Claims
- 1. A computer-based virtual assistant comprising:
a virtual assistant application running on a computer capable of receiving human voice communications from a remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization to the remote user interface; the virtual assistant application selecting a responsive action to a verbal query or instruction received from the remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization characterizing the selected responsive action to the remote user interface; and the virtual assistant waiting a predetermined period of time, and if no canceling indication is received from the remote user interface, proceeding to perform the selected responsive action; and if a canceling indication is received from the remote user interface halting the selected responsive action and transmitting a new vocalization to the remote user interface.
- 2. The computer-based virtual assistant according to claim 1, wherein the canceling indication received from the remote user interface is a vocal instruction.
- 3. The computer-based virtual assistant according to claim 1, wherein the canceling indication received from the remote user interface is a DTMF tone.
- 4. The computer-based virtual assistant according to claim 1, wherein the new vocalization indicates that the selected responsive action has been canceled.
- 5. The computer-based virtual assistant according to claim 1, wherein the selected responsive action is dialing a telephone number.
- 6. The computer-based virtual assistant according to claim 1, wherein the virtual assist application performs processes to accomplish at least three of the following:
sending and receiving voice mail messages; checking, replying to, and forwarding email messages; looking up phone numbers and addresses in an electronic address book; accessing information in a company database; accessing information on the World Wide Web; informing a virtual assistant user via a pager when a new voice or email message arrives; filtering incoming voice mail, email, and pages as instructed by the virtual assistant user; automatically dialing phone numbers; and informing the virtual assistant user of scheduling data.
- 7. The computer-based virtual assistant according to claim 1, further comprising:
a communications interface to communicate over a network, the network being one of a public switched telephone network, a packet switched telephone network, and a wireless telecommunications network.
- 8. A computer-based virtual assistant comprising:
a virtual assistant application running on a computer capable of receiving human voice communications from a remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization to the remote user interface, the virtual assistant application having a variable assertiveness level; the virtual assistant application selecting a responsive action to a verbal query or instruction received from the remote user interface; the virtual assistant application judging a setting of its variable assertiveness level; if the assertiveness level is set at a first level, the virtual assistant application transmitting a first vocalization to the remote user interface asking for permission to perform the selected responsive action; and if the assertiveness level is set at a different, second level, the virtual assistant application transmitting a second vocalization characterizing that the selected responsive action will be taken, the virtual assistant application waiting a predetermined period of time, and if no canceling indication is received from the remote user interface, proceeding to perform the selected responsive action; and if a canceling indication is received from the remote user interface halting the selected responsive action and transmitting a new vocalization to the remote user interface.
- 9. The computer-based virtual assistant according to claim 8, wherein the variable assertiveness level is set by a user
- 10. The computer-based virtual assistant according to claim 9, wherein the user sets the variable assertiveness level by dragging a sliding bar to a desired position.
- 11. The computer-based virtual assistant according to claim 8, wherein the variable assertiveness level is automatically set by the virtual assistant application.
- 12. The computer-based virtual assistant according to claim 11, wherein the virtual assistant application sets the variable assertiveness level based upon a user competence level.
- 13. The computer-based virtual assistant according to claim 11, wherein the virtual assistant application sets the variable assertiveness level to the second level after a specific user has accessed the virtual assistant application a predetermined number of times.
- 14. The computer-based virtual assistant according to claim 8, wherein the selected responsive action is dialing a telephone number.
- 15. The computer-based virtual assistant according to claim 8, wherein the virtual assist application performs processes to accomplish at least three of the following:
sending and receiving voice mail messages; checking, replying to, and forwarding email messages; looking up phone numbers and addresses in an electronic address book; accessing information in a company database; accessing information on the World Wide Web; informing a virtual assistant user via a pager when a new voice or email message arrives; filtering incoming voice mail, email, and pages as instructed by the virtual assistant user; automatically dialing phone numbers; and informing the virtual assistant user of scheduling data.
- 16. The computer-based virtual assistant according to claim 8, further comprising:
a communications interface to communicate over a network, the network being one of a public switched telephone network, a packet switched telephone network, and a wireless telecommunications network.
- 17. A method of operating a computer-based virtual assistant comprising:
receiving human voice communications from a remote user interface; selecting a responsive action to a verbal query or instruction received from the remote user interface; transmitting a vocalization characterizing the selected responsive action to the remote user interface; waiting a predetermined period of time; and if no canceling indication is received from the remote user interface, proceeding to perform the selected responsive action; and if a canceling indication is received from the remote user interface, halting the selected responsive action and transmitting a new vocalization to the remote user interface.
- 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said step of proceeding to perform the selected responsive action includes dialing a telephone number.
- 19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the virtual assistant performing processes to accomplish at least three of the following:
sending and receiving voice mail messages; checking, replying to, and forwarding email messages; looking up phone numbers and addresses in an electronic address book; accessing information in a company database; accessing information on the World Wide Web; informing a virtual assistant user via a pager when a new voice or email message arrives; filtering incoming voice mail, email, and pages as instructed by the virtual assistant user; automatically dialing phone numbers; and informing the virtual assistant user of scheduling data.
- 20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the transmitting step occurs over a network, selected from the group consisting of a public switched telephone network, a packet switched telephone network, and a wireless telecommunications network.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application is related to application Serial No. ______, entitled Virtual Assistant Engine, Serial No. ______, entitled Virtual Assistant with Semantic Tagging, and Serial No. ______, entitled Virtual Assistant with Temporal Selectivity, which are filed simultaneously herewith, assigned to a common assignee, and are hereby incorporated by reference.
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09519075 |
Mar 2000 |
US |
Child |
10837605 |
May 2004 |
US |