System and method for dynamic program configuration

Abstract

The present teaching relates to method, system, medium, and implementations for configuring an animatronic device. Information about a user is obtained for whom an animatronic device is to be configured to carry out a dialogue with the user and is used to select, from a plurality of selectable programs, a program related to a topic to be covered in the dialogue, where the program is to be used by the animatronic device to drive the dialogue with the user. The animatronic device is then configured based on the program for carrying out the dialogue with the user.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method, implemented on a machine having at least one processor, storage, and a communication platform capable of connecting to a network for configuring an animatronic device for conducting a human machine dialogue, comprising:
 obtaining information about a user for whom an animatronic device is to be used to carry out a dialogue with the user;   selecting, from a plurality of selectable programs, a program on a subject having an intended goal based on the information about the user, wherein the program is used to drive the animatronic device to conduct the dialogue with the user on the subject to achieve a performance consistent with the intended goal;   selecting, from a plurality of selectable profiles, a profile to be used for configuring the animatronic device to carry out the dialogue; and   configuring the animatronic device in accordance with the selected profile and the program to facilitate the animatronic device to carry out the dialogue with the user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of selecting the program comprises:
 determining the program based on at least one registered program previously signed up by the user; and   selecting an initiation program as the program if the user has not previously signed up.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of selectable profiles is associated with at least one of a character and a certain persona and specifies parameters to be used by the animatronic device to control a manner by which to carry out a dialogue with the user. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the parameters specify at least one of voice, speech style, and facial expression of the animatronic device during the dialogue with the user. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of selecting the profile comprises:
 selecting a first candidate profile based on one or more preferences of the user; and   selecting a second candidate profile based on a state of the user observed based on sensor data.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the state of the user includes at least one of:
 an emotion of the user estimated based on an expression of the user detected based on the sensor data;   an utterance of the user; and   an intent of the user estimated based on the emotion and the utterance of the user.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving information related to observed performance of the user exhibited during the dialogue;   assessing the observed performance of the user on the subject against the intended goal; and   adjusting the program in accordance with the assessed performance of the user.   
     
     
         8 . Machine readable and non-transitory medium having information recorded thereon for configuring an animatronic device for conducting a human machine dialogue, wherein the information, when read by the machine, causes the machine to perform the following steps:
 obtaining information about a user for whom an animatronic device is to be used to carry out a dialogue with the user;   selecting, from a plurality of selectable programs, a program on a subject having an intended goal based on the information about the user, wherein the program is used to drive the animatronic device to conduct the dialogue with the user on the subject to achieve a performance consistent with the intended goal;   selecting, from a plurality of selectable profiles, a profile to be used for configuring the animatronic device to carry out the dialogue; and   configuring the animatronic device in accordance with the selected profile and the program to facilitate the animatronic device to carry out the dialogue with the user.   
     
     
         9 . The medium of  claim 8 , wherein the step of selecting the program comprises:
 determining the program based on at least one registered program previously signed up by the user; and   selecting an initiation program as the program if the user has not previously signed up.   
     
     
         10 . The medium of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of selectable profiles is associated with at least one of a character and a certain persona and specifies parameters to be used by the animatronic device to control a manner by which to carry out a dialogue with the user. 
     
     
         11 . The medium of  claim 10 , wherein the parameters specify at least one of voice, speech style, and facial expression of the animatronic device during the dialogue with the user. 
     
     
         12 . The medium of  claim 8 , wherein the step of selecting the profile comprises:
 selecting a first candidate profile based on one or more preferences of the user; and   selecting a second candidate profile based on a state of the user observed based on sensor data.   
     
     
         13 . The medium of  claim 12 , wherein the state of the user includes at least one of:
 an emotion of the user estimated based on an expression of the user detected based on the sensor data;   an utterance of the user; and   an intent of the user estimated based on the emotion and the utterance of the user.   
     
     
         14 . The medium of  claim 8 , wherein the information, when read by the machine, further causes the machine to perform:
 receiving information related to observed performance of the user exhibited during the dialogue;   assessing the observed performance of the user on the subject against the intended goal; and   adjusting the program in accordance with the assessed performance of the user.   
     
     
         15 . A system for configuring an animatronic device for conducting human machine dialogue, comprising:
 a program configuration unit configured for
 obtaining information about a user for whom an animatronic device is to be used to carry out a dialogue with the user, and 
 selecting, from a plurality of selectable programs, a program on a subject having an intended goal based on the information about the user, wherein the program is used to drive the animatronic device to conduct the dialogue with the user on the subject to achieve a performance consistent with the intended goal; 
   a profile configuration unit configured for selecting, from a plurality of selectable profiles, a profile to be used for configuring the animatronic device to carry out the dialogue; and   a configuration unit configured for configuring the animatronic device in accordance with the selected profile and the program to facilitate the animatronic device to carry out the dialogue with the user.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the program configuration unit selects the program by:
 determining the program based on at least one registered program previously signed up by the user; and   selecting an initiation program as the program if the user has not previously signed up.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of selectable profiles is associated with at least one of a character and a certain persona and specifies parameters to be used by the animatronic device to control a manner by which to carry out a dialogue with the user. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the parameters specify at least one of voice, speech style, and facial expression of the animatronic device during the dialogue with the user. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the profile configuration unit comprises:
 a user information based profile selector configured for selecting a first candidate profile based on one or more preferences of the user; and   a sensor information based profile selector configured for selecting a second candidate profile based on a state of the user observed based on sensor data.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the state of the user includes at least one of:
 an emotion of the user estimated based on an expression of the user detected based on the sensor data;   an utterance of the user; and   an intent of the user estimated based on the emotion and the utterance of the user.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a program adjuster configured for:
 receiving information related to observed performance of the user exhibited during the dialogue;   assessing the observed performance of the user on the subject against the intended goal; and   adjusting the program in accordance with the assessed performance of the user.