Abstract: Grammars for interactive voice response systems using natural language understanding can be created using information which is available on websites. These grammars can be created in automated manners and can have various tuning measures applied to obtain optimal results when deployed in a customer contact environment. These grammars can allow a variety of statements to be appropriately handled by the system.

Abstract: Grammars for interactive voice response systems using natural language understanding can be created using information which is available on websites. These grammars can be created in automated manners and can have various tuning measures applied to obtain optimal results when deployed in a customer contact environment. These grammars can allow a variety of statements to be appropriately handled by the system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling and retrieving messages from multiple voice mail systems used by a single individual are described. A voice messaging retrieval and forwarding (VMRAF) system checks a subscriber's voice message systems for messages, retrieves the messages and forwards them to the subscriber as attachments to E-mail files. E-mail replay messages are used to control deleting of the messages from the original systems. Prompt messages played to callers by different voice messaging systems before they leave a message can be updated automatically. This is done by indicating to the VMRAF system when one or more prompt messages are to be updated and which messages, from a set of prerecorded messages, are to be loaded into the voice message systems to replace the existing prompt messages. Accordingly, the VMRAF system facilities message retrieval and the updating of prompt messages, e.g., on a preselected schedule or at preselected times.

Abstract: An apparatus and accompanying methods for preventing telephone toll fraud that relies on the use of centralized voice verification to authenticate a party claiming a particular identity and requesting service, i.e. access to a telephone network. A voice verification intelligent peripheral (VVIP) (300) is interposed between, e.g., a tandem switch (40) and a voice service node (VSN) (250) both used to provide alternate automated billing service (AABS). The VVIP intercepts all call processing messages that occur between these two components and, at a pre-defined point during the processing of an AABS call, holds a call processing message, specifically a successful line information database (LIDB) query response message, until a voice verification of a caller is complete.