Abstract: The present invention includes a telecommunication method. The method can include the step of a sending device operating in a first communication mode initializing a communication to a receiving device operating in a second communication mode. The receiving device can be queried to automatically determine that the receiving device is operating in the second communication mode. In one embodiment, the first and second communication modes can include a speech mode and a text mode. The communication can be established between the sending and receiving devices, where the sending device communicates in the first communication mode, and where the receiving device communicates in the second communication mode. During the communication, a format of messages conveyed between the sending device and the receiving device can be automatically changed in accordance with the first communication mode and the second communication mode.

Abstract: A method for a speech response system to automatically transfer users to human agents. The method can establish an interactive dialog session between a user and an automated speech response system. An error score can be established when the interactive dialog session is initiated. During the interactive dialog session, responses to dialog prompts can be received. Error weights can be assigned to receive responses determined to be non-valid responses. Different non-valid responses can be assigned different error weights. For each non-valid response, the assigned error weight can be added to the error score. When a value of the error score exceeds a previously established error threshold, a user can be automatically transferred from the automated speech response system to a human agent.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for text grouping in a disambiguation process. A text grouping method for use in a disambiguation process can include producing a phonetic representation for each entry in a text list, sorting the list according to the phonetic representation, grouping phonetically similar entries in the list, and providing the sorted list with the groupings to the disambiguation process. The producing step can include producing a phonetic representation for each word in the text list. The producing step also can include producing a phonetic representation for each phrase in the text list.

Abstract: A system and methods are provided for conducting an interactive dialog via a speech-based user interface. The system includes an auditory prompt module for generating a sequence of goal-directed auditory prompts based upon a pre-determined user-oriented task, and an error recovery module for responding to a communication error by initiating an error recovery based upon a user response to the sequence of goal-directed auditory prompts. The error recovery includes providing at least one error-recovery prompt selected from a hierarchy of error-recovery prompts, the selection based upon a hierarchy of communication error types.

Abstract: A call completion system, method and apparatus for integrated directory assistance and voice activated dialing based upon call transfer rules. In accordance with the present invention, a call completion system can include a set of call transfer rules implicating one of a directory assistance interface and a voice activated dialer interface. The system further can include a call completion processor configured to select one of a directory assistance interface and a voice activated dialer interface based upon an evaluation of the call transfer rules for an incoming query.

Abstract: A method (50) of dynamically changing a sentence structure of a message can include the step of receiving (51) a user request for information, retrieving (52) data based on the information requested, and altering (53) among an intonation and/or the language conveying the information based on the context of the information to be presented. The intonation can optionally be altered by altering (54) a volume, a speed, and/or a pitch based on the information to be presented. The language can be altered by selecting (55) among a finite set of synonyms based on the information to be presented to the user or by selecting (56) among key verbs, adjectives or adverbs that vary along a continuum.

Abstract: A method for distributing content can include the step of a content broker receiving digitally conveyable content from a content producer. The content broker can provide the content to at least one content distributor. The content distributor can provide the content to at least one content customer. The content producer can report content usage information to the content broker. The content broker can establish media distribution data and can convey the media distribution data to the content distributor. The content distributor can use the media distribution data and distribution data that the content broker does not have access to when providing the content to the content customer.

Abstract: A method and system for automated code generation in a call flow builder (10) can include a display coupled to a processor. The processor can be programmed to select a real code (database connection) or a prototype code using a graphical interface (20) to provide a selected code and develop a call flow using the selected code. The processor can be programmed to select the prototype code as the selected code, test the call flow in a local development environment and further enable the switching of the selected code from the prototype to the real code to complete a database connection. The processor can be further programmed to enable specification of a default or range of values. Additionally, the processor can be programmed to use a database connection code that replaces a prototype assignment of values to variables when the real code is the selected code.

Abstract: A method (10) of developing call flows can simply include a determination (12) whether an alternative speech field is filled. If the alternative speech field is not filled, then the description text is used (16) in a description field as a default for text for speech output. The description field can be presented graphically and in a properties sheet for speech output objects. If an optional speech text field is filled in the properties sheet, then the description text in the description field can be replaced (14) with the contents of the optional speech text field for text to speech output. The contents of the optional speech text field (32) can be represented as a flyover (23) graphically when pointing to the graphical object. Optionally, the description field (34) and the optional speech text field can be edited on a single graphical user interface (20).

