Formal trust building in the execution of partially trusted behaviors

Claim 1

A method for increasing trust of an automated assistant executing a task on a computer system, said method comprising the steps of: executing a behavior in a mode which employs a trust library containing a set of trusted responses; receiving an input event during said execution of said behavior; computing a response for said behavior which satisfies said input event; and comparing said computed response with said set of trusted responses to determine whether a match occurs, and (a) if a match occurs, executing said computed response, otherwise (b) if no match occurs, validating said trust of said computed response for inclusion in said trust library, said validating being accomplished by computing a sound scenario generalization of said computed response.

Claim 2

A method for increasing trust of an automated assistant executing a task on a computer system, said method comprising the steps of: executing a behavior in a mode which employs a trust library containing a set of trusted responses; receiving an input event during said execution of said behavior; computing a response for said behavior which satisfies said input event; and comparing said computed response with said set of trusted responses to determine whether a match occurs, and (a) if a match occurs, executing said computed response, otherwise (b) if no match occurs, validating said trust of said computed response for inclusion in said trust library, said validating being accomplished by computing a sound scenario generalization of said computed response.

Claim 4

A method for use by an automated assistant executing on a computer system, said automated assistant performing a user task by employing a behavior which represents the knowledge used by said automated assistant to perform said task, said method comprising the steps of: executing said behavior in a mode which employs a trust library containing a set of trusted situation/action pairs; receiving an input event during said execution of said behavior, said input event and a present state of said behavior jointly defining a situation for processing by said behavior; computing an action for execution by said behavior which satisfies said situation; and comparing a situation/computed-action pair represented by said situation and said computed action with said set of trusted situation/action pairs to determine whether a match occurs, and (a) if a match occurs, executing said computed action, otherwise (b) if no match occurs, executing a predetermined response and (i) computing a generalization of said situation/computed-action pair, said generalization computed using sound scenario generalization; (ii) determining the acceptability of said computed generalization; and (iii) adding said computed generalization to said trust library if found to be acceptable in said determining step.

Claim 5

A method for use by an automated assistant executing on a computer system, said automated assistant performing a user task by employing a behavior which represents the knowledge used by said automated assistant to perform said task, said method comprising the steps of: executing said behavior in a mode which employs a trust library containing a set of trusted situation/action pairs; receiving an input event during said execution of said behavior, said input event and a present state of said behavior jointly defining a situation for processing by said behavior; computing an action for execution by said behavior which satisfies said situation; and comparing a situation/computed-action pair represented by said situation and said computed action with said set of trusted situation/action pairs to determine whether a match occurs, and (a) if a match occurs, executing said computed action, otherwise (b) if no match occurs, executing a predetermined response and (i) computing a generalization of said situation/computed-action pair, said generalization computed using sound scenario generalization; (ii) determining the acceptability of said computed generalization; and (iii) adding said computed generalization to said trust library if found to be acceptable in said determining step.

Claim 15

A method for use by an automated assistant executing on a computer system, said automated assistant performing a user task by employing a behavior which represents the knowledge used by said automated assistant to perform said task in conformance with user task parameters, said method comprising the steps of: executing said behavior in a mode which employs a trust library containing a set of trusted situation/action pairs, said trusted situation/action pairs defining actions for said behavior which are known to be in conformance with said user task parameters; receiving a plurality of input events during said execution of said behavior, each said input event and a present state of said behavior jointly defining a situation for processing by said behavior; (a) computing an action for execution by said behavior which satisfies said situation; (b) comparing a situation/computed-action pair represented by said situation and said computed action with said set of trusted situation/action pairs to determine whether a match occurs, and (1) if a match occurs, executing said computed action, otherwise (2) if no match occurs, executing a predetermined contingency behavior, and (i) computing a generalization of said situation/computed-action pair, (ii) determining the acceptability of said computed generalization, and (iii) adding said computed generalization to said trust library if found to be acceptable in said determining step; performing steps (a) and (b) in an iterative fashion to respond to each said input event of said plurality of input events received during said execution of said behavior; and generating during the course of said execution of said behavior a report which contains a description of any situations not covered by a situation/action pair in said trust library.

