Voice Signal Presence Responsive Patents (Class 379/80)
  • Patent number: 11863509
    Abstract: A publish-subscribe messaging method may include identifying a definition of a transformation rule for transforming a message received from a publisher. The message may be received from the publisher at a broker. The message may identify a topic and may include message data. A determination may be made as to whether the message is associated with a transformation rule for transforming the message. The method may further include transforming the message as defined by the transformation rule and sending the transformed message to a destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Russell Chiappone, Ganesh Viswanathan, Timothy Kellogg, Kyle Michael Roche
  • Patent number: 11102268
    Abstract: An RTP disconnection detection function is operated properly even when networks having different timer values are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Takeaki Nakajima, Koji Tanida
  • Patent number: 11095773
    Abstract: A contextual lead generation in an automated communication link establishment and management system may store information related to sales calls. The system may identify strengths and weaknesses of a sales representative. The system may provide training content to the sales representative in real time base on the identified strengths and weaknesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: ConnectAndSell, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Burmeister, Hitesh Shah, Christopher W. Beall
  • Patent number: 10721356
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, relating to synthetic call initiation. In some implementations, a method includes receiving, by a call triggering module of a call initiating system for placing calls and conducing conversations between a bot of the call initiating system and human callee during the calls, data indicating a first event, determining, by the call triggering module and using the data indicating the first event, that the first event is a trigger event that triggers a workflow for the call initiating system that begins with initiating a phone call, selecting, based on the determined trigger event, a particular workflow, and in response to the selecting, initiating a phone call to a callee specified by the particular workflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Eyal Segalis, Daniel Walevski, Yaniv Leviathan, Yossi Matias
  • Patent number: 10630837
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, relating to synthetic call initiation. In some implementations, a method includes receiving, by a call triggering module of a call initiating system for placing calls and conducing conversations between a bot of the call initiating system and human callee during the calls, data indicating a first event, determining, by the call triggering module and using the data indicating the first event, that the first event is a trigger event that triggers a workflow for the call initiating system that begins with initiating a phone call, selecting, based on the determined trigger event, a particular workflow, and in response to the selecting, initiating a phone call to a callee specified by the particular workflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Eyal Segalis, Daniel Walevski, Yaniv Leviathan, Yossi Matias
  • Patent number: 10594863
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, relating to synthetic call initiation. In some implementations, a method includes receiving, by a call triggering module of a call initiating system for placing calls and conducing conversations between a bot of the call initiating system and human callee during the calls, data indicating a first event, determining, by the call triggering module and using the data indicating the first event, that the first event is a trigger event that triggers a workflow for the call initiating system that begins with initiating a phone call, selecting, based on the determined trigger event, a particular workflow, and in response to the selecting, initiating a phone call to a callee specified by the particular workflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Eyal Segalis, Daniel Walevski, Yaniv Leviathan, Yossi Matias
  • Patent number: 10530928
    Abstract: Answering machine detection (“AMD”) processes in a contact center are improved by obtaining and storing AMD meta-data about a known greeting from an automatic voice messaging capability (“AVMC”) on a telephone call to a known number. The AMD meta-data is used in subsequent calls to that known number and the greeting detected is analyzed using the AMD meta-data to make a comparison determination if AMD meta-data obtained from the current greeting matches that stored so as to determine whether the current greeting originated from an AVMC or from a live person. In certain embodiments, a real-time speech analytics (“RTSA”) system is used for processing the greeting to obtain the AMD meta-data which is stored and used when comparing subsequently obtained AMD meta-data. Calls to telephone numbers for which there is no stored AMD meta-data results in analyzing the greeting in order to obtain and store AMD meta-data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: NOBLE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason P. Ouimette, Karl H. Koster, James K. Noble, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10530931
    Abstract: A message processing method includes acquiring a voice message, selecting identification information corresponding to the voice message according to a marking policy corresponding to the voice message, and displaying the voice message carrying the identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Tian Zhao
  • Patent number: 10257352
