RPA Digital Assistant Trigger Workflows for Background Task Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital assistants, such as Siri and Alexa, require explicit user activation and do not operate in the background to initiate workflows or perform tasks without human involvement, limiting their automation capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using Robotic Process Automation (RPA) that assigns workflows to robots to monitor user actions or events via predefined or AI-learned triggers, allowing automated task execution without user input, including calendaring, expense report processing, and electronic messaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If digital assistants operate only when activated by user commands, then system resource consumption is reduced, but automation capability and productivity are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining workflows and triggers that enable automated task execution. When conditions are met, pre-configured workflows are automatically activated without requiring user initiation, thereby improving automation capability while maintaining efficient resource usage through conditional execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The digital assistant transitions from a static, command-responsive system to a dynamic, condition-monitoring system. The system dynamically evaluates triggers against current state, automatically activating workflows when conditions are satisfied, thus enhancing productivity while consuming resources only when automation is actually performed.
2Productivity
If digital assistants operate continuously in the background monitoring for triggers, then automation capability is improved, but system resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous monitoring, the system implements periodic evaluation of triggers against current state. The robot checks whether defined triggers are satisfied at specific intervals or when relevant events occur, enabling automated task execution while reducing unnecessary resource consumption associated with constant monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system serves itself by automatically detecting when triggers are satisfied and initiating appropriate workflows without external activation. This self-service capability enables the digital assistant to improve automation productivity while consuming resources only when actual automation tasks are being performed, rather than maintaining constant operational readiness.
3Productivity
If workflows are executed without user involvement, then productivity is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Users perform preliminary configuration by defining workflows, triggers, and conditions during system setup. This preliminary action enables the system to automatically execute tasks without ongoing user involvement, improving productivity while maintaining user control through the initial configuration phase. Users retain ease of operation by having full control over what automation occurs through pre-defined parameters.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple triggers and workflows are configured, then automation versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments automation functionality into discrete, modular workflows, each with specific triggers and actions. This segmentation allows users to configure individual workflows independently, improving automation versatility while managing complexity through modular design. Each workflow unit can be configured, tested, and maintained separately, reducing the burden of managing multiple interconnected automation rules.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements universal trigger and workflow components that can be applied across multiple contexts and tasks. By creating reusable, multi-functional trigger definitions and workflow templates, the system achieves high automation versatility without proportionally increasing configuration complexity. A single trigger type can initiate different workflows based on conditions, reducing the number of unique configurations needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A digital assistant may execute one or more tasks using robotic processing automation (RPA). The digital assistant (or robot) assigns a workflow to a robot to monitor for one or more triggers. The one or more triggers comprise one or more events causing a robot to perform an automated tasks with or without user involvement. The robot also identifies the one or more triggers during the monitoring of the one or more triggers, and loads a workflow associated with the one or more identified triggers. The robot further includes executing the loaded workflow to perform one or more tasks associated with the one or more triggers.