Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for individual record encryption is provided. A plurality of records associated with incoming calls to a call center are maintained. A unique encryption key is randomly generated for each record. The records are each encrypted using the encryption key generated for that record. The keys are stored in a location separate from the encrypted records.

Abstract: A system and method for distributed speech recognition is provided. A prompt is provided to a caller during a call. One or more audio responses are received from the caller in response to the prompt. Distributed speech recognition is performed on the audio responses by providing a non-overlapping section of a main grammar to each of a plurality of secondary recognizers for each audio response. Speech recognition is performed on the audio responses by each of the secondary recognizers using the non-overlapping section of the main grammar associated with that secondary recognizer. A new grammar is generated based on results of the speech recognition from each of the secondary recognizers. Further speech recognition is performed on the audio responses against the new grammar and a further prompt is selected for providing to the caller based on results of the distributed speech recognition.

Abstract: A system and method for managing a dynamic call flow during automated call processing is provided. Calls from a plurality of callers into a call center are accommodated through monitored call sessions. A call flow for each call session is managed. Caller characteristics of the caller and physical conditions in relation to the call are evaluated. Those caller characteristics and physical conditions, which are respectively unique among the callers and the calls, are identified. The call flow of each call session is dynamically adjusted by modifying parameters for one or more of the caller characteristics and physical conditions. The caller characteristics, physical conditions, and parameters are stored in a database.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for distributing messages by discussion group is provided. Discussion groups are monitored. An identity of a participant in each of two or more of the discussion groups is verified. Voice signals are received from the participant and speech from the participant is distinguished from ambient noise and third-party conversations in the voice signals. One of the discussion groups, specified by the participant to be associated with the voice stream, is identified. The speech is transmitted as a voice message to other participants in the identified discussion group.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for transcribing verbal messages is provided. Verbal messages each comprising audio content are received. Automatically recognized text is generated for the audio content of at least one of the verbal messages. A turn-around processing time is applied to the verbal message. The automatically recognized text and verbal message are transferred to a human agent when an expected processing time of the verbal message satisfies the turn-around processing time. At least a portion of the automatically recognized text is replaced with manual transcription from the human agent. The automatically recognized text and manual transcription are provided as a text message.

Abstract: A computer-implemented call center architecture and method for optimizing customer experience through in-band expert intervention is provided. Calls conducted between an agent and a caller are monitored. A need for assistance by an expert agent in one such call based on an inquiry by the caller is identified. Expert selection criteria to a predetermined group of expert agents with expertise in subject matter relating to the caller's inquiry is applied. One of the expert agents that matches with the expert selection criteria is selected and a notification to the agent that the selected expert agent will assist with the call is transmitted. The expert agent is then patched into the call.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for efficiently reducing transcription error during a call is provided. A group of similar questionable utterances is monitored. Each questionable utterance is assigned a transcribed value and is selected from a different call. A sample of the similar questionable utterances is selected from the group and provided to a human transcriber. A further transcribed value for each of the similar questionable utterances in the sample is received from the human transcriber. The further transcribed values for the similar questionable utterances in the sample are compared. Each of the remaining similar questionable utterances in the group are provided to the human transcriber when the compared further transcribed values of the similar questionable utterances in the sample are different.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for user-controlled processing of audio signals is provided. An audio signal including a reference segment and a segment preceding the reference segment is obtained. A value q is received from a user. Audio buffers in the preceding segment are defined, each having a width of N samples and a starting point a unique number of samples away from the preceding segment's start, based on a division of N by q. One or more of the buffers are transformed into discrete Fourier transform (DFT) buffers. A signature of the signal is generated using at least a portion of the reference segment and at least one of the DFT buffers. A new audio signal is received and a DFT for the audio signal is generated. The new audio signal is determined to match the audio signal based on a comparison of the DFT to the signature.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for validating call connections is provided. Metadata about a connecting party is collected during a call, wherein the call is received by or initiated by a user. A connection status for the call is verified. The connecting party metadata is compared with connecting party records stored in a database and an attempt to determine an identity of the connecting party is made based on the comparison. A determination as to whether a security certificate is present with the metadata is made. The connection status is determined based on the connecting party identity attempt and the identification of whether the security certificate is present. The determined connection status is provided to the user.

