Methods for automatically focusing the attention of a virtual robot interacting with users

A system for automatically focusing the attention of an automated interface program designed to interact and communicate with users, said program executing actions when a category among a set of predefined categories is activated, said system comprising:

• an interface for receiving input from a user;
• a memory device having:
• categories activatable by said program, and
• an attention focus list, the focus list comprising an ordered list of categories;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• receiving input from the interface,
• examine a category,
• when a received input matches the examined category,
• activate the examined category, and
• execute actions associated with the activated category, and
• re-order the attention focus list during the course of interaction, the re-ordering being dependent upon which categories were activated.

A computer-readable storage medium containing computer executable code to focus the attention of an automated interface program designed to interact and communicate with users providing user input by instructing a computer to operate as follows:

• defining a list of categories activatable by said program;
• maintaining an attention focus list, said focus list comprising an ordered list of categories;
• executing actions associated with categories that are activated;
• re-ordering said attention focus list during the course of interaction, said re-ordering being dependent upon which categories were activated.