Claim 16

A method for use by an automated assistant executing on a computer system, said automated assistant performing a user task by employing a behavior which represents the knowledge used by said automated assistant to perform said task in conformance with user task parameters, said method comprising the steps of: executing said behavior in a mode which employs a trust library containing a set of trusted situation/action pairs, said trusted situation/action pairs defining actions for said behavior which are known to be in conformance with said user task parameters; receiving a plurality of input events during said execution of said behavior, each said input event and a present state of said behavior jointly defining a situation for processing by said behavior; (a) computing an action for execution by said behavior which satisfies said situation; (b) comparing a situation/computed-action pair represented by said situation and said computed action with said set of trusted situation/action pairs to determine whether a match occurs, and (1) if a match occurs, executing said computed action, otherwise (2) if no match occurs, executing a predetermined contingency behavior, and (i) computing a generalization of said situation/computed-action pair, (ii) determining the acceptability of said computed generalization, and (iii) adding said computed generalization to said trust library if found to be acceptable in said determining step; performing steps (a) and (b) in an iterative fashion to respond to each said input event of said plurality of input events received during said execution of said behavior; and generating during the course of said execution of said behavior a report which contains a description of any situations not covered by a situation/action pair in said trust library.

Claim 17

A method for use by an automated assistant executing on a computer system, said automated assistant performing a user task by employing a behavior which represents the knowledge used by said automated assistant to perform said task, said method comprising the steps of: executing said behavior in a mode which employs a trust library containing a set of trusted situation/action pairs; receiving an input event during said execution of said behavior, said input event and a present state of said behavior jointly defining a situation for processing by said behavior; computing an action for execution by said behavior which satisfies said situation; and comparing a situation/computed-action pair represented by said situation and said computed action with said set of trusted situation/action pairs to determine whether a match occurs, and (a) if a match occurs, executing said computed action, otherwise (b) if no match occurs, executing a predetermined contingency behavior, and (i) computing a generalization of said situation/computed-action pair; (ii) determining the acceptability of said computed generalization; and (iii) adding said computed generalization to said trust library if found to be acceptable in said determining step; and generating during the course of said execution of said behavior a report which contains a description of any situations not covered by a situation/action pair in said trust library.

Claim 18

A method for use by an automated assistant executing on a computer system, said automated assistant performing a user task by employing a behavior which represents the knowledge used by said automated assistant to perform said task, said method comprising the steps of: executing said behavior in a mode which employs a trust library containing a set of trusted situation/action pairs; receiving an input event during said execution of said behavior, said input event and a present state of said behavior jointly defining a situation for processing by said behavior; computing an action for execution by said behavior which satisfies said situation; and comparing a situation/computed-action pair represented by said situation and said computed action with said set of trusted situation/action pairs to determine whether a match occurs, and (a) if a match occurs, executing said computed action, otherwise (b) if no match occurs, executing a predetermined contingency behavior, and (i) computing a generalization of said situation/computed-action pair; (ii) determining the acceptability of said computed generalization; and (iii) adding said computed generalization to said trust library if found to be acceptable in said determining step; and generating during the course of said execution of said behavior a report which contains a description of any situations not covered by a situation/action pair in said trust library.

Claim 21

A method for use by an automated assistant executing on a computer system, said automated assistant performing a user task by employing a behavior which represents the knowledge used by said automated assistant to perform said task in conformance with user task parameters, said method comprising the steps of: executing said behavior in a mode which employs a trust library containing a set of trusted situation/action pairs, said trusted situation/action pairs defining actions for said behavior which are known to be in conformance with said user task parameters; receiving a plurality of input events during said execution of said behavior, each said input event and a present state of said behavior jointly defining a situation for processing by said behavior; (a) computing an action for execution by said behavior which satisfies said situation; (b) comparing a situation/computed-action pair represented by said situation and said computed action with said set of trusted situation/action pairs to determine whether a match occurs, and (1) if a match occurs, executing said computed action, otherwise (2) if no match occurs, executing a predetermined response and (i) computing a sound scenario generalization of said situation/computed-action pair, (ii) determining the acceptability of said computed generalization, and (iii) adding said computed generalization to said trust library if found to be acceptable in said determining step; and performing steps (a) and (b) in an iterative fashion to respond to each said input event of said plurality of input events received during said execution of said behavior.

