Interface for a virtual digital assistant

Abstract

In accordance with some embodiments, a method of operating a digital assistant on a computing device is described. The device displays, on the display, a user interface of a first application. While displaying the user interface of the first application, the device detects activation of the digital assistant. In response to detecting the activation of the digital assistant, the device displays, on the display, a user interface of the digital assistant wherein the user interface of the first application is at least partially visible on the display while the user interface of the digital assistant is displayed. While displaying the user interface of the digital assistant and while the user interface of the first application is at least partially visible on the display, the device displays, in the user interface of the digital assistant, an indication that a spoken user input is ready to be received by the digital assistant.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A computer-implemented method of operating a digital assistant on a computing device having at least one processor, memory, and a display, the method comprising:
 displaying, on the display, a user interface of a first application;   while displaying the user interface of the first application, detecting activation of the digital assistant;   in response to detecting the activation of the digital assistant, displaying, on the display, a user interface of the digital assistant, wherein the user interface of the first application is at least partially visible on the display while the user interface of the digital assistant is displayed; and   while displaying the user interface of the digital assistant and while the user interface of the first application is at least partially visible on the display, displaying, in the user interface of the digital assistant, an indication that a spoken user input is ready to be received by the digital assistant.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein displaying the user interface of the digital assistant comprises displaying the user interface of the digital assistant in a first portion of the display while the user interface of the first application is at least partially visible in a second portion of the display different from the first portion. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein displaying the user interface of the digital assistant comprises sliding the user interface of the digital assistant onto the display from an edge of the display. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the indication that the spoken user input is ready to be received by the digital assistant comprises a message asking how the digital assistant can be of assistance. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 while displaying the user interface of the digital assistant and while the user interface of the first application is at leak partially visible on the display, displaying, in the user interface of the digital assistant, an indication that a mic of the computing device is activated.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 while displaying the user interface of the digital assistant, detecting the spoken user input; and   in response to detecting the spoken user input, interpreting user intent based on the spoken user input, wherein interpreting the user intent based on the spoken user input includes using context information from the first application.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the context information from the first application includes the type of the first application. 
     
     
         9 . A computing device, comprising:
 a display;   one or more processors; and   memory storing one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors to   operate a digital assistant, the one or more programs including instructions for:
 displaying, on the display, a user interface of a first application; 
 while displaying the user interface of the first application, detecting activation of the digital assistant; 
 in response to detecting the activation of the digital assistant, displaying, on the display, a user interface of the digital assistant, wherein the user interface of the first application is at least partially visible on the display while the user interface of the digital assistant is displayed; and 
 while displaying the user interface of the digital assistant and while the user interface of the first application is at least partially visible on the display, displaying, in the user interface of the digital assistant, an indication that a spoken user input is ready to be received by the digital assistant. 
   
     
     
         10 . The computing device of  claim 9 , wherein displaying the user interface of the digital assistant comprises displaying the user interface of the digital assistant in a first portion of the display while the user interface of the first application is at least partially visible in a second portion of the display different from the first portion. 
     
     
         11 . The computing device of  claim 9 , wherein displaying the user interface of the digital assistant comprises sliding the user interface of the digital assistant onto the display from an edge of the display. 
     
     
         12 . The computing device of  claim 9 , wherein the indication that the spoken user input is ready to be received by the digital assistant comprises a message asking how the digital assistant can be of assistance. 
     
     
         13 . The computing device of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:
 while displaying the user interface of the digital assistant and while the user interface of the first application is at least partially visible on the display, displaying, in the user interface of the digital assistant, an indication that a mic of the computing device is activated.   
     
     
         14 . The computing device of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:
 while displaying the user interface of the digital assistant, detecting the spoken user input; and   in response to detecting the spoken user input, interpreting user intent based on the spoken user input, wherein interpreting the user intent based on the spoken user input includes using context information from the first application.   
     
     
         15 . The computing device of  claim 14 , wherein the context information from the first application includes the type of the first application. 
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of a computing device with a display to operate a digital assistant, the one or more programs including instructions for:
 displaying, on the display, a user interface of a first application;   while displaying the user interface of the first application, detecting activation of the digital assistant;   in response to detecting the activation of the digital assistant, displaying, on the display, a user interface of the digital assistant, wherein the user interface of the first application is at least partially visible on the display while the user interface of the digital assistant is displayed; and   while displaying the user interface of the digital assistant and while the user interface of the first application is at least partially visible on the display, displaying, in the user interface of the digital assistant, an indication that a spoken user input is ready to be received by the digital assistant.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein displaying the user interface of the digital assistant comprises displaying the user interface of the digital assistant in a first portion of the display while the user interface of the first application is at least partially visible in a second portion of the display different from the first portion. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein displaying the user interface of the digital assistant comprises sliding the user interface of the digital assistant onto the display from an edge of the display. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the indication that the spoken user input is ready to be received by the digital assistant comprises a message asking how the digital assistant can be of assistance. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readably:storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:
 while displaying the user interface of the digital assistant and while the user interface of the first application is at least partially visible on the display, displaying, in the user interface of the digital assistant, an indication that a mic of the computing device is activated.   
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:
 while displaying the user interface of the digital assistant, detecting the spoken user input; and   in response to detecting the spoken user input, interpreting user intent based on the spoken user input, wherein interpreting the user intent based on the spoken user input includes using context information from the first application.   
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 21 , wherein the context information from the first application includes the type of the first application.