US 8447607

Concise Summary of US Patent 8447607

Patent Number: US8447607B2
Title: Mobile systems and methods of supporting natural language human-machine interactions
Current Assignee: Dialect LLC
Inventors: Chris Weider, Richard Kennewick, Mike Kennewick, Philippe Di Cristo, Robert A. Kennewick, Samuel Menaker, Lynn Elise Armstrong
Filing Date: 2012-06-04
Issue Date: 2013-05-21
Abstract: The invention provides mobile devices equipped with a speech interface and/or a combination of a speech and non-speech interface to enable natural language human-machine interactions. It allows mobile users to submit natural language speech and/or non-speech questions or commands across various domains. The mobile device is designed to present responses in a natural manner.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1: This claim describes a method for a mobile system to handle natural language requests from a user. It involves receiving a command or question (either spoken or typed), converting spoken input into text, and then processing this text. The processing uses various factors like the conversation's context, the user's personal preferences, and specific knowledge about the topic (domain knowledge) to understand the request. Based on this understanding, the system forms queries to find information or executes commands, then gathers and evaluates the results, and finally presents a natural-sounding response to the user.
• Claim 9: This claim focuses on a mobile device that supports natural language interactions. The device is equipped with input mechanisms like a microphone for speech and/or a non-speech interface (e.g., a keypad or touchscreen). It includes a processing unit designed to understand natural language inputs, drawing on context and user preferences. The device can fetch information from local or remote sources and is capable of generating and delivering responses in a natural language format.
• Claim 10: This claim outlines a system for natural language human-machine interactions. It features a speech unit to capture spoken requests and a computer system to process these inputs. The system provides natural language speech responses to the user. A key aspect is its use of context, prior information, domain-specific knowledge, and individual user profile data to create an intuitive and natural interaction experience for users across different application areas.
• Claim 15: This claim details a method specifically for processing natural language commands within a mobile system. It covers receiving a command (speech or non-speech), converting speech to text, and analyzing the text to determine the command's context and which specialized software "agents" are needed. These agents are then activated to carry out the command (which could be a local action or a remote action) and generate a formatted response. The method also incorporates cognitive models (both general and personalized), environmental information, and an adaptive analysis to detect and correct misinterpretations, thereby improving user interaction.
• Claim 20: This claim describes a comprehensive system designed for natural language human-machine interactions. It includes an "event manager" to coordinate different parts of the system, a "parser" to interpret user questions and commands, and specialized "agents" (both general system agents and domain-specific agents). These agents use various forms of knowledge, context, and user profiles to formulate responses. The system is designed to handle potentially ambiguous or incomplete requests robustly, using probabilistic or fuzzy reasoning, and to customize responses for a natural user experience.

Litigation Search (CAFC 2026 Dockets):

A search of litigation records, including those reported on Google Patents and Unified Patents, shows several District Court cases and PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board) proceedings related to US8447607. However, as of April 26, 2026, no direct dockets for US patent 8447607 in the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) specifically for 2026 were found. The PTAB cases listed (IPR2025-01332, IPR2025-00656, IPR2024-00751) were noted as "Not Instituted - Procedural" or "Not Instituted - Merits".

The patent's legal status is listed as "Expired - Lifetime," with an anticipated expiration date of 2025-08-29.