Patent ID: 8805773

Claim:
A computer implemented method for controlling authority over a plurality of artificial intelligence (AI) assets among a plurality of processing devices running a common program over a network, the method comprising: a) initially exercising authority over a first AI asset with a first processing device by executing code on the first processing device, wherein the code for the first AI asset controls one or more actions of the first AI asset, wherein the code for the first AI asset includes a decision tree; b) initially exercising authority over a second AI asset with the first processing device by executing code on the first processing device, wherein the code for the second AI asset controls one or more actions of the second AI asset, wherein the code for the second AI asset includes a decision tree; c) broadcasting a state of the first AI asset and the second AI asset from the first processing device to a plurality of other devices running the common program over the network; d) making a determination according to the decision tree for the first AI asset that the first AI asset should engage a first user-controlled program asset over which a second processing device running the common program has authority, wherein the decision tree for the first AI asset determines whether to engage the first user-controlled program asset based on one or more criteria other than a distance between the first AI asset and the first user-controlled program asset; e) making a determination according to the decision tree for the second AI asset that the second AI asset should engage a second user-controlled program asset over which a third processing device running the common program has authority, wherein the decision tree for the second AI asset determines whether to engage the second user-controlled program asset based on one or more criteria other than a distance between the second AI asset and the second user-controlled program asset; and f) in response to the determination according to the decision tree for the first AI asset, triggering a relinquishment of the authority over the first AI asset with the first processing device by stopping execution of the code for the first AI asset on the first processing device and transferring authority over the first AI asset from the first processing device to the second processing device; and g) in response to the determination according to the decision tree for the second AI asset, triggering a relinquishment of the authority over the second AI asset with the first processing device by stopping execution of the code for the second AI asset on the first processing device and transferring authority over the second AI asset from the first processing device to the third processing device.