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system is disclosed for generating an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system tree. A plurality of IVR system options from the IVR system are received. A first set of selections of the IVR system options are received from the user. A second set of selections of the IVR system are received, comprising at least a second set of subtrees. In response to identifying a plurality of subtrees of the second set of subtrees that are associated with the root node, the identified plurality of subtrees are mapped to the option tree. An IVR combination tree is generated. A visualization IVR combination tree is generated for display, in response to receiving a second user request for access to the IVR system. A target service associated with a user input selection of at least one end node of the visualized IVR combination tree is accessed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jiangang Deng, Chao Li, He Lei Liu, Qing Yu Pei, Heng Wang
  • Patent number: 9756878
    Abstract: An electronic cigarette and an atomization control method thereof are provided. The electronic cigarette includes a smoking end; a voice recognition module generating different selection signals in response to received voices, an atomization module including first and second atomization components, and first and second liquid storage spaces filled with different cigarette liquid; a microcontroller connected to the voice recognition module, an air flow sensor connected to the microcontroller and generating a first pulse signal; and a battery module. The microcontroller is connected to the first atomization component in response to a first selection signal or connected to the second atomization component in response to a second selection signal, and generates a first control signal in response to the first pulse signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: HUIZHOU KIMREE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. SHENZHEN BRANCH
    Inventor: Qiuming Liu
  • Patent number: 8977248
    Abstract: Systems and methods that can be utilized to convert a voice communication received over a telecommunication network to text are described. In an illustrative embodiment, a call processing system coupled to a telecommunications network receives a call from a caller intended for a first party, wherein the call is associated with call signaling information. At least a portion of the call signaling information is stored in a computer readable medium. A greeting is played the caller, and a voice communication from the caller is recorded. At least a portion of the voice communication is converted to text, which is analyzed to identify portions that are inferred to be relatively more important to communicate to the first party. A text communication is generated including at least some of the identified portions and including fewer words than the recorded voice communication. At least a portion of the text communication is made available to the first party over a data network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Bladon, David Giannini, David Frank Hofstatter, Colin Kelley, David C. McClintock, Robert F. Smith, David S. Trandal, Leland W. Kirchhoff
  • Patent number: 8897757
    Abstract: A system and method for answering a call on a communication device is provided and includes: detecting an incoming call on the communication device, automatically answering the incoming call, and detecting whether an audio signal is received through the microphone of the communication device. Upon not detecting an audio signal, the call is disconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Anton Epp, Gregory Jason Fields, Peter Hantzakos
  • Patent number: 8843119
    Abstract: There is provided a system and method of call handling comprising a first communications device having an acceptor of call purpose from a first party for a call, a communications channel including a conveyor of call purpose and a second communications device coupled to the first communications device via the communications channel and having a presenter of call purpose to a second party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Andrew Erb
  • Patent number: 8688092
    Abstract: Systems and methods that can be utilized to convert a voice communication received over a telecommunication network to text are described. In an illustrative embodiment, a call processing system coupled to a telecommunications network receives a call from a caller intended for a first party, wherein the call is associated with call signaling information. At least a portion of the call signaling information is stored in a computer readable medium. A greeting is played the caller, and a voice communication from the caller is recorded. At least a portion of the voice communication is converted to text, which is analyzed to identify portions that are inferred to be relatively more important to communicate to the first party. A text communication is generated including at least some of the identified portions and including fewer words than the recorded voice communication. At least a portion of the text communication is made available to the first party over a data network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Bladon, David Giannini, David Frank Hofstatter, Colin Kelley, David C. McClintock, Robert F. Smith, David S. Trandal, Leland W. Kirchhoff
  • Patent number: 8447285
    Abstract: Systems and methods that can be utilized to convert a voice communication received over a telecommunication network to text are described. In an illustrative embodiment, a call processing system coupled to a telecommunications network receives a call from a caller intended for a first party, wherein the call is associated with call signaling information. At least a portion of the call signaling information is stored in a computer readable medium. A greeting is played the caller, and a voice communication from the caller is recorded. At least a portion of the voice communication is converted to text, which is analyzed to identify portions that are inferred to be relatively more important to communicate to the first party. A text communication is generated including at least some of the identified portions and including fewer words than the recorded voice communication. At least a portion of the text communication is made available to the first party over a data network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Bladon, David Giannini, David F. Hofstatter, Colin Kelley, David C. McClintock, Robert F. Smith, David S. Trandal, Leland W. Kirchhoff
