Abstract: A method for assisting a user with one or more desired tasks is disclosed. For example, an executable, generic language understanding module and an executable, generic task reasoning module are provided for execution in the computer processing system. A set of run-time specifications is provided to the generic language understanding module and the generic task reasoning module, comprising one or more models specific to a domain. A language input is then received from a user, an intention of the user is determined with respect to one or more desired tasks, and the user is assisted with the one or more desired tasks, in accordance with the intention of the user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for exploiting human feedback in an intelligent automated assistant. One embodiment of a method for conducting an interaction with a human user includes inferring an intent from data entered by the human user, formulating a response in accordance with the intent, receiving feedback from a human advisor in response to at least one of the inferring and the formulating, wherein the human advisor is a person other than the human user, and adapting at least one model used in at least one of the inferring and the formulating, wherein the adapting is based on the feedback.

Abstract: A method for assisting a user with one or more desired tasks is disclosed. For example, an executable, generic language understanding module and an executable, generic task reasoning module are provided for execution in the computer processing system. A set of run-time specifications is provided to the generic language understanding module and the generic task reasoning module, comprising one or more models specific to a domain. A language input is then received from a user, an intention of the user is determined with respect to one or more desired tasks, and the user is assisted with the one or more desired tasks, in accordance with the intention of the user.

Abstract: A method for assisting a user with one or more desired tasks is disclosed. For example, an executable, generic language understanding module and an executable, generic task reasoning module are provided for execution in the computer processing system. A set of run-time specifications is provided to the generic language understanding module and the generic task reasoning module, comprising one or more models specific to a domain. A language input is then received from a user, an intention of the user is determined with respect to one or more desired tasks, and the user is assisted with the one or more desired tasks, in accordance with the intention of the user.

Abstract: A vehicle personal assistant to engage a user in a conversational dialog about vehicle-related topics, such as those commonly found in a vehicle owner's manual, includes modules to interpret spoken natural language input, search a vehicle knowledge base and/or other data sources for pertinent information, and respond to the user's input in a conversational fashion. The dialog may be initiated by the user or more proactively by the vehicle personal assistant based on events that may be currently happening in relation to the vehicle. The vehicle personal assistant may use real-time inputs obtained from the vehicle and/or non-verbal inputs from the user to enhance its understanding of the dialog and assist the user in a variety of ways.

Abstract: A method for assisting a user with one or more desired tasks is disclosed. For example, an executable, generic language understanding module and an executable, generic task reasoning module are provided for execution in the computer processing system. A set of run-time specifications is provided to the generic language understanding module and the generic task reasoning module, comprising one or more models specific to a domain. A language input is then received from a user, an intention of the user is determined with respect to one or more desired tasks, and the user is assisted with the one or more desired tasks, in accordance with the intention of the user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for tailoring the output of an intelligent automated assistant. One embodiment of a method for conducting an interaction with a human user includes collecting data about the user using a multimodal set of sensors positioned in a vicinity of the user, making a set of inferences about the user in accordance with the data, and tailoring an output to be delivered to the user in accordance with the set of inferences.

Abstract: A method for assisting a user with one or more desired tasks is disclosed. For example, an executable, generic language understanding module and an executable, generic task reasoning module are provided for execution in the computer processing system. A set of run-time specifications is provided to the generic language understanding module and the generic task reasoning module, comprising one or more models specific to a domain. A language input is then received from a user, an intention of the user is determined with respect to one or more desired tasks, and the user is assisted with the one or more desired tasks, in accordance with the intention of the user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for tailoring the output of an intelligent automated assistant. One embodiment of a method for conducting an interaction with a human user includes collecting data about the user using a multimodal set of sensors positioned in a vicinity of the user, making a set of inferences about the user in accordance with the data, and tailoring an output to be delivered to the user in accordance with the set of inferences.

Abstract: A platform for developing a virtual personal assistant (“VPA”) application includes an ontology that defines a computerized structure for representing knowledge relating to one or more domains. A domain may refer to a category of information and/or activities in relation to which the VPA application may engage in a conversational natural language dialog with a computing device user. Re-usable VPA components may be linked to or included in the ontology. An ontology populating agent may at least partially automate the process of populating the ontology with domain-specific information. The re-usable VPA components may be linked with the domain-specific information through the ontology. A VPA application created with the platform may include domain-adapted re-usable VPA components that may be called upon by an executable VPA engine to determine a likely intended meaning of conversational natural language input of the user and/or initiate an appropriate system response to the input.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for tailoring the output of an intelligent automated assistant. One embodiment of a method for conducting an interaction with a human user includes collecting data about the user using a multimodal set of sensors positioned in a vicinity of the user, making a set of inferences about the user in accordance with the data, and tailoring an output to be delivered to the user in accordance with the set of inferences.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for tailoring the output of an intelligent automated assistant. One embodiment of a method for conducting an interaction with a human user includes collecting data about the user using a multimodal set of sensors positioned in a vicinity of the user, making a set of inferences about the user in accordance with the data, and tailoring an output to be delivered to the user in accordance with the set of inferences.

