Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Alan Noel Mulhall

Muiris Woulfe

Andreas Balzer

David Mowatt

Stephen O'Driscoll

The description relates to an interactive physical product browsing experience. One example includes a display system for displaying objects. The display system comprises a plurality of object displays each comprising an object store, a robot for moving objects to and from a repository, a user input receiving means, and a processing means. The processing means is configured to cause the object displays to display some of the objects, monitor user behaviour using the user input receiving means, and cause the robot to move an object from the repository to one of the object stores based on the user behaviour.

Interactive physical product browsing experience

Methods and systems which perform information retrieval using natural language dialogue for navigating an inventory of items are described. One example provides an information retrieval system to a user using natural language dialogue. The system comprises a user input receiving device, an output device, a database comprising an inventory of items, and a processor. The processor is configured to retrieve one or more items from the inventory of items using an iterative process by: in response to receiving from the user input receiving device a user input, identifying a subset of the inventory based on the user input. The processor is configured to automatically process the subset of items to determine a classification for distinguishing between items of the subset, to generate an enquiry for a user using the classification and to transmit the enquiry to the output device. The user input and/or the enquiry may use natural language.

Information retrieval using natural language dialogue

Methods, systems, and computer storage media for providing and removing deployment packages using deployment system operations of an integrated deployment strategy in a deployment system. The integrated deployment strategy includes programmatically defined deployment operations that are associated with deployment profiles for intelligent structured and coordinated deployment of deployment packages. In operation, based on one or more scores (e.g., early adopter score, fit scores, usage propensity score) of a first set of deployment profiles for a first plurality of users, deployment operations are performed to cause execution of a deployment package for clients associated with the first plurality of users. Based on deployment data of the deployment package, the first set of deployment profiles, and a second set of deployment profiles, a second plurality of users are identified for executing the deployment package. The second plurality of users is associated with one or more scores of the second set of deployment profiles.

Deployment operations based on deployment profiles in a deployment system

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) rendezvous with and transfers a product to a receiving vehicle that is en route to a destination-location. The UAV is dispatched with the product along a flight path that intercepts with a predetermined route that the receiving vehicle is expected to travel along toward the destination-location. Once the UAV is within the vicinity of the receiving vehicle, the UAV approaches the receiving vehicle and utilizes cargo release equipment to transfer the product to the receiving vehicle. In one example, the UAV flies above the receiving vehicle at a synchronized velocity and drops the product through an opening in the roof of the receiving vehicle. In another example, the UAV flies above the receiving vehicle and suspends the product adjacent to a side-window opening of the receiving vehicle to enable an occupant of the receiving vehicle to reach out and retrieve the product.

En route product delivery by unmanned aerial vehicles

The description relates to determining tiles of interest to a user. One example includes a computing device comprising a display, a user input receiving means, and a processing means. The processing means is configured to render on the display a first plurality of tiles each having a respective value of a first classification. The processing means is configured to receive from the user input receiving means a first user input indicating user interest in a first tile of the first plurality of tiles, the first tile having a first value of the first classification. The processing means is configured, in response to receiving the first user input, to render on the display a second plurality of tiles each having a respective value of a second classification and being related to the first tile by having a value of the first classification within a threshold similarity of the first value.

Adaptive tile-based user interface for inferring user interest

An increasing number of bots become available each day that perform automated tasks over the Internet to help facilitate a variety of service requests for a user. Thus, embodiments are directed to an orchestration service configured to perform bot network orchestration in order to provide enriched responses to service requests and/or in order to find one accurate answer among large numbers of bot responses to a specific query. For example, a service request for a user that involves at least one service provider may be received. A plurality of bots to orchestrate a processing of the service request may be determined. Instructions may be provided to the bots associated with aspects of the service request, where each bot is selected based on an aspect of the service request. Responses received from the bots may be integrated into a service response and provided to a requestor of the service request.

Bot network orchestration to provide enriched service request responses

Methods and systems which perform information retrieval using natural language dialog for navigating an inventory of items are described. One example provides an information retrieval system to a user using natural language dialog. The system comprises a user input receiving device, an output device, a database comprising an inventory of items, and a processor. The processor is configured to retrieve one or more items from the inventory of items using an iterative process by: in response to receiving from the user input receiving device a user input, identifying a subset of the inventory based on the user input. The processor is configured to automatically process the subset of items to determine a classification for distinguishing between items of the subset, to generate an enquiry for a user using the classification and to transmit the enquiry to the output device. The user input and/or the enquiry may use natural language.

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Dublin, Ireland

Alan Noel Mulhall