  • Patent number: 8417224
    Abstract: The exemplary live voicemail functionality offers a user of a mobile station the ability to listen to a voicemail message in real-time, as the message is being recorded in a voicemail platform. The mobile communication network serving the user directs an incoming call intended for the mobile station to the voicemail platform, which records the audio for the incoming message. The network infrastructure also duplicates the audio and directs the duplicate audio to the mobile station for real time monitoring of the incoming message by the user, as the platform is recording the voicemail message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Cellco Partnership
    Inventor: David W. Young
  • Patent number: 8364183
    Abstract: A cell phone which has been modified by the addition of software which responds to the press of one or more Busy keys by automatically sending a pre-typed text message to the sender of the latest text message just received or automatically answering an incoming call immediately upon pressing the Busy key and playing a pre-recorded audio message. The outgoing text or audio message can inform the sender of the incoming text or the caller that the user is driving or otherwise engaged and cannot respond immediately. In some embodiments, one or more Busy keys can be added keys or one or more existing keys on the cell phone or on the keypad of the cell phone or on a touchscreen or a visual depiction of a keypad on a touchscreen of the cell phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Inventors: Julia Olincy, Ronald C. Fish
  • Patent number: 8265603
    Abstract: Methods, graphical user interfaces and devices for creation and management of voicemail greetings are disclosed. A user of a mobile communication device can create and manage multiple voicemail greetings. In one aspect, a user of a mobile communication device can create customized voicemails. The customized voicemails can be assigned to specific contacts (or groups of contacts) known to the mobile communication device. The customized voicemail greetings can also have controlled expiration dates. In another aspect, customized voicemails can be assigned to incoming calls in real-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Policarpo Wood, Alan Cannistraro, Kourtny Hicks
  • Patent number: 8126436
    Abstract: An apparatus in one example has: a mobile terminal operatively coupled to a mobile switching center; a subscriber database operatively coupled to the mobile switching center; a first terminal operatively coupled to the mobile switching center; a voice mail system operatively coupled to the mobile switching center; and a voice mail functionality whereby a voice mail message is created from the first terminal, and whereby the first terminal is accessible from a mobile terminal at least during a period in which the voice mail message is being created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: David S. Benco, Reem M. Pashan
  • Patent number: 8098600
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a computer and telecommunication network which can receive, send and manage information from or to a subscriber of the network, based on the subscriber's configuration. The network is made up of at least one cluster containing voice servers which allow for telephony, speech recognition, text-to-speech and conferencing functions, and is accessible by the subscriber through standard telephone connections or through internet connections. The network also utilizes a database and file server allowing the subscriber to maintain and manage certain contact lists and administrative information. A web server is also connected to the cluster thereby allowing access to all functions through internet connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Parus Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Alex Kurganov
  • Patent number: 8036347
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing additional information to an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system user is presented. A call from a user is received at the IVR system, and a session is provided for the user. Additionally, a page is generated for the session. The page is communicated to the user; and is dynamically updated for the user as the user traverses menus of the IVR system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventor: Rajesh Kanade
  • Patent number: 7969909
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for initiating a command relating to one network that an electronic communication device may be in communication with, depending on triggering conditions relating to another network that the device may be in communication with. In the method, the device initiates a command relating to a network for a communication device only after satisfaction of a predetermined condition relating to another network. The network may be a 802.11a network; the another network may be a non-802.11a network; the predetermined condition may be detection of a connection to the non-802.11a network; and the command may be to initiate monitoring for a connection to the 802.11a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: Kevin Oerton
  • Patent number: 7966176
