Patent Document ID: 9975241
Application ID: 14958440
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A device to be controlled by human interaction, comprising: user interface circuitry configured to receive input from a human user, the input identifying a target object and generate an output to the human user; memory circuitry configured to store data at least regarding objects known to the device; and processing circuitry configured to at least: receive the input from the user interface circuitry; access the memory circuitry to determine if the target object identified in the input from the human user is known to the device; and when it is determined that the target object is unknown to the device, the processing circuitry is further configured to: formulate a first inquiry to said human user, wherein the first inquiry is to reduce a number of potential objects that may correspond to the target object and comprises at least a first object characteristic; cause the user interface circuitry to present the first inquiry to said human user; determine, in response to receipt of a reply to said first inquiry from said human user via said user interface circuitry, whether said target object is known to the device; when it is determined that said target object is still unknown to the device following receipt of said reply to said first inquiry; formulate a second inquiry to said human user, wherein the second inquiry is to further reduce the number of potential objects that may correspond to the target object and comprises at least a second object characteristic that is different from the first object characteristic; cause the user interface circuitry to present the second inquiry to said human user; and determine, in response to receipt of a reply to said second inquiry from said human user via said user interface circuitry, whether said target object is known to the device.