Intelligent Agent Features For Wearable Personal Communication Nodes

What is this patent about?

’339 is related to the field of communication systems, specifically addressing the challenges of managing and enhancing communication within groups using personal communication devices. Traditional communication methods often require manual input and can be distracting, especially in dynamic environments. The patent aims to improve user experience and provide additional services by integrating intelligent agents into communication groups.

The underlying idea behind ’339 is to introduce a virtual assistant into a communication group as a fully participating member. This agent, instantiated upon request from a group member, can then perform tasks such as transcribing communications, providing information, or managing group settings. The key insight is that by making the agent a member of the group, it can seamlessly access and process communications, providing value-added services without requiring significant user intervention.

The claims of ’339 focus on methods and systems for managing a communication group by instantiating an intelligent agent as a virtual assistant member node. The independent claims specifically cover the process of receiving instructions to instantiate the agent, instantiating it within the group, and having the agent transcribe communications between the group members. This transcription functionality is central to the claimed invention.

In practice, the invention envisions a scenario where users of personal communication devices, such as wearable push-to-talk devices, can form groups for communication. When a user needs assistance, they can request the instantiation of an intelligent agent. This agent, implemented as a virtual machine in the cloud or on a local device, joins the group and begins transcribing communications. This transcription can be used for auditing, record-keeping, or providing real-time text updates of the conversation.

The differentiation from prior approaches lies in the seamless integration of the intelligent agent into the communication group. Instead of relying on external services or manual transcription, the agent becomes a native member , capable of directly accessing and processing communications. This allows for features like secure recording, context-aware assistance, and group management, all performed within the secure confines of the communication group. The agent's ability to transcribe communications in real-time and provide other services without disrupting the flow of communication is a key advantage.