    Abstract: A system includes an acoustic input engine configured to accept a speech input, to recognize phonemes of the speech input, and to create word strings based on the recognized phonemes. The system includes a semantic engine coupled to the acoustic engine and operable to identify actions and to identify objects by parsing the word strings. The system also includes an action-object pairing system to identify a dominant entry from the identified actions and the identified objects, to select a complement to the dominant entry from the identified actions and the identified objects, and to form an action-object pair that includes the dominant entry and the complement. The system further includes an action-object routing table operable to provide a routing destination based on the action-object pair. The system also includes a call routing module to route a call to the routing destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert R. Bushey, Michael Sabourin, Carl Potvin, Benjamin Anthony Knott, John Mills Martin
  • Patent number: 7885958
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product for organizing hierarchical information according to a defined objective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew James Sullivan, Brian Trevor Denton, Brent Scott Elmer, Robert John Milne
  • Patent number: 7844261
    Abstract: Number portability is a service where a subscriber can keep his old telephone number within a portability cluster and thus retain easy contactibility. Because of number portability, a called address, i.e. B-number, no longer refers to the subscription network/number range owner and the old rule “the number range of the called party reveals the tariff level” is no longer valid. To overcome this defect all intelligent network-like service invocation requests are routed (3-2) via a network node performing a number portability function to the network node controlling the service. The node performing the number portability function performs (3-3) a mapping of the B-number and relays (3-4) the service invocation requests indicating the subscription network/number range owner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Rauno Ratilainen, Pál Köpösdi
  • Patent number: 7627096
    Abstract: A method for processing a call is disclosed. The method receives a speech input via a call and transforms at the speech input into a textual format. The method also creates a list of salient terms of actions and objects from the text, adjusts the confidence level of objects on the list if the dominant term is an action and selects a complimentary object from the list to combine with the action to form an action-object pair. The method further adjusts a confidence level of actions on the list if the dominant term is an object and selects a complementary action from the list to combine with the action to form the action-object pair, and routes the call based on the action-object pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert R. Bushey, Michael Sabourin, Carl Potvin, Benjamin Anthony Knott, John Mills Martin
  • Publication number: 20090232283
    Abstract: A method for determining a value for a call center, the value relating to an availability of the call center and setting a transfer strategy of an automated interactive voice response system based on the value. In addition, a system having a strategy adjustment module monitoring a call center and determining a value for the call center, the value relating to an availability of the call center and an automated response module setting a transfer strategy to transfer calls to the call center based on the value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Lan Zhang, Harry E. Blanchard, Steven H. Lewis, Gregory Pulz
  • Patent number: 7535995
    Abstract: A method for volume indication during a communication session includes detecting analog audio at a telephony device. First communication packets are transmitted from the telephony device indicating that the analog audio is being received. The analog audio is encoded to a digital audio stream and second communication packets comprising the digital audio stream are transmitted from the telephony device. In accordance with a particular embodiment, the first communication packets indicate an approximate volume level of the analog audio. The method may also include receiving, at the telephony device, analog video. The analog video is converted to a digital video stream. The digital video stream may be transmitted from the telephony device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Firestone
  • Patent number: 7353256
    Abstract: Transmission of messages composed on one or more input devices to a single or multiple recipients by means of one or plural communication modes is facilitated. Such communication modes may include conventional or wireless telephone, facsimile transmission, pager, e-mail, postal mail or courier. An application program interface (API) mediates between remote applications requesting messaging functions and a message server that actually implements these functions. The API is capable of processing high-volume requests for message routing, status information, and various other functions on an automated basis, enabling businesses to make routine use of these functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Varolii Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Delaney, William H. Kirtley, Robert Kuszewski, John Andrew Lash, Robert Mathews, David Page, Martin Sarabura, Gregory Warden
  • Patent number: 7327723
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a computer and telecommunication network which can receive, send and manage information from or to a subscriber of the network, based on the subscriber's configuration. The network is made up of at least one cluster containing voice servers which allow for telephony, speech recognition, text-to-speech and conferencing functions, and is accessible by the subscriber through standard telephone connections or through internet connections. The network also utilizes a database and file server allowing the subscriber to maintain and manage certain contact lists and administrative information. A web server is also connected to the cluster thereby allowing access to all functions through internet connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Parus Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Alex Kurganov
