Virtual Agent Personalization via Segmented Architecture

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current virtual agents in electronic shopping and research lack sophistication, providing only rudimentary user interfaces and limited interaction capabilities, failing to fully engage users or adapt to their preferences.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for creating a virtual agent within a personal computing device, endowed with multiple personality traits, allowing it to interact with users and perform tasks outside the device, reporting results through a user interface, utilizing databases for configuration and operation, and enabling the creation of intelligent agents to manage tasks such as web robots for shopping and research.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If virtual agents use only rudimentary user interfaces with prerecorded sound bites, then device complexity is reduced, but user engagement and interaction quality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser engagementVSAvoidagent sophistication

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the virtual agent into distinct functional components: a virtual agent layer for user interaction with personality traits and rendering, and an intelligent agent layer for task execution. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, improving user engagement through personalized interaction while managing complexity through modular architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer that connects the simple virtual agent interface with complex task execution capabilities. The virtual agent serves as a mediator between the user and the intelligent agent, providing an engaging personality-driven interface while the intelligent agent handles sophisticated tasks in the background, thus improving user engagement without requiring the interface itself to be complex.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If virtual agents provide only pre-recorded instructions, then ease of manufacture is improved, but adaptability to user preferences deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepersonalization capabilityVSAvoidimplementation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual agent's personality traits are made dynamic and configurable, allowing the agent to adapt its behavior and characteristics to user preferences. The system enables dynamic configuration of agent attributes such as name, personality, and appearance, transforming a static pre-recorded instruction system into an adaptable, personalized interaction experience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes key parameters of the virtual agent including personality traits, appearance, and behavior patterns to enable personalization. By allowing modification of these parameters, the system achieves adaptability to user preferences while maintaining a structured framework that manages implementation complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If virtual agents lack intelligent agent integration, then device complexity is reduced, but task execution capability outside the device deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetask execution capabilityVSAvoidsystem architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments functionality between a virtual agent component for user interaction and an intelligent agent component for task execution. This segmentation allows the virtual agent to remain relatively simple while delegating complex task execution capabilities to the intelligent agent, thereby improving productivity without excessively increasing the complexity of the user-facing system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The intelligent agent is designed as a universal component that can execute various types of tasks outside the device, including web browsing, information gathering, and automated operations. This multi-functional intelligent agent enhances task execution capability across different scenarios while maintaining a consistent system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8930815B2Methods, systems and computer readable media for creating a virtual agent

Publication Date: 2015.01.06 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for producing a virtual agent. The virtual agent is generated. A demographic trait of a user, interacting with the virtual agent, is acquired. The virtual agent is endowed with the demographic trait, thereby enriching the virtual agent to appeal the user. Further, one or more intelligent agents are associated with the virtual agent allowing the virtual agent to accomplish specific tasking as directed by the user.