Abstract: In one embodiment, when a mobile telephone accessible to the Internet accesses a homepage provider server, character codes of the homepage accessed is identified. Thereafter, a homepage is displayed using character codes in the mobile telephone on the basis of the identification. The homepage provider server provides information for identifying character codes. A character code provider always updates and registers the latest character codes. The mobile telephone accesses the homepage provider server and the character code provider through wireless telephone network and the Internet.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for arranging voice feedback to a digital wireless terminal device, which includes a voice-assisted user interface (Voice UI), wherein the terminal device gives a voice feedback corresponding to its state. The terminal device includes memory devices (PPM) for storing the voice feedbacks. In the method, the following stages take place to arrange the voice feedback in connection with the terminal device: one or more voice feedbacks are generated, the generated voice feedbacks are converted into a digital form, the digitalized voice feedbacks are edited with chosen algorithms (ACELP) in order to reduce their file size, and the edited voice feedbacks are stored in a memory (PPM) arranged in connection with the terminal device.

Abstract: A character communication device which is connected to a network and enables at least communication by using characters. The device comprises a candidate term display means (S104) for displaying a group of candidate terms prepared for message communication in a candidate term display area (52) of the screen, a term selecting means (2b) for outputting a term which is selected by the operator from the group of candidate terms, and a message generating means (S108) for generating a message by serially displaying a plurality of outputted terms in a message editing area (53) of the screen and sending the generated message to a transmitting/receiving means.

Abstract: One embodiment of a method for translating a message can be broadly summarized by the following steps: generating an electronic message in an understood language of an originating party; receiving instructions to translate contents of the electronic message to another language; converting the electronic message to the another language in accordance with the instructions; and delivering the converted electronic message to the receiving party. Other methods and devices are also provided.

Abstract: An accent compensative speech recognition system and related methods for use with a signal processor generating one or more feature vectors based upon a voice-induced electrical signal are provided. The system includes a first-language acoustic module that determines a first-language phoneme sequence based upon one or more feature vectors, and a second-language lexicon module that determines a second-language speech segment based upon the first-language phoneme sequence. A method aspect includes the steps of generating a first-language phoneme sequence from at least one feature vector based upon a first-language phoneme model, and determining a second-language speech segment from the first-language phoneme sequence based upon a second-language lexicon model.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for storing a language preference and providing the stored language preference automatically without any intervention of a user. The user may have an option to set a desired language preference on the calling apparatus such as a telephone device. A call center may send a query requesting language preference information of the user to the calling apparatus when the user makes a call connection to the call center. The desired language preference saved on the calling apparatus may be sent directly from the calling apparatus to the call center. In this manner, the user may not have to repeat a language selection process for every call made to the call center.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for providing information from a server via a mobile communication device. One implementation of a method includes the acts of automatically determining a preferred language of the mobile communication device by the server, and providing information in a preferred language for the mobile communication device by the server.

Abstract: A system for idiom simultaneous translation applied to telephonic equipment, conventional or mobile phones and service rendered by a telephonic company allowing complete understanding of a conversation between speaker and listener agents, when both speak different idioms, with the main objective is to allow a concurrent translation of the native idiom of the speaker agent to the native idiom of the listener agent, through the introduction of a idiom translation system, composed by a computer readable program supported by a hardware and linked to a voice recognition device, which may be integrated to a generic telephonic equipment, both conventional and mobile, when in a local application, or directly installed in a telephonic central system, as a service to be rendered to its subscribers.

Abstract: A method for improving user satisfaction with automated response computer driven systems is provided. In one embodiment the automated computer system utilizes a Web browser accessing at least a Web site. In another embodiment, the automated computer system is a telephonic response system with voice recognition and generation capability. In each embodiment the user is first prompted to provide indications of user language usage preferences which are then analyzed and stored in a user profile. Thereafter, subsequent information from the automated system is modified in accordance with the stored user profile before presentation to the user.

Abstract: A method for processing calls. Initiation of a call by a user is detected in the communications device. In response to detecting the call, a geographic identification based on a number assigned to the communications device and/or language identification based on a user of the communications device is identified. The geographic identification and the language identification are transmitted with caller identification information for use by a called party.

Abstract: A method (100) of dynamically assigning a plurality of voice ports and arranging a plurality of menu choice prompting sequences for at least one application includes the step of receiving (102) a plurality of incoming calls and monitoring (104) at least one among a recognition error rate for each menu option and execution path, a success rate for completing a desired transaction and an associated origination number, and monitoring frequently used menu options. In response to the monitoring steps, at least one of the menu choice prompting sequences among the plurality of menu choice prompting sequences can be rearranged (110) and at least one voice port among the plurality of voice ports can be reassigned (114).