  • Patent number: 7218203
    Abstract: A motion activated, voice controlled reminder system, wherein a programmable device automatically reminds the intended receiver of a future event, without any extraordinary action on the part of the recipient, thus enabling the user to, via a telephone, leave a message on a recording unit, specifying a date for message delivery, wherein the message is stored in a microprocessor until the programmed date, whereupon when motion is detected by the motion detector, the microprocessor audibly announces the reminder message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Inventor: Gene Williams
  • Patent number: 7197463
    Abstract: A method (300) of and secure server (200) for providing secure assistance with control of a communications unit (101, 103, 105) is disclosed. The method includes receiving (303) an instruction message via a network that corresponds to voiced instructions from the communications unit; parsing (307) the voiced instructions and sending (409) the results to assistant agents having limited access to sensitive information or only partial access to the instructions maintains security of sensitive information. The assistant agents convert (411) the portions of voiced instructions to commands; and the commands are assimilated (415) in a secure server along with other information to provide a control message corresponding to the commands. The control message is sent to the communications unit, thereby securely assisting with the control of the communications unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Kotzin
  • Patent number: 7164755
    Abstract: The voice storage device of the invention includes a storage means that stores a voice signal, and a voice compression means that compresses the voice signal requiring a re-coding compression, of the voice signal stored in the storage means, in accordance with a compression degree and a significance of the voice signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7164760
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for audible caller identification with nametag storage. A call signal is received, the call signal including an automatic number identification. A determination is made whether the automatic number identification matches a nametag-identified number on a nametag list stored in a telematics unit. An audible user action identification message is sent based on the determination. Monitoring for a user voice response to the audible user action identification message is performed. A determination is made whether to connect the call signal based on a received user voice response. The call signal is sent to a voice mail system or sent to a phone based on the received user voice response. An audible nametag storage message is sent. A computer usable medium with suitable computer program code is employed for audible caller identification with nametag storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin R. Krause
  • Patent number: 7102485
    Abstract: A motion activated, voice control communications device interactive with voice mail systems and electronic mail systems and effective as a stand-alone unit. In general, when a motion detector detects motion in the vicinity of the device, a microprocessor receives input therefrom to initiate a software command to check for messages. If messages are present, the device provides an audible report stating the number of messages waiting and provides a list of voice commands by which the user may initiate the next action, which may include review, erase or skip message or end session. The presently described communications device can be used in conjunction with voice messaging platforms or electronic messaging systems via a personal computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Inventor: Gene Williams
  • Patent number: 7050572
    Abstract: A telephone set is provided that includes a control section that, when detecting an off-hook operation, instructs a tone generator and a codec to stop a transmission of an incoming call and simultaneously instructs, using an awaiting voice generation instructing function section, the tone generator to produce a signal voice informing an awaiting state and the codec to transmit it to a handset. At the same time, the control section generates an off-hook signal and transmits it to a packeting section. The off-hook signal is incorporated in the packet to be transmitted by the packeting section and is transmitted from a packet network interface to a packet network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Koichiro Kashiwagi
  • Patent number: 6925166
    Abstract: A call center includes a message playback unit for playing back a prerecorded greeting during an outgoing call while a call classifier unit within the call center processes an audible signal received from a remote party location. A call processing unit places a call to a remote party location via a communication network to attempt to elicit a desired response from the remote party. The call classifier then processes an audible signal received from the remote party location to determine whether or not the call was answered by a live party. The prerecorded greeting is then played while the call classifier is simultaneously processing the audible signal. If the call classifier determines that the call was answered by a live party, the call processing unit completes a talk path between the remote party location and a local agent at the call center who handles the remainder of the call. The call processing unit will normally wait until the greeting has ended to complete the talk path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Avaya Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Norman C. Chan
