Virtual Assistant Session Manager for Seamless Multi-VA Interaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing virtual assistants are mutually exclusive, forcing users to switch between different input types when interacting with various applications, deterring users from using them for multiple specialized purposes.

Innovation Solution

A system that allows multiple virtual assistants to collaborate within the same session, with a high-level virtual assistant determining and passing control to specialized virtual assistants based on user requests, enabling seamless interaction across different applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple virtual assistants are used for different applications, then the versatility and specialized capabilities are improved, but the complexity of session management and input switching increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirtual assistant versatilityVSAvoidsession management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a session manager as an intermediary component that coordinates between multiple virtual assistants and the user. The session manager maintains session state, determines which virtual assistant should handle each user input, and manages transitions between different virtual assistants, thereby reducing the complexity burden on the overall system while preserving multi-VA versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The session manager is designed as a universal component that can work with multiple different virtual assistants across various applications. It provides a standardized interface for session management that is application-agnostic, allowing the same session manager to coordinate diverse virtual assistants without requiring application-specific customization, thus improving versatility while maintaining manageable complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If users switch between multiple virtual assistants for different applications, then specialized functionality is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to required input type switching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespecialized virtual assistant functionalityVSAvoiduser interaction ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The session manager enables continuous interaction by maintaining session state across virtual assistant transitions. Instead of requiring users to restart or re-input information when switching VAs, the session manager preserves context and allows the useful interaction to continue seamlessly across different virtual assistants and applications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically determines which virtual assistant should handle each user input based on current session state and application context. The session manager adapts its behavior in real-time, routing user inputs to the most appropriate virtual assistant without requiring user intervention or manual switching, thereby maintaining ease of operation while providing access to specialized functionalities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If a general purpose virtual assistant handles all intents, then simplicity of architecture is improved, but the measurement precision and intent recognition accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearchitecture simplicityVSAvoidintent recognition accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the intent recognition function across multiple specialized virtual assistants, each optimized for specific domains or application types. The session manager divides the overall intent recognition task by routing queries to appropriate specialized VAs, thereby achieving high precision without requiring a single monolithic general-purpose VA with overly complex architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If application specific virtual assistants are added to the system, then the versatility and specialized capabilities are improved, but the device complexity and intent handling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication specific capabilityVSAvoidintent handling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The session manager serves as an intermediary that abstracts the complexity of managing multiple application-specific virtual assistants. It provides a unified interface for intent routing and session management, allowing application-specific VAs to be added without proportionally increasing the overall system complexity, as the session manager handles the coordination overhead

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10671448B2Session processing interaction between two or more virtual assistants

Publication Date: 2020.06.02 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Devices and systems supporting more than one Virtual Assistant (VA) are able to initiate and collaborate with multiple virtual assistants within the same session and at the same time. This system allows application specific virtual assistants to register and listen for intents from a general purpose virtual assistant. When the general purpose virtual assistant raises an intent, control can be passed to an interested application specific virtual assistant for handling. The system of registering new intents increases the knowledge of the general purpose virtual assistant, or overloads the handling of an existing intent.