Abstract: A marker is derived from an interaction between a person and an agent of a business and the agent's user interface. A part of a speech signal that corresponds to a portion of the person's special information is located with the marker. The speech signal results from the interaction between the person and the agent. The part of the speech signal that corresponds to the portion of the person's special information is rendered unintelligible.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for simultaneously processing multiple call sessions is provided. Multiple call sessions assigned to an agent are monitored. Content of each call session is displayed to the agent on an agent console. A script selected by the agent is identified and provided as synthesized speech to a caller of one of the call sessions. A verbal conversation between the agent and a caller of another one of the call sessions is simultaneously monitored while the script is provided to the caller.

Abstract: A system and method for processing a call between a caller and a live agent is provided. A stream of verbal speech utterances is received from the caller and converted into text. Text messages are received from the agent in response to the stream of verbal speech utterances and converted into synthesized speech utterances. The synthesized speech utterances are provided to the caller. A record of the call is processed and presented to a further live agent for manipulation. The manipulated record is stored.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for facilitating agent-customer calls is provided. A call from a customer is accepted into a call center and is assigned to an agent associated with the call center. At least one text message is received from the customer during the call and is directed to the agent. Outgoing text messages are received from the agent in response to the text message from the customer and content of the outgoing text messages from the agent are converted into synthesized speech. The synthesized speech is provided to the customer during the call.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for providing messages to users in a discussion group are provided. Discussion groups are monitored and each discussion group is associated with a list of signed-on users. A request is received from a user to join one of the discussion groups. An identity of the user is verified. The user is then added to the requested discussion group as a signed-on user by adding an entry for the user on the list of the requested discussion group upon verification of the user identity. Messages received from one or more of the signed-on users in the requested discussion group are transmitted to at least one of the other signed-on users in the requested discussion group.

Abstract: A system and method for performing distributed speech recognition is provided. Audio data is received on a main recognizer and on each of a plurality of secondary recognizers. Secondary grammars are transmitted to each of the secondary recognizers. The secondary recognizers each perform speech recognition on the audio data using the secondary grammar for that secondary recognizer. A new grammar is constructed based on results of the speech recognition by each of the secondary recognizers. The main recognizer performs speech recognition on the audio data using the new grammar.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for reducing voice transcription error is provided. Audio data is received during a call and parsed into utterances. A transcribed value and confidence score are assigned to each utterance. Those utterances with low confidence scores are identified as questionable utterances. One of the questionable utterances is selected from the audio data and a pool of questionable utterances is formed. The pool includes the selected questionable utterance and other questionable utterances, from other calls, that are similar to the selected questionable utterance. A size threshold is applied to the pool of questionable utterances. All the questionable utterances in the pool are provided to at least one human transcriber when the pool fails to satisfy the size threshold. Further transcribed values are received from the transcriber for each of the questionable utterances in the pool.

Abstract: A system and method for providing guidance to persuade a caller is provided. A call is received from a caller into a call center and an offer is provided to the caller. A likelihood of the caller to accept the offer is measured by analyzing voice input of the caller during the call. One or more paralinguistic voice characteristics in the voice input are determined. A stage of persuasion is assigned to the caller based on the paralinguistic voice characteristics and a recommendation is made for guidance to persuade the caller to accept the offer.

Abstract: A system and method for converting a message via a posting converter is provided. At least one incoming message is received from a composition device. Characteristics of the message are determined. The characteristics include a target device to which the message is directed and an application through which the message will be presented. An appropriate template is selected for the message based on at least one of the message characteristics. The message is converted to a different format using the selected template. The converted message is provided for display on the target device.

Abstract: A system and method for processing multi-modal communications is provided. A call is received into a call center via a telephone. The call includes an inquiry of incoming speech utterances from a caller. The call is assigned to an agent within the call center. Transcribed text is generated by performing automatic speech recognition on the incoming speech utterances. The transcribed text is displayed to the agent via a display. Text messages from the caller are separately received into the call center via the telephone during the call. The text messages are identified as originating from the caller of the call and displayed to the agent.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for voice transcription error reduction is provided. Speech utterances are obtained from a voice stream and each speech utterance is associated with a transcribed value and a confidence score. Those utterances with transcription values associated with lower confidence scores are identified as questionable utterances. One of the questionable utterances is selected from the voice stream. A predetermined number of questionable utterances from other voice streams and having transcribed values similar to the transcribed value of the selected questionable utterance are identified as a pool of related utterances. A further transcribed value is received for each of a plurality of the questionable utterances in the pool of related utterances. A transcribed message is generated for the voice stream using those transcribed values with higher confidence scores and the further transcribed value for the selected questionable utterance.