  • Patent number: 6850602
    Abstract: In a communications network, systems and methods using a feature other than a tone for detecting if the destination is a machine are described. An exemplary method includes the following steps: establishing a communication with a destination, detecting a response, if a response is not detected within a pre-determined time interval, determining that the destination is a machine. If a response is detected, the method further includes the following steps: determining whether the response includes a speech signal that includes a predefined term (e.g., “please leave a message”), and if it does, determining that the destination is a machine. If the response does not include a predefined term, the method may send out a query to the destination and if no response to the query is received or the response is not a speech signal, the method determines that the destination is a machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Avaya Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Wu Chou
  • Patent number: 6842772
    Abstract: Transmission of messages composed on one or more input devices to a single or multiple recipients by means of one or plural communication modes is facilitated. Such communication modes may include conventional or wireless telephone, facsimile transmission, pager, e-mail, postal mail or courier. An application program interface (API) mediates between remote applications requesting messaging functions and a message server that actually implements these functions. The API is capable of processing high-volume requests for message routing, status information, and various other functions on an automated basis, enabling businesses to make routine use of these functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Envoy World Wide, Inc
    Inventors: Jeffrey Delaney, William H. Kirtley, Robert Kuszewski, John Andrew Lash, Robert Mathews, David Page, Martin Sarabura, Gregory Warden
  • Patent number: 6823182
    Abstract: A cellular mobile telephone apparatus has circuits for generating massages, a storage circuit for storing messages, and a transmitter/receiver circuit for transmitting a message. When the user of the cellular mobile telephone apparatus cannot immediately respond to an incoming call, a desired one of a plurality of previously generated and stored messages can be transmitted to a calling party through simple key manipulations or by other means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Higuchi, Katsuo Ogawa, Fumitaka Itoh, Yasuaki Takahara, Teiji Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6782252
    Abstract: A call holding voice message transmitting apparatus and method in a mobile communication terminal are disclosed that transmit voice data, preferably stored in the terminal, to a caller in a situation in which the user of the terminal cannot receive an incoming call from the caller. The apparatus can include a key input unit to input a command to the terminal, a controller that generates a control signal adapted to execute the command, a microphone that converts a voice into an analog voice signal and a voice encoder that converts the analog voice signal into a digital voice signal. A memory can retrievably store the digital voice signal outputted from the voice encoder and a voice decoder converts the digital voice signal into an outgoing analog voice signal. A selection device outputs a selected one of the analog voice signal from the microphone and the outgoing analog voice signal from the voice decoder in response to the control signal from the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: LG Information & Communications, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Chul Kang, Tae Eun Choe
  • Patent number: 6731725
    Abstract: The automated, computerized voice message storage and redelivery system (SRS) provides for the receipt, recordation and storage into individual computer files of telephonic messages received from subscribers who telephone into the computer system and respond either verbally or via touch-tone keypad to verbal prompts by the SRS in order to enter scheduling data and who then record voice message(s) in response to prompts by the SRS. The SRS receives the subscriber's scheduling data and verbal message. The SRS automatically checks its files every minute of every day and, upon detecting a scheduled call telephones the predetermined number. When the recipient telephone is answered, the SRS listens for a human voice. If a human voice is detected, the SRS then replays the previously recorded voice message. If a human voice is not detected, the SRS terminates the telephone call and then does one of two things depending upon the previously recorded request of the subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Inventors: Keith A. Merwin, Robert J. van Winkel
  • Patent number: 6697461
    Abstract: Call screening is provided by a call processing method, involving detecting a first call directed to the premises of a service subscriber requesting call processing instructions from a service control point in response to the first call, operating the service control point to instruct the signal switching point to temporarily park the first call at the signal switching point, and controlling the disposition of the first call as a function of a determination as to whether a second call to the service subscriber was answered by a machine or a human being.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Bell Atlantic Services Network
    Inventors: Susan M. Middleswarth, John H. Wurster
  • Patent number: 6671353