Abstract: A method for assisting a user with one or more desired tasks is disclosed. For example, an executable, generic language understanding module and an executable, generic task reasoning module are provided for execution in the computer processing system. A set of run-time specifications is provided to the generic language understanding module and the generic task reasoning module, comprising one or more models specific to a domain. A language input is then received from a user, an intention of the user is determined with respect to one or more desired tasks, and the user is assisted with the one or more desired tasks, in accordance with the intention of the user.

Abstract: A vehicle personal assistant to engage a user in a conversational dialog about vehicle-related topics, such as those commonly found in a vehicle owner's manual, includes modules to interpret spoken natural language input, search a vehicle knowledge base and/or other data sources for pertinent information, and respond to the user's input in a conversational fashion. The dialog may be initiated by the user or more proactively by the vehicle personal assistant based on events that may be currently happening in relation to the vehicle. The vehicle personal assistant may use real-time inputs obtained from the vehicle and/or non-verbal inputs from the user to enhance its understanding of the dialog and assist the user in a variety of ways.

Abstract: A method for assisting a user with one or more desired tasks is disclosed. For example, an executable, generic language understanding module and an executable, generic task reasoning module are provided for execution in the computer processing system. A set of run-time specifications is provided to the generic language understanding module and the generic task reasoning module, comprising one or more models specific to a domain. A language input is then received from a user, an intention of the user is determined with respect to one or more desired tasks, and the user is assisted with the one or more desired tasks, in accordance with the intention of the user.

Abstract: A platform for developing a virtual personal assistant (“VPA”) application includes an ontology that defines a computerized structure for representing knowledge relating to one or more domains. A domain may refer to a category of information and/or activities in relation to which the VPA application may engage in a conversational natural language dialog with a computing device user. Re-usable VPA components may be linked to or included in the ontology. An ontology populating agent may at least partially automate the process of populating the ontology with domain-specific information. The re-usable VPA components may be linked with the domain-specific information through the ontology. A VPA application created with the platform may include domain-adapted re-usable VPA components that may be called upon by an executable VPA engine to determine a likely intended meaning of conversational natural language input of the user and/or initiate an appropriate system response to the input.

Abstract: A platform for developing a virtual personal assistant (“VPA”) application includes an ontology that defines a computerized structure for representing knowledge relating to one or more domains. A domain may refer to a category of information and/or activities in relation to which the VPA application may engage in a conversational natural language dialog with a computing device user. Re-usable VPA components may be linked to or included in the ontology. An ontology populating agent may at least partially automate the process of populating the ontology with domain-specific information. The re-usable VPA components may be linked with the domain-specific information through the ontology. A VPA application created with the platform may include domain-adapted re-usable VPA components that may be called upon by an executable VPA engine to determine a likely intended meaning of conversational natural language input of the user and/or initiate an appropriate system response to the input.

Abstract: A platform for developing a virtual personal assistant (“VPA”) application includes an ontology that defines a computerized structure for representing knowledge relating to one or more domains. A domain may refer to a category of information and/or activities in relation to which the VPA application may engage in a conversational natural language dialog with a computing device user. Re-usable VPA components may be linked to or included in the ontology. An ontology populating agent may at least partially automate the process of populating the ontology with domain-specific information. The re-usable VPA components may be linked with the domain-specific information through the ontology. A VPA application created with the platform may include domain-adapted re-usable VPA components that may be called upon by an executable VPA engine to determine a likely intended meaning of conversational natural language input of the user and/or initiate an appropriate system response to the input.

Abstract: A vehicle personal assistant to engage a user in a conversational dialog about vehicle-related topics, such as those commonly found in a vehicle owner's manual, includes modules to interpret spoken natural language input, search a vehicle knowledge base and/or other data sources for pertinent information, and respond to the user's input in a conversational fashion. The dialog may be initiated by the user or more proactively by the vehicle personal assistant based on events that may be currently happening in relation to the vehicle. The vehicle personal assistant may use real-time inputs obtained from the vehicle and/or non-verbal inputs from the user to enhance its understanding of the dialog and assist the user in a variety of ways.

Abstract: A vehicle personal assistant to engage a user in a conversational dialog about vehicle-related topics, such as those commonly found in a vehicle owner's manual, includes modules to interpret spoken natural language input, search a vehicle knowledge base and/or other data sources for pertinent information, and respond to the user's input in a conversational fashion. The dialog may be initiated by the user or more proactively by the vehicle personal assistant based on events that may be currently happening in relation to the vehicle. The vehicle personal assistant may use real-time inputs obtained from the vehicle and/or non-verbal inputs from the user to enhance its understanding of the dialog and assist the user in a variety of ways.