Abstract: A system and method for receiving and processing specialized voice commands during a conference call. Users issue vocal commands to retrieve information during the live conference or during later playback. A user may issue these commands by voice or by sending data through the user's device. A user may issue a command to find the latest spoken name in the conference or for determining which participant said something. The name may be replayed to the user or at the user's request the name may be accompanied by additional information by searching particular databases. The users may also issue other commands requesting information such as the latest spoken word indicating location, the latest spoken word indicating time, the latest spoken word indicating method, etc. Information can also be retrieved from networks, such as the Internet, in response to the voice commands.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system provide for caller input rate control for automatic speech recognition (ASR) components within interactive communication systems. The various embodiments provide a concentrator functionality to increase the capacity of ASR systems, and provide a delay functionality to continue to provide service to callers during congestion or overload conditions. The delay functionality provides various associated delay modes, including the insertion of silent periods within messages or prompts played to a caller, and providing increased message duration. The preferred method embodiment determines a usage level of a plurality of ASR input channels, and when the usage level is greater than a first predetermined threshold, provides an associated delay mode for a message output on an output channel of the plurality of output channels.

Abstract: In a multimedia call center (MMCC) operating through an operating system, a client-specific self-help wizard is provided for active clients and updated periodically with information related to client transaction history with the MMCC. A connected client is presented by the wizard with a selective media function through which the client may a select a media type for interaction and help, and the MMCC will then re-contact the client through the selected media. The client, for example, may select IP or COST telephony, and the MMCC will place a call to the client to a number or IP address listed for the client, and interactivity will then be through an interactive voice response unit. Help information specific to a client is updated in the client's wizard periodically according to ongoing transaction history with the MMCC. The wizard may also monitor client activity with the wizard and make reports available to various persons.

Abstract: A system and method in which multiple voice network access provider (“VNAP”) systems cooperate to enable output of voice pages based on input of a voice code (“VCodes”) assigned to the voice pages. Each multiple voice network access provider enables user to access content corresponding to the VCodes publicly displayed in proximity to an object, attraction or subject, by calling a central number for that VNAP and entering the VCode or verbally describing the object, attraction or subject, in which case the verbal description is associated with a VCode or collection of VCodes.

Abstract: The invention is directed towards an automated system for extracting voice messages from a voice mail system and for providing unified access to voice mail and electronic mail or voice mail and the internet. For a given user, a voice mail remote access server connects to the user's voice mail system through a telephone or data network, and uses speech recognition and understanding to navigate through the prompts of the voice mail system and extract the user's voice mail. Depending upon the access mechanism preferred by the user, the voice messages are sent as e-mail messages with attachments (audio files) to the user or made accessible to the user's world wide web server or displayed to the user using a stand-alone voice mail player application.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are provided for conducting a dialog exchange between an interactive voice response (IVR) system and a user. In general, the dialog exchange between the user and the IVR system is effected by the persona of the IVR system. The persona is selected from a library of personas in accordance with the user's personality or demeanor. To determine the user's personality or demeanor, the IVR system monitors the user's responses, verbal or otherwise, to system prompts and adjusts the IVR system's persona in response to changes in the user's personality or demeanor.

Abstract: Speaking a predetermined phrase by a user, causes a handset to transmit this audio information to a personal computer. The personal computer is responsive to the predefined phrase to determine that the user of the handset has answered an incoming call.

Abstract: A “master” telephony message system (TMS) application has been developed to allow an individual to access multiple message services (such as voice mail, telephone-accessed email, unified messaging, etc.) in succession without the need to repeatedly hang up and dial into each different system. The “master” application includes a database record of each TMS dial-in number and proceeds to dial the first number in sequence. The user then accesses the messages in a conventional manner, while the master application “listens” for a prompt from the user to disconnect from the first TMS account and dial in to the next TMS included in the user record. The application proceeds in sequence through each TMS included in the user record until each message system has been accessed or the user chooses to exit the program.

Abstract: A fully automated, voice controlled business appointment/reservation system is provided. The system has a natural language voice user interface that emulates a live office administrator for appointment/reservation bookkeeping. It includes an efficient availability searching mechanism which enables a telephone user to quickly search and reserve available time slot based on his preference. Other described novel features and implementation improvements include method and system for voice controlled appointment/reservation cancellation, method and system for voice controlled appointment/reservation waiting list, method and system for new user service sign-up and account creation, method and system enabling sequential selective dialing of a telephone user list by voice command, and method and system for scheduling data administration by voice commands.

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.

Abstract: A networked system of voice-activated dialers is described. When a calling party using a local voice-activated dialer utters a phrase which indicates that information to reach a called party may be available at a remote site, a network connection is established to the remote site, spoken words or phrases are transmitted to the remote site, and the called party information is obtained from the remote site. The called party information is used to provide additional networked services to the calling party such as call-completion, voice messaging, or paging. These additional networked services may use the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and an existing signaling network such as the Signaling System No. 7 network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for registering unanswered telephone calls is provided. The method includes directing the unanswered call to an external server, recording details of the calling telephone, including the telephone number of the calling telephone (caller ID), the time and the date of the call, and notifying the called telephone of the details of the unanswered telephone call.

Abstract: Authentication of voice message recipient network addresses employs generating (102) and storing (104) a “network file” that includes “voice clips” and associated network addresses that are extracted from voice messages received across a network (10) from voice message systems (16, 18). A voice clip is the first one to three seconds of voice extracted from each received voice message. Over time, the network file will grow to contain multiple voice clips and associated network voice message addresses. When a voice message originator subsequently enters a recipient's network address (106), the originating voice message system searches (114) the network file for the network address, retrieves the associated voice clip (116), and plays it for the voice message originator to authenticate the recipient's network address.

Abstract: Facilitating voice access to personal information in a manner that the caller may voice command an action to be performed in response to hearing a particular personal information item. The voice commanded action is then automatically performed even if the action requires access to another personal information item of a different type. A voice access server receives a caller-issued voice command to hear a first item of personal information (such as a calendar item) corresponding to a first personal information type. Then, the voice access server automatically accesses the requested information, and audibly speaks the item to the caller. The caller may then submit a voice request to act on the first item of personal information. The voice access server then automatically accesses any other personal information needed to perform the requested action, even if access to a different personal information type is needed.

Abstract: A method of the present invention includes an MSC (101) receiving (201) a request for a call. A call routing request indicating that no peripheral device interaction has taken place on the call is forwarded (203) to an HLR or home location register (107). The MSC receives (205) call routing instructions that direct the call to a peripheral device (109). The call is routed (211) to the peripheral device (109). The peripheral device (109) performs (213) a function for the call and routes (215) the call to the MSC. A message requesting call routing instructions and identifying the peripheral device is forwarded (203) to the HLR.

Abstract: A voice mail system employs caller-specific sub-mailboxes that are created within a voice mail account owner's mailbox so that a caller designates an access pincode for the sub-mailbox and then has access to the sub-mailbox for leaving messages, deleting messages, and re-ordering messages. Consequently, the voice mail systems achieve increased flexibility in accessing previous messages by one caller from multiple telephone locations, increased overall productivity of voice mail system users, the capability to allow a mailbox owner to prioritize the playing of recorded messages, and minimized connection time and battery consumption of portable, handheld devices accessing the voice mail system.

Abstract: A voice-controlled multi-station network has both speaker-dependent and speaker-independent speech recognition. Conditionally to recognizing items of an applicable vocabulary, the network executes a particular function. The method receives a call from a particular origin and executes speaker-independent speech recognition on the call. In an improvement procedure, in case of successful determination of what has been said, a template associated to the recognized speech item is stored and assigned to the origin. Next, speaker-dependent recognition is applied if feasible, for speech received from the same origin, using one or more templates associated to that station. Further, a fallback procedure to speaker-independent recognition is maintained for any particular station in order to cater for failure of the speaker-dependent recognition, whilst allowing reverting to the improvement procedure.

Abstract: An interactive apparatus allows the user to interrupt an outgoing prompt and remove component which is normally found in the users' responses (e.g., a frequency band) from the outgoing output prompt. An input signal analysis unit in the apparatus is able to detect the response of the user (and distinguish it from an echo of the outgoing prompt) by noting the presence of the component which is lacking from the outgoing prompt. As an alternative, the apparatus may force spaced timeslots in the outgoing signal to silence. In that case, the input signal analysis unit can detect the presence of the user's signal over a predetermined time interval. As well as being applicable to apparatuses which involve the user in prompt/response dialogues, the invention is also useful in relation to the interruption of messages being replayed by voice-controllable answerphones of the like.

Abstract: New techniques are presented for integrating wireless control methods into control systems for the control, automation and operation of model railroads. The invention allows for utilization of standard devices developed for the telecommunications industry to be applied for the purpose of model railroad control.

Abstract: A virtual interactive response (VIR) system mimics and enhances interactive voice response (IVR) technology by using humans to drive the voice recognition unit (VRU) speech recognition functionality. This VIR system initiates a dialogue with the customer by prompting the customer with an initial welcoming message. Calls from a customer are initially made in a first region having high labor costs, but are then directed to an overseas location using voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) or other voice communications technology. The calls are then directed to an appropriate human agent at the overseas location who then listens to the customer's query and makes a decision on how to respond to the customer.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for processing a service request received from a telephone communication device. The telephony system and method utilizes a call management server and a voice interpreter server. The call management server receives an incoming call from a user, and the voice interpreter server processes the service request contained in the incoming call. Data communication encapsulation is used to communicate data between the call management server and the voice interpreter platform in order to process the service request.

Abstract: A system and method for organizing and accessing multi-media messages from a displayless interface. According to one embodiment, voice recognition techniques are used to allow the user to identify and create a hierarchical organization for stored messages.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling telephone network subscribers using a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) to communicate with other network subscribers lacking such a device. The TDD user dials a number that connects them with an automatic relay switch (ARS). The ARS determines the intended recipient of the call and establishes a connection to them. The TDD user then transmits a message in TDD format to the ARS, which converts it into an ASCII text file that is in turn provided to a text-to-speech (TTS) engine that synthesizes a voice message from the text file. The voice message is then sent to the non-TDD-enabled subscriber. The ARS then preferably prompts the non-TDD-enabled subscriber to enter a response. The response may be made by voice communication or by using the telephone keypad to send dual-tone multi-frequency tones back to the ARS according to instructions that were provided to the called party for this purpose.

Abstract: A method and system for providing unified messages services to a subscriber. The subscriber utilizes an active interface embedded in an e-mail notification to control delivery of a non-literal, single media or multimedia message to the subscriber. Such a non-literal message includes, but is not limited to, any of a hyperlink-based message, a voicemail message, a facsimile, and a video clip. The active interface provides access to communications-related services as well, including access to stock/options trading and bill payment.

Abstract: A method of allowing a telephone network user to initiate a call feature request during an in-progress call using a conventional touch tone telephone with a telephone handset and conventional touch tone telephone keys. The method includes receiving and recognizing a touch tone signal resulting from the user pressing one or more of the telephone keys, recognizing a user spoken predetermined voice command, then interpreting the touch tone signal and voice command as a request for a call feature. The call feature is then provided in accordance with the request.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for automatically providing for connection to electronic addresses received in spoken communications or audio signals. Under one embodiment, a system and method receives telephone calls or other information streams including spoken address information. The spoken address information includes electronic addresses, for example, telephone numbers. The system and method identify the spoken address information, and automatically recognize and extract the identified address information from the information stream. The extracted address information is subsequently available for use in automatically coupling a receiving communication device to electronic devices accessed by or associated with the extracted address information.

Abstract: Facilitating voice access to personal information in a manner that the caller may voice command an action to be performed in response to hearing a particular personal information item. The voice commanded action is then automatically performed even if the action requires access to another personal information item of a different type. A voice access server receives a caller-issued voice command to hear a first item of personal information (such as a calendar item) corresponding to a first personal information type. Then, the voice access server automatically accesses the requested information, and audibly speaks the item to the caller. The caller may then submit a voice request to act on the first item of personal information. The voice access server then automatically accesses any other personal information needed to perform the requested action, even if access to a different personal information type is needed.

Abstract: A system and method for speech-responsive voice messaging, in which a Speech-Responsive Voice Messaging System (SRVMS) preferably provides a hierarchically-simple speech user interface (UI) that enables subscribers to use speech to specify commands such as mailboxes, passwords, and digits. The SRVMS generates and evaluates candidate results. The SRVMS invokes a speech UI navigation operation or a voice messaging operation according to the outcome of the evaluation of the candidate results. In the preferred embodiment, the SRVMS determines whether the candidate results are good, questionable, or bad; and whether two or more candidate results are ambiguous due to a likelihood that each such result could be a valid command. If the candidate results are questionable or ambiguous, an ambiguity resolution UI prompts the subscriber to confirm whether the best candidate result is what the subscriber intended.

Abstract: In a multimedia call center (MMCC) operating through an operating system, a client-specific self-help wizard is provided for active clients and updated periodically with information related to client transaction history with the MMCC. A connected client is presented by the wizard with a selective media function through which the client may a select a media type for interaction and help, and the MMCC will then re-contact the client through the selected media. The client, for example, may select IP or COST telephony, and the MMCC will place a call to the client to a number or IP address listed for the client, and interactivity will then be through an interactive voice response unit. Help information specific to a client is updated in the client's wizard periodically according to ongoing transaction history with the MMCC. The wizard may also monitor client activity with the wizard and make reports available to various persons.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing a transmitted voice signal include a centralized frame controller providing at least one boundary control signal to voice processing blocks and controlling the operation of the voice processing blocks on the transmitted voice signal based upon the boundary control signal.

Abstract: A system and method for speech-responsive voice messaging, in which a Speech-Responsive Voice Messaging System (SRVMS) preferably provides a hierarchically-simple speech user interface (UI) that enables subscribers to use speech to specify commands such as mailboxes, passwords, and digits. The SRVMS generates and evaluates candidate results. The SRVMS invokes a speech UI navigation operation or a voice messaging operation according to the outcome of the evaluation of the candidate results. In the preferred embodiment, the SRVMS determines whether the candidate results are good, questionable, or bad; and whether two or more candidate results are ambiguous due to a likelihood that each such result could be a valid command. If the candidate results are questionable or ambiguous, an ambiguity resolution UI prompts the subscriber to confirm whether the best candidate result is what the subscriber intended.

Abstract: A relay is described to facilitate communication through the telephone system between deaf people and hearing people. To overcome the speed limitations inherent in typing, the call assistant at the relay does not type most words but, instead, re-voices the words spoken by the hearing person into a computer operating a voice recognition software package trained to the voice of that call assistant. The conversation-type flow of communications achieved by this type of relay enables the design of a new class of interpreters for the deaf.

Abstract: A call handling mechanism provides a resource manager for controlling the allocation of functional modules to process a received call. Each of the functional modules can be implemented as a software application, preferably implemented in the form of a bean, such as a Java bean. The resource manager allocates the functional modules in accordance with the priority order. Different types of applications are given priority numbers within different ranges so that, for example, a voice application such as a voicemail application will always precede a facsimile application, which in turn will precede a data application. In this manner, reliable call answering can be provided using third party supplied call handling applications which are pre-allocated priority numbers in an appropriate range for the type of application.

Abstract: A method provides customer with simple and flexible dialog control and faster access to the desired information. In response to a customer call, a control program for dialog control created with the aid of a graphical editor as a flow chart is started, once access authorization is checked. All of the computer-supported telephony (CTI) information input modules and information output modules provided within the framework of the dialog control service in question, which are subject to continuous monitoring, are simultaneously made available in parallel to the customer via a control module for controlling the resources. The customer can actively intervene in the dialog already during the welcome via the information input modules allocated to him. The dialog commences again at the place designated by the customer. The method is suitable for at least information, news and connection services which are based on very significant parallelism and which are configured for mass telephony.

Abstract: A telephone device that has a call subscriber telephone number detector, a memory for memorizing a plurality of call subscriber information audio signal in advance and which can memorize an arbitrary call subscriber telephone number in correspondence with a call subscriber information audio signal arbitrarily selected from the plurality of call subscriber information audio signals, a comparator for comparing whether a call subscriber telephone number detected by the call subscriber telephone number detector is coincident with a call subscriber telephone number memorized in the memory, upon coming-call, and an electroacoustic transducer to which a call subscriber information audio signal read out from the memory is supplied, wherein when it is detected by the comparator that a call subscriber telephone number detected by the call subscriber telephone number detector is coincident with a certain call subscriber telephone number memorized in the memory, a certain call subscriber information audio signal corre

Abstract: A system and method for registering voice codes (“VCodes”) associated with stored content corresponding to the VCodes, wherein the VCode may be used to access the stored content via telephone by calling a central number and entering the VCode or verbally describing the object, attraction or subject, in which case the verbal description is associated with a VCode or collection of VCodes.

Abstract: In one embodiment according to the invention, a telephonic apparatus includes an interface to a network, a memory adapted to store a telephone number, a text-to-speech module adapted to produce audible signals associated with the stored telephone number, a processor, and a local input unit. The local input unit is adapted to produce an input signal in response to user activation, and the processor is adapted to respond to the input signal by retrieving the stored telephone number from the memory and causing the text-to-speech module to produce the audible signals for transmission to the network via the interface. In an alternative embodiment according to the invention, a method of transmitting Caller ID data to a distant party includes the steps of receiving a local input command, retrieving stored Caller ID data in response to the local input command, producing audible signals based on the retrieved Caller ID data, and transmitting the audible signals to the distant party.

Abstract: The multi-threaded database system manages access to a plurality of databases. A separate thread is assigned to each of the databases so as to encapsulate activities relative to the databases. Threads may be performing separate activities independently of each other. As a result, a first database may be modified, added, or deleted while a second database is being accessed. The database system is especially well-adapted for use with an interactive voice response platform.

Abstract: A telephone-answering device responsive to human speech answers a telephone with a pre-recorded message and places the caller on hold until the called party can physically reach a telephone.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording and replaying a message received from a calling party through a telephone line is disclosed. Messages received from a plurality of calling parties are stored in a memory. The messages stored in the memory are replayed for each of calling parties using caller information. The received messages can be continuously replayed for each of calling parties to allow easy understanding of the messages for the same calling party.

Abstract: A method of and system for compressing and transmitting information which comprises recognizing a plurality of different types of information and providing a first representation of a recognized one of the plurality of different types of information having lower bandwidth transmission requirement than the recognized one of the plurality of different types of information. The first representation is transmitted to a remote receiver and a second representation of the recognized one of the recognized one of the plurality of different types of information at said remote receiver having greater information content than the first representation responsive to the first representation is provided. Responsive to the second representation, a recreation of the recognized one of the plurality of different types of information is provided. Recognizing includes providing a first data base and the second representation includes providing a second data base.

Abstract: A voice processing system comprising a digital trunk processor 135 and a system unit 145 incorporates a local voice recognition resource 185 provided on a digital signal processing board 180, and can access a remote voice recognition resource 320 in a server 300 via a local area network 250. The system provides a barge-in facility for the recognition resource on the remote server, whereby a prompt is played out to the user, and the incoming telephony signal is fed into a voice activity detector on the digital trunk processor. Responsive to a detection of incoming voice activity, the outgoing prompt is terminated, and the incoming data is transferred over the local area network to the remote server for recognition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus providing a user interface within a phone that responds to a limited vocabulary of user trained voice commands. The interface allows users to perform all phone handset dialing functions using voice commands. Additionally, users will be able to create and modify entries within a voice recognition phonebook, whereby a number within the voice recognition phonebook can be called by saying the name associated with the number. The user interface provides a combination of voice and LCD displayed user prompts and responses to voice input. The interface responds to user voice commands and performs the command functions based upon matches to previously user trained voice command vocabulary words stored in memory.

Abstract: The present invention provides an answering system for a communication device which, when set up with an automatic answering mode because a called party is absent or does not want to answer it, responds to a calling party by outputting automatically an responding message that a telephone of the called party is set up with an automatic answering mode for a predetermined time, whereby an user of the calling party is informed that an automatic answering mode of a telephone of a called party is activated although the communication has not completed yet. Accordingly, an user of the calling party pays no bill which is unnecessary when an automatic answering mode is activated on a telephone of the calling party, and the efficiency of communication system increases since the phone lines are free from the unnecessary phone calls.

Abstract: A plurality of motive-procedure sets respectively composed of a motive, a condition and a procedure of a message processing edited according to user's intention are stored in advance for each user. When a message sent for a receiver is received in a message switching apparatus, it is judged whether or not one of the motives corresponding to a plurality of motive-procedure sets for the receiver is fired. When a particular motive is fired, a particular message processing of a particular motive-procedure set corresponding to the particular motive is performed in cases where a particular condition of the particular motive-procedure set is satisfied, so that an incoming call of the message is notified to the receiver or the message is transmitted or forwarded to the receiver according to the particular message processing.

Abstract: A signal monitoring apparatus and method involving devices for monitoring signals representing communications traffic, devices for identifying at least one predetermined parameter by analyzing the context of the at least one monitoring signal, a device for recording the occurrence of the identified parameter, a device for identifying the traffic stream associated with the identified parameter, a device for analyzing the recorded data relating to the occurrence, and a device, responsive to the analysis of the recorded data, for controlling the handling of communications traffic within the apparatus.

Abstract: An arrangement for remotely retrieving information from a computer memory over an audio channel includes an audio channel such as a telephone line. A user speaks a command into the audio channel, and it is received at the other end, which is within a private network. Within the private network, the user is authenticated, as by evaluation of a code number or by voice signature. Once authenticated, the user's spoken command is applied to a speech recognition arrangement, also within the private network, which converts the spoken command into a computer-executable command. The executable command is applied to the appropriate network memory, and the computer file is retrieved. The retrieved file is applied to a firewall in order to block transmission of any information from the private network which is deemed to be inappropriate for transmission over the audio channel, or which should not leave the private network in computer-readable form.

Abstract: A telephone answering system that automatically dials a specified telephone number left by a caller in conjunction with a message left for a message recipient. The caller is given an option to leave such a number. In the case the caller has left such a number, the message recipient is given an option to have that number automatically dialed. If the message recipient chooses that option, the number as specified by the caller is automatically dialed, and the connection between the telephone line of the message recipient and the telephone answering system is terminated. The present invention thus provides great convenience to subscribers of telephone answering systems when calling back previous callers who have left messages.

Abstract: An electronic switch in a telephone system provides automatic connection of a subscriber going off-hook to a SN/IP, while at the same time remaining responsive to dialing by the subscriber. The switch also permits access code dialing connection to the SN/IP and provides dial pulse to DTKF conversion over the connection path. Upon request by a off-hook subscriber connected to the SN/IP by the switch, the SN/IP can perform dialing or invoke other call features which will be processed by the switch as if requested by the off-hook subscriber.

Abstract: A system and method for speech-responsive voice messaging, in which a Speech-Responsive Voice Messaging System (SRVMS) preferably provides a hierarchically-simple speech user interface (UI) that enables subscribers to use speech to specify commands such as mailboxes, passwords, and digits. The SRVMS generates and evaluates candidate results. The SRVMS invokes a speech UI navigation operation or a voice messaging operation according to the outcome of the evaluation of the candidate results. In the preferred embodiment, the SRVMS determines whether the candidate results are good, questionable, or bad; and whether two or more candidate results are ambiguous due to a likelihood that each such result could be a valid command. If the candidate results are questionable or ambiguous, an ambiguity resolution UI prompts the subscriber to confirm whether the best candidate result is what the subscriber intended.