    Abstract: A portable telephone records a short voice memo during a call and reproduces the recorded short voice memo later. Upon detection of a voice record key input during a call, the portable telephone converts an input voice signal to voice data, stores the voice data, and determines whether a stop key is input. Upon detection of the stop key input, the telephone stops storing the voice data and displays an index number input request message. Upon detection of an index number input in response to the index number input request message, the telephone records the stored voice data in a voice memo table in association with the input index number, and determines whether a voice reproduce key is input. Upon detection of the voice reproduce key input, the telephone displays an index number input request message and determines whether the voice memo table has a voice memo corresponding to an input index number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dae-Gun Goh
  • Publication number: 20030174814
    Abstract: Systems and method for providing voice-activated presence information are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the system includes a voice gateway in communication with a presence server. The presence server is for determining presence information of an individual. The voice gateway is for voicing the presence information to a caller after receiving the presence information from the presence server. The voice gateway may also place an outgoing communication to the individual. The presence server may determine whether the individual is present and available on a communication network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventor: Athanassios Diacakis
  • Patent number: 6574601
    Abstract: An adaptive endpointer system and method are used in speech recognition applications, such as telephone-based Internet browsers, to determine barge-in events during the processing of speech. The endpointer system includes a signal energy level estimator for estimating signal levels in speech data; a noise energy level estimator for estimating noise levels in the speech data; and a barge-in detector for increasing a threshold used in comparing the signal levels and the noise levels to detect the barge-in event in the speech data corresponding to a speech prompt during speech recognition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Stephen Charles Glinski
  • Publication number: 20030091162
    Abstract: A telephony data switching method includes receiving data from a first party and determining whether the data from the first party is substantially all speech data. If the data from the first party is ‘substantially all’ speech data, sending the data from the first party to the speaker and deactivating a data transfer state by preventing transfer of the data captured by a microphone operable to receive data from a second party and to receive data output by a speaker. If the data from the first party is not substantially all speech data, determining whether a silent data threshold has been reached. If the silent data threshold has been reached, the method also includes activating the data transfer state and recording data from the second party. If the data transfer state has been activated, the method includes sending the data from the second party to the first party.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: Christopher Haun, Tahsin Choudhuri, Patrick Sollee
  • Patent number: 6539218
    Abstract: A cellular mobile telephone apparatus has circuits for generating messages, a storage circuit for storing messages, and transmitter/receiver circuit for transmitting a message. When the user of the cellular mobile telephone apparatus cannot immediately respond to an incoming call, a desired one of a plurality of previously generated and stored messages can be transmitted to a calling party through simple key manipulations or by other means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Higuchi, Katsuo Ogawa, Fumitaka Itoh, Yasuaki Takahara, Teiji Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6470077
    Abstract: A call center includes a recording/playback unit for recording audible signals received (during an outgoing call) from a remote party location, while a call classifier unit within the call center processes the audible signals. A call processing unit places a call to a remote party location via a communication network to attempt to elicit a desired response from the remote party. The call classifier then processes audible signals received from the remote party location to determine whether or not the call was answered by a live party. The audible signals are recorded by the recording/playback unit and are placed in a queue while the call classifier processes the audible signals. If the call classifier determines that the call was answered by a live party, the call processing unit completes a path between the recording/playback unit and a local agent at the call center, and the recorded audible signals from the remote party are played back to the agent in an accelerated fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Avaya Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Norman C. Chan
  • Patent number: 6470181
    Abstract: A combination of Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) capabilities including Short Message Service (SMS), Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) and Customized Applications for Mobile network Enhanced Logic (CAMEL) allows an advertiser to pay a portion of the airtime cost of a call originated by a mobile subscriber after that subscriber has listened to a recorded advertisement. The combination delivers a text message that associates with a recorded audio advertisement. The text message, which may be referred to later, is stored by the subscriber's handset and may be a transcript of the audio advertisement, provide additional details of the audio advertisement or it may contain an electronic coupon associated with the advertisement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventor: Stewart Hodde Maxwell