Chat-Based Virtual Assistant for Meeting Interactivity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current meeting management solutions have limited interactivity with meeting participants, restricting the integration and immersive experience of interactive virtual assistants in teleconferencing environments.

Innovation Solution

An interactive virtual meeting assistant system that joins meetings as a full participant, using virtual input/output devices to capture audio and video, generate transcripts, and detect commands, enhancing interaction through chat-based interfaces and providing insights, thereby increasing interactivity and immersion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If an interactive virtual assistant is added to a meeting through manual dialing or native applications, then the assistant can record meetings and generate transcripts, but the interactivity and immersion of the assistant in the meeting environment is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintegration capabilityVSAvoiduser interaction experience

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a chat interface as an intermediary between meeting participants and the virtual assistant. This chat interface integrates seamlessly into the existing videoconferencing environment, allowing participants to interact with the assistant using the same communication medium already present in the meeting, thereby improving both integration capability and user interaction experience

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual assistant is designed to perform multiple functions including recording meetings, generating transcripts, identifying highlights, themes, sentiments, summaries, and insights, while also engaging in natural conversation through the chat interface. This multi-functionality allows the assistant to adapt to various meeting needs without requiring separate interaction channels

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If meeting management solutions provide comprehensive features for recording and analyzing meetings, then the functionality is enhanced, but the interactivity with participants remains limited

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidinteractivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The chat interface enables bidirectional communication between participants and the virtual assistant. Participants can ask questions, request specific information, or engage in conversation, and the assistant responds in real-time through the same chat channel, creating a feedback loop that significantly enhances interactivity while maintaining comprehensive meeting management functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a text-based chat dimension to the traditional audio-visual meeting environment. This new dimension allows for asynchronous communication, detailed information exchange, and persistent records of interactions, complementing the real-time audio and video channels without replacing them

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11483273B2Chat-based interaction with an in-meeting virtual assistant

Publication Date: 2022.10.25 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Chat-based interaction with an in-meeting virtual assistant may be provided. First, audio input associated with a meeting may be received. Next, an intent from the audio input may be detected. Text content associated with the audio input may then be generated in response to detecting the intent from the audio input. The text content may be displayed in a chat interface.