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for caller independent disambiguation for interactive voice response (IVR) systems. A caller-independent disambiguation method for use in an IVR system can include sorting a set of matching records according to counter values associated with corresponding ones of the records. The counter values can indicate a number of times that a corresponding one of the matching records had previously been selected by other callers without regard to any specific caller. The method further can include audibly presenting the sorted set in sequence through the IVR system. Finally, the method can include accepting a selection of a specific record in the set.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for processing string input for a field in a voice enabled application executing within an IVR system. The method can include identifying a sub-string pattern of characters within acceptable input for the field which is known to enjoy a high likelihood of recognition, and prompting an interacting user for string input limited to the sub-string pattern. Received sub-string input conforming to the sub-string pattern can be matched with data which conforms to the acceptable input to locate the string input for the field. Consequently, the field can be completed with the matched data.

Abstract: A method and system of identifying and optimizing audio segments in a speech application program. Audio segments are identified and extracted from a speech application program. The audio segments containing audio text to be recorded are then optimized in order to facilitate the recording of the audio text. The optimization of the extracted audio segments may include accounting for programmed pauses and variables in the speech application code, identifying multi-sentence segments and the presense of duplicate audio segments, and accounting for the effects of coarticulation.

Abstract: A system and method provide automated local weather reports for display on wireless communication devices such as telephones. The system provides information for display on a wireless communication device by establishing a communications link with the wireless communication device, determining its location, and transmitting content to it related to its location, such as meteorological information.

Abstract: The present invention addresses problems associated with accessing and using automated systems for scheduled travel events and provides a method and system for communicating information to a user interacting with an automated system for accessing travel schedule data. In a first embodiment of the present invention, a user request can be processed for an event scheduled on an automated system. An occurrence time for the scheduled event can then be loaded. If the occurrence time is within a preconfigured time interval including midnight, a disambiguation process can be triggered for the scheduled event. The scheduled event can be an airline flight and the occurrence time can be an arrival or departure time. The disambiguation process can include prompting a user with a disambiguation message, wherein the disambiguation message makes reference to either an arrival date for the airline flight or a departure date for the airline flight.

Abstract: A method of adjusting music length to expected waiting time while a caller is on hold includes choosing one or more media selections based upon their play duration and matching the selection(s) to the expected waiting time.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for automatically capturing intonation cues in audio segments in speech applications. The method can include identifying planned audio segments in the speech application program, the audio segments containing audio text to be recorded and associated file names. The method further can include extracting the audio segments from the speech application program and processing the extracted audio segments to create an audio text recordation plan. Finally, the method can include further processing the audio text recordation plan to account for intonation cues.

Abstract: A method, a system, and an apparatus for efficiently presenting correction options. The present invention is capable of analyzing user voice commands and sorting multiple input requests based on user selection probability to determine whether a confirmation step should be presented and, if so, the manner in which the confirmation step should be presented. In particular, the method requests an information input from the user and then assigns a confidence level to the information input. If the confidence level is LOW, then the system performs an immediate confirmation step. If the confidence level assigned is MEDIUM or HIGH, then the information is placed into a data set that is confirmed in a batch confirmation step. The batch confirmation step presents the captured information to the user for confirmation. If any of the information is incorrect, then the method sorts the information in ascending order by confidence level and creates a menu of items that may be changed. The user then makes the change.

Abstract: A method (10) in a speech recognition application callflow can include the steps of assigning (11) an individual option and a pre-built grammar to a same prompt, treating (15) the individual option as a valid output of the pre-built grammar if the individual option is a potential valid match to a recognition phrase (12) or an annotation (13) in the pre-built grammar, and treating (14) the individual option as an independent grammar from the pre-built grammar if the individual option fails to be a potential valid match to the recognition phrase or the annotation in the pre-built grammar.

Abstract: A method and system for defining standard catch styles used in generating speech application code for managing catch events, in which a style-selection menu that allows for selection of one or more catch styles is presented. Each catch style represents a system response to a catch event. A catch style can be selected from the style-selection menu. For each selected catch style, the system can prepare a response for each catch event. If the selected catch style requires playing a new audio message in response to a particular catch event, a contextual message can be entered in one or more text fields. The contextual message entered in each text field corresponds to the new audio message that will be played in response to the particular catch event. In certain catch styles, the entered contextual message is different for each catch event, while in other catch styles, the entered contextual message is the same for each catch event.

Abstract: A method (10) for arranging user-modified variable names in a presentation list such as a drop-down list can include the steps of receiving (12) a system request to display the variables in the drop-down list, and sorting (14) the variables by giving user named variables greater priority over system named variables and then sorting by a second criteria. The method can further include the step of displaying (16) the variables when a user selects the variables using a drop-down control.