Virtual assistant system to remotely control external services and selectively share control

a virtual assistant and external service technology, applied in the field of virtual assistant systems, can solve the problems of inability to communicate with each other, limited use of mobile devices, and inability to grant access to the light bulb to another user operating a mobile device,

US20150213355A1Active Publication Date: 2015-07-30MICROSOFT TECH LICENSING LLC
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Patent Type
Applications(United States)
Current Assignee / Owner
Publication Date
2015-07-30

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Abstract

A virtual assistant system includes a mobile device, an assistant server and devices and services included within the virtual assistant system desired to be controlled. The virtual assistant system can control any such devices and services by receiving an input to perform a function at the devices and services, translate the input into a language sharable by all of the external devices and services through a respective plugin so that such inputs can be understood between the plurality of devices and services, and functions can be performed at the desired device(s) or service(s) either remotely or locally. This control is sharable with other users as instructed.
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Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 933,405, filed on Jan. 30, 2014, in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present general inventive concept relates to a virtual assistant system to wirelessly control a plurality of external devices and services and to provide communication and sharing of information between the plurality of external devices and services, and to selectively allow sharing of the control with other users.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Advancements in wireless communications have allowed innovation in data sharing to grow at a rapid rate. A user may use a mobile device (such as a phone, tablet computer, wristwatch, etc.) to open up various applications / programs, operate various devices, and c...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0097]Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present general inventive concept while referring to the figures. Also, while describing the present general inventive concept, detailed descriptions about related well-known functions or configurations that may diminish the clarity of the points of the present general inventive concept are omitted.

[0098]It will be understood that although the terms “first” and “second” are used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. Thus, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element may be termed a first element without departing from the teachi...