Personal virtual assistant

A shutdown method comprising:

• providing a virtual assistant server running at least one virtual assistant application capable of receiving human voice communications and transmitting vocalizations to a user at a remote user interface;
• receiving a command to perform a first shutdown procedure;
• in response to receiving the command to perform the first shutdown procedure, ceasing to establish new connections between the virtual assistant server and the at least one remote user interface and
• when all existing connections between the virtual assistant server and the at least one remote user interface are terminated, shutting down the virtual assistant server.

A shutdown method comprising:

• providing a virtual assistant server running at least one virtual assistant application capable of receiving human voice communications and transmitting vocalizations to a user at a remote user interface;
• receiving a command to perform a first shutdown procedure or a second shutdown procedure;
• in response to receiving the command to perform the first shutdown procedure, ceasing to establish new connections between the virtual assistant server and the at least one remote user interface;
• and
• when all existing connections between the virtual assistant server and the at least one remote user interface are terminated, shutting down the virtual assistant server;
• and
• in response to the command to perform the second shutdown procedure, terminating all existing connections between the virtual assistant server and the at least one remote user interface.