Claim 22

A method for use by an automated assistant executing on a computer system, said automated assistant performing a user task by employing a behavior which represents the knowledge used by said automated assistant to perform said task in conformance with user task parameters, said method comprising the steps of: executing said behavior in a mode which employs a trust library containing a set of trusted situation/action pairs, said trusted situation/action pairs defining actions for said behavior which are known to be in conformance with said user task parameters; receiving a plurality of input events during said execution of said behavior, each said input event and a present state of said behavior jointly defining a situation for processing by said behavior; (a) computing an action for execution by said behavior which satisfies said situation; (b) comparing a situation/computed-action pair represented by said situation and said computed action with said set of trusted situation/action pairs to determine whether a match occurs, and (1) if a match occurs, executing said computed action, otherwise (2) if no match occurs, executing a predetermined response and (i) computing a sound scenario generalization of said situation/computed-action pair, (ii) determining the acceptability of said computed generalization, and (iii) adding said computed generalization to said trust library if found to be acceptable in said determining step; and performing steps (a) and (b) in an iterative fashion to respond to each said input event of said plurality of input events received during said execution of said behavior.

Claim 23

An apparatus employed by an automated assistant executing on a computer system, said automated assistant performing a user task by employing a behavior which represents the knowledge used by said automated assistant to perform said, said apparatus comprising: means for executing said behavior in a mode which employs a trust library containing a set of trusted situation/action pairs; means for receiving an input event during said execution of said behavior, said input event and a present state of said behavior jointly defining a situation for processing by said behavior; means for computing an action for execution by said behavior which satisfies said situation; means for comparing a situation/computed-action pair represented by said situation and said computed action with said set of trusted situation/action pairs to determine whether a match occurs, and (a) if a match occurs, executing said computed action, otherwise, (b) if no match occurs, then (i) computing a generalization of said situation/computed-action pair, (ii) determining the acceptability of said computed generalization, and (iii) adding said computed generalization to said trust library if found to be acceptable; means for debugging said behavior when said computed generalization is unacceptable; means for computing a second generalization of said situation/computed-action pair as a function of said debugged behavior; and means for determining if said second generalization is contained in said trust library, and if so contained, adding said second generalization to a second trust library for use with said debugged behavior.

Claim 24

An apparatus employed by an automated assistant executing on a computer system, said automated assistant performing a user task by employing a behavior which represents the knowledge used by said automated assistant to perform said, said apparatus comprising: means for executing said behavior in a mode which employs a trust library containing a set of trusted situation/action pairs; means for receiving an input event during said execution of said behavior, said input event and a present state of said behavior jointly defining a situation for processing by said behavior; means for computing an action for execution by said behavior which satisfies said situation; means for comparing a situation/computed-action pair represented by said situation and said computed action with said set of trusted situation/action pairs to determine whether a match occurs, and (a) if a match occurs, executing said computed action, otherwise, (b) if no match occurs, then (i) computing a generalization of said situation/computed-action pair, (ii) determining the acceptability of said computed generalization, and (iii) adding said computed generalization to said trust library if found to be acceptable; means for debugging said behavior when said computed generalization is unacceptable; means for computing a second generalization of said situation/computed-action pair as a function of said debugged behavior; and means for determining if said second generalization is contained in said trust library, and if so contained, adding said second generalization to a second trust library for use with said debugged behavior.

Claim 25

A method for increasing trust of an automated assistant executing a task on a computer system, said method comprising the steps of: executing a behavior in a mode which employs a trust library containing a set of trusted responses; receiving an input event during said execution of said behavior; computing a response to be carried out by said behavior which satisfies said input event; and comparing said computed response with said set of trusted responses to determine whether a match occurs, and (a) if a match occurs, executing said computed response, otherwise (b) if no match occurs, validating said trust of a set of untrusted responses, said validating step utilizing a sound scenario generalization to validate said trust of said set of untrusted responses, and said set of untrusted responses including said computed response.

Claim 26

A method for increasing trust of an automated assistant executing a task on a computer system, said method comprising the steps of: executing a behavior in a mode which employs a trust library containing a set of trusted responses; receiving an input event during said execution of said behavior; computing a response to be carried out by said behavior which satisfies said input event; and comparing said computed response with said set of trusted responses to determine whether a match occurs, and (a) if a match occurs, executing said computed response, otherwise (b) if no match occurs, validating said trust of a set of untrusted responses, said validating step utilizing a sound scenario generalization to validate said trust of said set of untrusted responses, and said set of untrusted responses including said computed response.