Systems and methods for virtual interaction

A method for simulating an interaction between a user and a character of interest, the method comprising, using one or more processors:

• receiving from a user device, via a network connection, a first user input comprising a question or statement directed to the character of interest;
• based on the first user input, identifying the character of interest, from among a plurality of characters, as a character to which the first user input is intended to be directed;
• identifying one or more first keywords from the first user input;
• accessing a database of entries remote from the user device, each of the entries corresponding to a respective pre-recorded response of the character of interest, at least some of the entries further corresponding to supplement content associated with the respective pre-recorded response, each of the pre-recorded responses and the supplemental content being stored in a network-coupled storage device remote from the user device;
• selecting, from the database, a first entry corresponding to a pre-recorded response that is responsive to the first user input, wherein the selection of the first entry is based at least in part on the one or more first keywords, and wherein selection of the first entry results in both (i) playback of the first pre-recorded response by the user device and (ii) providing the user device with access to the supplemental content associated with the first pre-recorded response;
• automatically temporarily storing in a network-coupled memory remote from the user device one or more second keywords derived from at least one of the first user input and the first pre-recorded response;
• receiving from the user device, via the network connection, a second user input comprising a question or statement directed to the character of interest, wherein the second user input is received during the simulated interaction between the user and the character of interest and after playback of the first recording;
• identifying one or more third keywords from the second user input;
• and
• selecting, from the database of entries, a second entry corresponding to a second pre-recorded response that is responsive to the second user input, wherein the selection of the second entry results in playback of the second pre-recorded response by the user device, and wherein the selection of the second entry is made based at least in part on a combination of at least one of the second keywords and at least one of the third keywords.

A system for simulating an interaction between a user and a character of interest, comprising:

• a network-coupled memory remote from a user device;
• and
• one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory, wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
• receive from the user device, via a network connection, a first user input comprising a question or statement directed to a character of interest;
• based on the first user input, identify the character of interest, from among a plurality of characters, as a character to which the first user input is intended to be directed;
• identify one or more first keywords from the first user input;
• access a database of entries, each entry corresponding to a respective pre-recorded response of the character of interest, at least some of the entries further corresponding to supplement content associated with the respective pre-recorded response, each of the pre-recorded responses and the supplemental content being stored in a network-coupled storage device remote from the user device;
• select, from the database, a first entry corresponding to a pre-recorded response that is responsive to the first user input, wherein the selection of the first entry is based at least in part on the one or more first keywords, and wherein selection of the first entry results in both (i) playback of the first pre-recorded response by the user device and (ii) provide the user device with access to the supplemental content associated with the first pre-recorded response;
• automatically temporarily store in a network-coupled memory remote from the user device one or more second keywords derived from at least one of the first user input and the first pre-recorded response;
• receive from the user device, via the network connection, a second user input comprising a question or statement directed to the character of interest, wherein the second user input is received during the simulated interaction between the user and the character of interest and after playback of the first recording;
• identify one or more third keywords from the second user input;
• and
• select, from the database of entries, a second entry corresponding to a second pre-recorded response that is responsive to the second user input, wherein the selection of the second entry results in playback of the second pre-recorded response by the user device, and wherein the selection of the second entry is made based at least in part on a combination of at least one of the second keywords and at least one of the third keywords.

A non-transitory, tangible computer-readable medium on which instructions are stored, the instructions when executed by one or more processors performs a method for conducting a virtual interaction session, comprising:

• receiving from a user device, via a network connection, a first user input comprising a question or statement directed to the character of interest;
• based on the first user input, identifying the character of interest, from among a plurality of characters, as a character to which the first user input is intended to be directed;
• identifying one or more first keywords from the first user input;
• accessing a database of entries remote from the user device, each of the entries corresponding to a respective pre-recorded response of the character of interest, at least some of the entries further corresponding to supplement content associated with the respective pre-recorded response, each of the pre-recorded responses and the supplemental content being stored in a network-coupled storage device remote from the user device;
• selecting, from the database, a first entry corresponding to a pre-recorded response that is responsive to the first user input, wherein the selection of the first entry is based at least in part on the one or more first keywords, and wherein selection of the first entry results in both (i) playback of the first pre-recorded response by the user device and (ii) providing the user device with access to the supplemental content associated with the first pre-recorded response;
• automatically temporarily storing in a network-coupled memory remote from the user device one or more second keywords derived from at least one of the first user input and the first pre-recorded response;
• receiving from the user device, via the network connection, a second user input comprising a question or statement directed to the character of interest, wherein the second user input is received during the simulated interaction between the user and the character of interest and after playback of the first recording;
• identifying one or more third keywords from the second user input;
• and
• selecting, from the database of entries, a second entry corresponding to a second pre-recorded response that is responsive to the second user input, wherein the selection of the second entry results in playback of the second pre-recorded response by the user device, and wherein the selection of the second entry is made based at least in part on a combination of at least one of the second keywords and at least one of the third keywords.