System and method for automatically focusing the attention of a virtual robot interacting with users

摘要

A virtual robot (or BOT) is disclosed that interfaces and automatically interacts with users desiring to be guided or informed about certain aspects or features of the entity with which they are interacting. Several mechanisms are further disclosed that aid the effectiveness of that interaction. Mechanisms to focus the attention of the BOT on certain aspects of the interaction or communication are disclosed. These mechanisms can be made explicitly or can be performed automatically. Mechanisms are disclosed to aid the BOT to automatically learn from its interactions with users to increase the effectiveness of the interaction.