IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,282,741
Granted Patent B2
US 12,282,741 · App. 17/601,866 · Granted Apr 22, 2025

Information processing system and information processing method to control behavior of an agent

Inventors: Itaru Shimizu (Tokyo, JP); Shouichi Doi (Tokyo, JP); Tomoko Kouno (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
G06F40/35
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,282,741
App. No.
17/601,866
Granted
Apr 22, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is an information processing system that includes a user information storage unit that stores user information related to a user, a personality information storage unit that stores personality information defining a personality unique to an agent, and a control unit that controls an externalized behavior which is a behavior externalized by the agent, based on the personality information.

Claims (84)

1. An information processing system, comprising:

a memory configured to:

store user information related to a user; and

store personality information that defines a personality unique to an agent, wherein

the personality information includes individuality information that defines individuality of the agent,

the personality information is based on one of a character in a real space or an animated character, and

the personality information is learned by a machine learning algorithm using learning data associated with the personality of the agent; and

a processor configured to:

determine the personality information is to be updated based on a growth stage of the personality of the agent;

acquire new learning data based on the determination that the personality information is to be updated, wherein

the new learning data includes a first set of phrases related to an adolescent stage of the agent in a case where the personality information is associated with a childhood stage of the agent, and

the new learning data includes a second set of phrases related to an adulthood stage of the agent in a case where the personality information is associated with the adolescent stage of the agent;

control the machine learning algorithm to relearn the personality information using the new learning data to update the personality information;

generate a behavior candidate based on the updated personality information and the user information, wherein

the behavior candidate is a candidate of an externalized behavior of the agent, and

the behavior candidate includes an utterance candidate of a plurality of utterance candidates;

calculate a matching degree between a content of the utterance candidate and the individuality information;

select the utterance candidate from the plurality of utterance candidates that has the calculated matching degree higher than a threshold;

transmit information indicating the selected utterance candidate to a user terminal; and

control the user terminal to output the selected utterance candidate as the externalized behavior of the agent.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the personality information is not influenced by a change in the user information.

3. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the personality information is information defined based on an original model related to the agent.

4. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the personality information further includes basic information that defines the externalized behavior performed by the agent.

5. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to update information related to trends with regard to the personality information.

6. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein

the personality information further includes behavior information related to the agent, and

the processor is further configured to update the behavior information.

7. The information processing system according to claim 6 , wherein

the personality information further includes word information related to words uttered by the agent, and

the processor is further configured to update the word information.

8. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein, based on a change in status information related to a status of the agent, the processor is further configured to update, triggered by the change, the personality information to first personality information corresponding to the status information after the change.

9. The information processing system according to claim 8 , wherein

the status information includes growth information related to the growth stage of the agent, and

based on a change in the growth information, the processor is further configured to update, triggered by the change, the personality information corresponding to the growth information after the change.

10. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to update the personality information by addition of additional information that defines a new personality of the agent to the personality information.

11. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to update the personality information based on event information related to an event in which the user participates.

12. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein

the personality information further includes location information that indicates a location related to the agent, and

the processor is further configured to control the externalized behavior based on the location information.

13. The information processing system according to claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to control the externalized behavior such that the agent recommends a behavior related to a location of the user.

14. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein

the memory is further configured to store a plurality of personality information for a plurality of agents,

the processor is further configured to:

select at least one agent from the plurality of agents based on the plurality of personality information; and

control the externalized behavior of the selected at least one agent based on the personality information related to the selected at least one agent, the plurality of agents includes the agent, and

the plurality of personality information includes the personality information.

15. The information processing system according to claim 14 , wherein the selection of the at least one agent is based on a relationship between the plurality of personality information of the plurality of the agents and information related to a service provided to the user.

16. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to control a user device to output the externalized behavior in a form of a script.

17. An information processing method, comprising:

storing, by a memory, user information related to a user;

storing, by the memory, personality information that defines a personality unique to an agent, wherein

the personality information includes individuality information that defines individuality of the agent,

the personality information is based on one of a character in a real space or an animated character, and

the personality information is learned by a machine learning algorithm using learning data associated with the personality of the agent;

determining, by a processor, the personality information is to be updated based on a growth stage of the personality of the agent;

acquiring, by the processor, new learning data based on the determination that the personality information is to be updated, wherein

the new learning data includes a first set of phrases related to an adolescent stage of the agent in a case where the personality information is associated with a childhood stage of the agent, and

the new learning data includes a second set of phrases related to an adulthood stage of the agent in a case where the personality information is associated with the adolescent stage of the agent;

controlling, by the processor, the machine learning algorithm to relearn the personality information using the new learning data to update the personality information;

generating, by the processor, a behavior candidate based on the updated personality information and the user information, wherein

the behavior candidate is a candidate of an externalized behavior of the agent, and

the behavior candidate includes an utterance candidate of a plurality of utterance candidates;

calculating, by the processor, a matching degree between a content of the utterance candidate and the individuality information;

selecting, by the processor, the utterance candidate from the plurality of utterance candidates that has the calculated matching degree higher than a threshold;

transmitting information indicating the selected utterance candidate to a user terminal; and

controlling, by the processor, the user terminal to output the selected utterance candidate as the externalized behavior of the agent.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon, computer-executable instructions which, when executed by an information processing system, cause the information processing system to execute operations, the operations comprising:

storing, by a memory, user information related to a user;

storing, by the memory, personality information that defines a personality unique to an agent, wherein

the personality information includes individuality information that defines individuality of the agent,

the personality information is based on one of a character in a real space or an animated character, and

the personality information is learned by a machine learning algorithm using learning data associated with the personality of the agent;

determining, by a processor, the personality information is to be updated based on a growth stage of the personality of the agent;

acquiring, by the processor, new learning data based on the determination that the personality information is to be updated, wherein

the new learning data includes a first set of phrases related to an adolescent stage of the agent in a case where the personality information is associated with a childhood stage of the agent, and

the new learning data includes a second set of phrases related to an adulthood stage of the agent in a case where the personality information is associated with the adolescent stage of the agent;

controlling, by the processor, the machine learning algorithm to relearn the personality information using the new learning data to update the personality information;

generating, by the processor, a behavior candidate based on the updated personality information and the user information, wherein

the behavior candidate is a candidate of an externalized behavior of the agent, and

the behavior candidate includes an utterance candidate of a plurality of utterance candidates;

calculating, by the processor, a matching degree between a content of the utterance candidate and the individuality information;

selecting, by the processor, the utterance candidate from the plurality of utterance candidates that has the calculated matching degree higher than a threshold;

transmitting information indicating the selected utterance candidate to a user terminal; and

controlling, by the processor, the user terminal to output the selected utterance candidate as the externalized behavior of the agent.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2021
From: SHIMIZU, ITARU; DOI, SHOUICHI; KOUNO, TOMOKO
To: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 057719/0446 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2019-078088 · Apr 16, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220164544A1 · May 26, 2022
References Cited (13)
US 20170206095A1 · Gibbs · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20180349447A1 · Maccartney · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20190050708A1 · Miyajima · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190122092A1 · Haines · 2019 [cited by examiner]
CN 108885768A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
CN 108886532A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
EP 3435323A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
JP 2001056225A · 2001 [cited by applicant]
JP 2005326670A · 2005 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020180123037A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO 2017163515A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
WO 2017191696A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion of PCT Application No. PCT/JP2020/015626, issued on Jul. 14, 2020, 09 pages of ISRWO. [cited by applicant]