Using context information to facilitate processing of commands in a virtual assistant

A computer-implemented method for processing user input to perform a task on an electronic device with one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, the method comprising:

• receiving user input,
• receiving, at the electronic device, a named relationship;
• in response to receiving the user input and the named relationship:
• displaying a first message corresponding to the user input that includes the named relationship;
• identifying, at the electronic device, contact information based on an association between the named relationship and a contact associated with the user, wherein the association between the named relationship and the contact is locally available on the electronic device as a field of the contact;
• and
• interpreting, using the one or more processors, the received user input to derive a user intent;
• and
• in response to identifying the contact information and deriving the representation of user intent:
• displaying a second message indicative of at least one action to be performed by the electronic device, wherein the at least one action is based at least in part on the derived representation of user intent and the identified contact information;
• and
• causing, using the one or more processors, to be performed the at least one action.

An electronic device controllable by user inputs, comprising a processor, an input interface, and an output interface;

• the processor operative to:
• receive user input, the user input including a named relationship;
• in response to receiving the user input:
• display a first message corresponding to the user input that includes the named relationship;
• identify, at the electronic device, contact information based on an association between the named relationship and a contact associated with the user, wherein the association between the named relationship and the contact is locally available on the electronic device as a field of the contact;
• and
• interpret the received user input to derive a representation of user intent;
• and
• in response to identifying the contact information and deriving the representation of user intent:
• display a second message indicative of at least one task to be performed by the electronic device, wherein the at least one task is based at least in part on the derived representation of user intent and the identified contact information;
• and
• cause the at least one task to be performed.

A non-transitory computer readable medium for processing user input, the computer readable media comprising computer program logic for:

• receiving user input, the user input including a named relationship;
• in response to receiving the user input:
• displaying a first message corresponding to the user input that includes the named relationship;
• identifying, at the electronic device, contact information based on an association between the named relationship and a contact associated with the user;
• wherein the association between the named relationship and the contact is locally available on the electronic device as a field of the contact;
• and
• interpreting the received user input to derive a representation of user intent;
• and
• in response to identifying the contact information and deriving the representation of user intent:
• displaying a second message indicative of at least one task to be performed by the electronic device, wherein the at least one task is based at least in part on the derived representation of user intent and the identified contact information;
• and
• causing to be performed the at least one task.

A computer-implemented method for processing user input to perform a task on an electronic device with one or more processors, a microphone, and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, the method comprising:

• receiving user input with the microphone, the user input including a named relationship and associated with at least one task;
• in response to receiving the user input:
• displaying a first message corresponding to the user input that includes the named relationship;
• identifying, at the electronic device;
• contact information based on an association between the named relationship and a contact associated with the user, wherein the association between the named relationship and the contact is locally available on the electronic device as a field of the contact;
• and
• interpreting, using the one or more processors, the received user input to derive a representation of user intent;
• and
• in response to identifying the contact information and deriving the representation of user intent:
• displaying a second message indicative of the at least one task, wherein the at least one task is based at least in part on the derived representation of user intent and the identified contact information;
• and
• causing, using the one or more processors, to be performed the at least one task.