IP Library Granted Patent US 11,178,280
Granted Patent B2
US 11,178,280 · App. 15/628,080 · Granted Nov 16, 2021

Input during conversational session

Inventors: John Weldon Nicholson (Cary, NC); Daryl Cromer (Cary, NC); Ming Qian (Cary, NC); Song Wang (Cary, NC); David Alexander Schwarz (Morrisville, NC); Aaron Michael Stewart (Raleigh, NC); Lincoln Penn Hancock (Raleigh, NC); Jonathan Jen-Wei Yu (Raleigh, NC); Jeffrey E. Skinner (Raleigh, NC)
Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
H04M3/4936G06F3/167G10L15/222G06F9/4812G10L15/22G10L2015/223H04M2203/2027
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,178,280
App. No.
15/628,080
Granted
Nov 16, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

One embodiment provides a method, including: engaging, at an information handing device, in a conversational session with a user; receiving an input from a source other than the user during the conversational session; and performing, at the information handling device, an action related to the conversational input in response to the received input. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Claims (39)

1. A method, comprising:

engaging, at an information handling device, in a conversational session with a user;

detecting, during engagement of the conversational session, an input from a source other than the user and the source being external to the information handling device, the input comprising an interruption of the conversational session between the information handling device and the user by the source other than the user, wherein the input is directed to the user instead of the information handling device, wherein the detecting comprises detecting, using one or more sensors, another user has entered an environment including the user, wherein the detecting another user is based at least in part on detecting a device signal associated with the detecting another user other than the user;

detecting, using at least one sensor associated with the information handling device, an emotional state of the user; and

performing, at the information handling device, an action related to the conversational session in response to the detected input, wherein the action is dependent on the detected emotional state;

wherein the performing comprises:

withholding output and saving a state of the conversational session responsive to detecting that the emotional state of the user is negative, wherein the saving comprises maintaining a database containing an unfinished conversational session; and

providing the output responsive to detecting that the emotional state of the user is positive.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the engaging in a conversational session comprises receiving a query from the user.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the engaging in a conversational session comprises providing output responsive to a query received from the user.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting an input comprises receiving an input from one or more devices selected from a group consisting of: thermopile sensor, image capture device, radio receiver, audio capture device, and operatively coupled information handling device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting an input comprises detecting audible input unrelated to the conversational session.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the action comprises halting the conversational session.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the action comprises adjusting an audible characteristic associated with the conversational session.

8. An information handling device, comprising:

a processor;

a memory device that stores instructions executable by the processor to:

engage, at the information handling device, in a conversational session with a user;

detect, during engagement of the conversational session, an input from a source other than the user and the source being external to the information handling device, the input comprising an interruption of the conversational session between the information handling device and the user by the source other than the user, wherein the input is directed to the user instead of the information handling device, wherein the detecting comprises detecting, using one or more sensors, another user has entered an environment including the user, wherein the detecting another user is based at least in part on detecting a device signal associated with the detecting another user other than the user;

detecting, using at least one sensor associated with the information handling device, an emotional state of the user; and

perform, at the information handling device, an action in related to the conversational session in response to the detected input, wherein the action is dependent on the detected emotional state;

wherein the performing comprises:

withholding output and saving a state of the conversational session responsive to detecting that the emotional state of the user is negative, wherein the saving comprises maintaining a database containing an unfinished conversational session; and

providing the output responsive to detecting that the emotional state of the user is positive.

9. The information handling device of claim 8 , wherein the instructions executable by the processor to engage in a conversational session comprise instructions executable by the processor to receive a query from the user.

10. The information handling device of claim 8 , wherein the instructions executable by the processor to engage in a conversational session comprise instructions executable by the processor to provide output responsive to a query received from the user.

11. The information handling device of claim 8 , wherein the instructions executable by the processor to detect an input comprises instructions executable by the processor to receive an input from one or more devices selected from a group consisting of: thermopile sensor, image capture device, radio receiver, audio capture device, and operatively coupled information handling device.

12. The information handling device of claim 8 , wherein the instructions executable by the processor to detect an input comprises instructions executable by the processor to detect audible input unrelated to the conversational session.

13. The information handling device of claim 8 , wherein the action comprises instructions executable by the processor to halt the conversational session.

14. The information handling device of claim 8 , wherein the action comprises instructions executable by the processor to adjust an audible characteristic associated with the conversational session.

15. A product, comprising:

a storage device that stores code, the code being executable by a processor and comprising:

code that engages in a conversational session with a user in an area;

code that receives, during engagement of the conversational session, an input from a source other than the user and the source being external to the information handling device, the input comprising an interruption of the conversational session between the information handling device and the user by the source other than the user, wherein the input is directed to the user instead of the information handling device, wherein the detecting comprises detecting, using one or more sensors, another user has entered an environment including the user, wherein the detecting another user is based at least in part on detecting a device signal associated with the detecting another user other than the user;

code that detects an emotional state of the user; and

code that performs an action related to the conversational session in response to the received input, wherein the action is dependent on the detected emotional state;

wherein the performing comprises:

withholding output and saving a state of the conversational session responsive to detecting that the emotional state of the user is negative, wherein the saving comprises maintaining a database containing an unfinished conversational session; and

providing the output responsive to detecting that the emotional state of the user is positive.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2025
From: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 069870/0670 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2022
From: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD
To: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 060638/0067 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2017
From: NICHOLSON, JOHN WELDON; CROMER, DARYL; QIAN, MING; WANG, SONG; SCHWARZ, DAVID ALEXANDER; STEWART, AARON MICHAEL; HANCOCK, LINCOLN PENN; YU, JONATHAN JEN-WEI; SKINNER, JEFFREY E.
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 042759/0331 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180367669A1 · Dec 20, 2018