
170 words
A device for simulating personal interaction with a user, comprising: a controller programmed to receive first, second, and third user inputs, each chronologically separated by at least one reply from said controller; said first user input including a natural language declaration as distinguished from a query or a command; an output device connected to said controller to output said corresponding replies; an input device connected to apply said first, second, and third user inputs to said controller; said controller being connected to a first external data source; said controller being connected to a first data store containing reply data, said controller being programmed to generate said at least one reply corresponding to said first user input responsively to said first user input and said reply data; said controller being connected also to a second external data source to retrieve live data responsive to said first user input; said controller being further programmed to generate said at least one reply corresponding to said second user input responsively to said live data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as in claim 13 , wherein said second external data source includes a network and said live data includes natural language text.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as in claim 14 , wherein said at least one reply corresponding to each of said first, second, and third user inputs includes natural language speech or text.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as in claim 14 , wherein said at least one reply corresponding to said first user input is not responsive to data retrieved from said first external data source.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as in claim 14 , wherein said second external data source include a network and said live data includes one of weather and current news.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as in claim 17 , wherein said at least one reply corresponding to each of said first, second, and third user inputs includes natural language speech or text.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as in claim 13 , wherein said second external data source include a network and said live data includes one of weather and current news.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as in claim 13 , wherein said at least one reply corresponding to each of said first, second, and third user inputs includes natural language speech or text.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as in claim 13 , wherein said at least one reply corresponding to said first user input is not responsive to data retrieved from said first external data source.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as in claim 13 , wherein said first, second, and third user inputs include audible speech and said input device includes an audio transducer.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for simulating interaction, including verbal dialogue, between a user and a device, comprising the steps of: storing on said device, first reply data corresponding to said verbal dialogue; retrieving periodically second reply data from an external data source and storing said second reply data to add to said first reply data; receiving, on said device, dialogue input from said user; generating replies to said dialogue input responsively to said first reply data and said second reply data.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for simulating interaction, including verbal dialogue, between a user and a device, comprising the steps of: storing on said device, first reply data corresponding to said verbal dialogue; retrieving periodically second reply data from an external data source and storing said second reply data to add to said first reply data; receiving, on said device, dialogue input from said user; generating replies to said dialogue input responsively to said first reply data and said second reply data.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 23 , wherein said step of receiving includes receiving natural language speech data.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 23 , wherein said step of retrieving includes accessing text data from through an internet.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as in claim 23 , wherein said step of generating includes generating audible speech.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 26 , wherein said step of generating includes generating an animation synchronized with said speech.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-04-27 | 2007-10-27 | 2008-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-04-27 | 2011-10-27 | 2012-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-04-27 | 2015-10-27 | 2016-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |