Method and apparatus for delivering a virtual reality environment

Abstract

A system is described for providing assistance and guidance to users of a virtual reality environment that includes at least one input device for each of the users, at least one client device, each coupled to a network an operable to respond to a plurality of commands from each input device issued by the users. A plurality of servers are provided which are also coupled to the network that are operable to execute the virtual reality environment and which include at least one user profile server for storing a user profile for each of the users. The system also includes an artificial intelligence engine and at least one output device which is coupled to each of the plurality of client devices, the artificial intelligence being operable to invoke and execute at least one intelligent assistant in the virtual reality environment for each user.

1 - 4 . (canceled)  
   
   
       5 . A system operable for providing assistance and guidance to users of a virtual reality environment, the system comprising: 
 at least one input device for each of the users, each of the input devices operable to generate a plurality of commands;    at least one client device coupled to a network and operable to respond to the plurality of commands from each of the at least one input devices;    a plurality of servers coupled to the network and operable to execute the virtual reality environment, the plurality of servers including at least one user profile server operable to store a user profile in a memory for each of the users;    an artificial intelligence engine operable to invoke and execute at least one intelligent assistant in the virtual reality environment for each of the users; and    at least one output device coupled to each of the plurality of client devices.    
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the at least one input device includes at least one of a television, telephone, personal computer, voice remote controller, a pointing device, a keyboard, a mouse and a microphone.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the at least one client device is a set-top box.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the set-top box includes the memory.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the artificial intelligence engine is comprised of at least one of a speech recognition module, a natural language understanding module, a speech synthesis module, a digital video and audio processing module, a data mining module, a knowledgebase and an expert system.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the at least one client device is at least one of a television, a personal computer, a DVD and a VCR, each including an electronic means for responding to the plurality of commands from each of the at least one input devices.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the at least one client device includes the memory.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the at least one intelligent assistant is invoked and executed to monitor each user's activity, to gather data for storage in the user profile, to analyze a history of selections and behaviors for each user based the data gathered for storage in the user profile and to recommend at least one of information data, product data and service data for the user based on the data stored in the user profile.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the at least one output device is a television.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the at least one output device is a telephone.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the at least one output device includes at least one of a computer monitor, a mobile device monitor and a printer.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the speech synthesis module is operable to generate a synthesized speech content on the at least one output device in response to the plurality of commands from the at least one input device.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the network is the Internet.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the intelligent assistant is a human-like avatar having an appearance as a virtual person in the virtual reality environment.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the intelligent assistant is an animated character having a plurality of human-like features.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the virtual reality environment is comprised of a plurality of content areas organized by topical category.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the virtual reality environment is comprised of a plurality of content areas organized by market segment.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 5  the plurality of servers includes a game application server operable to store one or more games for users of the virtual reality environment.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the game application server is operable to download and store the one or more games to the at least one client device in response to the plurality of commands from each of the at least one input devices.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the virtual reality environment is operable to provide a plurality of services to each of the users on an “on-demand” basis.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the virtual reality environment is operable to provide a plurality of services to a group of the users on an “on-demand” basis.  
   
   
       26 . A method of assisting and guiding users in a virtual reality environment, the method comprising: 
 monitoring for requests from each of the users of the virtual reality environment, the virtual reality environment including an artificial intelligence engine;    processing the monitored requests using the artificial intelligence engine, the processing based in part on data stored in a user profile for each of the users;    retrieving data in response to the processed requests using the artificial intelligence engine;    updating the user profile and the virtual reality environment based on the processed requests and the retrieved data; and    delivering the retrieved data to each of the users.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the virtual reality environment includes a plurality of multimedia authoring and editing products.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the artificial intelligence engine retrieves data in response to the processed requests based on at least one of a semantic profile for each user and a cognitive profile for each user.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the virtual reality environment learns, evolves and adapts to each of the users in response to the monitored requests.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the virtual reality environment includes an intelligent assistant, the intelligent assistant using the artificial intelligence engine to: 
 monitor the requests;    determine at least one preference for each of the users from an evaluation of a history of past requests for each of the users; and    offer at least one recommendation for each of the users based on the monitoring of the requests and the determining of at least one preference from the evaluation of the history of past requests for each of the users.    
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the intelligent assistant monitors the requests from each of the users to determine whether a response based on the retrieved data is to be delivered to each user individually as an individual response or to a group of users as a group response.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the artificial intelligence engine is comprised of at least one of a speech recognition module, a natural language understanding module, a speech synthesis module, a digital video and audio processing module, a data mining module, a knowledgebase and an expert system.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the history of past requests is stored in the user profile by the intelligent agent.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the user profile is continually updated by the intelligent assistant from storing the monitored requests.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the intelligent assistant is a human-like avatar having an appearance as a virtual person in the virtual reality environment.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the intelligent assistant is an animated character having a plurality of human-like features.  
   
   
       37 . In a system for execution of a virtual reality environment including a plurality of client devices, each client device having a voice-controlled interface, a method for providing assistance and guidance to users of the virtual reality environment comprising: 
 monitoring for requests from the users of the virtual reality environment on the voice-controlled interface of each client device, the virtual reality environment including an artificial intelligence engine;    processing the monitored requests using the artificial intelligence engine, the processing based in part on data stored in a user profile for each of the users;    presenting on the voice-controlled interface a voice-generated output in response to the processed requests; and    updating the user profile and the virtual reality environment based on the processed requests and the voice-generated output.    
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein each client device includes a voice-activated input device for receiving the requests from the users.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the voice-generated output is a voice-generated catalog of items available in the virtual reality environment.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the artificial intelligence engine retrieves data in response to the processed requests based on at least one of a semantic profile for each user and a cognitive profile for each user.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the virtual reality environment learns, evolves and adapts to each of the users in response to the monitored requests.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the virtual reality environment includes an intelligent assistant, the intelligent assistant using the artificial intelligence engine to: 
 monitor the requests;    determine at least one preference for each of the users from an evaluation of a history of past requests for each of the users; and    offer at least one recommendation for each of the users based on the monitoring of the requests and the determining of at least one preference from the evaluation of the history of past requests for each of the users.    
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the intelligent assistant monitors the requests from each of the users to determine whether the voice-generated output is to be delivered to each user individually as an individual response or to a group of users as a group response.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the artificial intelligence engine is comprised of at least one of a speech recognition module, a natural language understanding module, a speech synthesis module, a digital video and audio processing module, a data mining module, a knowledgebase and an expert system.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the history of past requests is stored in the user profile by the intelligent agent.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the user profile is continually updated by the intelligent assistant from storing the monitored requests.  
   
   
       47 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising: 
 monitoring for requests from users of a virtual reality environment, the virtual reality environment including an artificial intelligence engine;    processing the monitored requests using the artificial intelligence engine, the processing based in part on data stored in a user profile for each of the users;    retrieving data in response to the processed requests using the artificial intelligence engine;    updating the user profile and the virtual reality environment based on the processed requests and the retrieved data; and    delivering the retrieved data to each of the users.    
   
   
       48 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 47  wherein the virtual reality environment includes a plurality of multimedia authoring and editing products.  
   
   
       49 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 47  wherein the artificial intelligence engine retrieves data in response to the processed requests based on at least one of a semantic profile for each user and a cognitive profile for each user.  
   
   
       50 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 47  wherein the virtual reality environment learns, evolves and adapts to each of the users in response to the monitored requests.  
   
   
       51 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 47  wherein the virtual reality environment includes an intelligent assistant, the intelligent assistant using the artificial intelligence engine to: 
 monitor the requests;    determine at least one preference for each of the users from an evaluation of a history of past requests for each of the users; and    offer at least one recommendation for each of the users based on the monitoring of the requests and the determining of at least one preference from the evaluation of the history of past requests for each of the users.    
   
   
       52 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 51  wherein the intelligent assistant monitors the requests from each of the users to determine whether a response based on the retrieved data is to be delivered to each user individually as an individual response or to a group of users as a group response.  
   
   
       53 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 47  wherein the artificial intelligence engine is comprised of at least one of a speech recognition module, a natural language understanding module, a speech synthesis module, a digital video and audio processing module, a data mining module, a knowledgebase and an expert system.  
   
   
       54 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 51  wherein the history of past requests is stored in the user profile by the intelligent agent.  
   
   
       55 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 54  wherein the user profile is continually updated by the intelligent assistant from storing the monitored requests.  
   
   
       56 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 51  wherein the intelligent assistant is a human-like avatar having an appearance as a virtual person in the virtual reality environment.  
   
   
       57 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 51  wherein the intelligent assistant is an animated character having a plurality of human-like features.