Abstract: A method for negotiating a common language on a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network, the method comprising: allowing a plurality of users to connect to the VoIP network, each of the plurality of users having at least one of a plurality of VoIP compatible transmitting/receiving devices; configuring each of the plurality of VoIP compatible transmitting/receiving devices with a list of a plurality of languages, each of the plurality of languages having a priority level associated therewith; allowing automatic selection of the common language between two or more of the plurality of users on a joint VoIP call by performing a language handshake; computing a maximum selection score via a language handshake algorithm provided by the language handshake; maximizing a sum of priority levels; minimizing a sum of priority differences; and selecting the common language that provides a largest sum of the priority levels and a lowest sum of the priority differences.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing a call are disclosed. Generally a stored indication of a user's language preference is accessed in response to receipt of a call initiated by the user. The call is then routed to a location based on the stored indication of the user's language preference.

Abstract: Processing a communication session involves accessing a database storing features that include caller preferences associated with a caller and callee capabilities associated with a callee. Rules for processing a communication session are retrieved. Each rule specifies a condition and an action to be performed if the condition is satisfied. The rules are applied to at least one of the features to yield a determined action, and a communication session is processed in accordance with the determined action.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing selectable options to a calling party while the calling party is on hold. A call from the calling party is received and the calling party is placed on hold. While on hold, the calling party is provided with a plurality of selectable options. Each of the plurality of options corresponds to a predefined operation. A selected option request, corresponding to one of the plurality of options, is received from the calling party. The predefined operation corresponding to the selected option request is then performed. A system is also provided having instructions thereon for providing selectable options to a calling party while on hold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a voice message in a communication system are provided. Upon receiving a request message for providing a voice message to a calling terminal, a caller information detector determines whether the request message includes language select information indicating a language of a voice message to be provided to the calling terminal, and detects caller information included in the request message when the language select information is not included. A voice message reproducer selects a language of a voice message to be provided to the calling terminal using the detected caller information, and transmits a voice message corresponding to the selected language to the calling terminal. Accordingly, the calling terminal can receive voice messages in a language appropriate for the user.

Abstract: An interactive voice response (IVR) system executes a call flow that references data objects holding information. The information within a data object includes a variable that holds a value utilized by the call flow, state information describing the state of the variable, and fulfillment type information that describes how to get a value for the variable or otherwise change the variable's state. Process and application objects in the call flow specify desired states of variables at given points in the call flow. A resolution module within the IVR system determines whether the variables are in the desired states and, if not, utilizes the fulfillment type information in the data objects to attempt to put the variables in the desired states. This dynamic resolution process provides a mechanism for resolving the values of variables in data objects as the values are required and eases the burden on the call flow developer.

Abstract: A method for negotiating a common language on a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network, the method comprising: allowing a plurality of users to connect to the VoIP network, each of the plurality of users having at least one of a plurality of VoIP compatible transmitting/receiving devices; configuring each of the plurality of VoIP compatible transmitting/receiving devices with a list of a plurality of languages, each of the plurality of languages having a priority level associated therewith; allowing automatic selection of the common language between two or more of the plurality of users on a joint VoIP call by performing a language handshake; computing a maximum selection score via a language handshake algorithm provided by the language handshake; maximizing a sum of priority levels; minimizing a sum of priority differences; and selecting the common language that provides a largest sum of the priority levels and a lowest sum of the priority differences.

Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying visual content to a user corresponding to sound captured at a user terminal are disclosed. After receiving over a network from a user terminal a request to convert sound into a visual content representing the sound, wherein the sound comprises one or more words, a translation server may retrieve text corresponding to the one or more words from a database. The translation server may then convert the text into one or more content phrases, wherein the content phrases represent the meaning of the one or more words, and convert each of the one or more content phrases into a new language. Finally, the translation server may send visual content to the user terminal representing the new language.

Abstract: A system includes telephony devices that provide services and applications through the execution of scripts in web pages.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a touch-sensitive device to receive a bias and to generate touch location information based on the bias, an element to secure a printed medium in contact with the touch sensitive device, the printed medium to depict a plurality of telephone interface controls, a memory to store a telephone interface layout associating one or more of the telephone interface controls with a respective touch location and a respective action, and a processor to receive touch location information from the touch-sensitive device, to determine a telephone interface control based on the touch location information and on the telephone interface layout, to determine an action based on the telephone interface control and on the telephone interface layout, and to perform the determined action.

Abstract: In one embodiment, when a mobile telephone accessible to the Internet accesses a homepage provider server, character codes of the homepage accessed is identified. Thereafter, a homepage is displayed using character codes in the mobile telephone on the basis of the identification. The homepage provider server provides information for identifying character codes. A character code provider always updates and registers the latest character codes. The mobile telephone accesses the homepage provider server and the character code provider through wireless telephone network and the Internet.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide an efficient and effective method and system for routing calls to predetermined destinations to facilitate communication in a customer's preferred language. The present embodiments allow for an indication of a customer's language preference to be stored in some fashion and also allow for that indication to be accessed when the customer places a call that may require communications in a specific language. The indication of the customer's language preference can be accessed upon receipt of the call and appropriate information can be retrieved that enables the call to be routed to a destination to facilitate communication in a customer's preferred language.

Abstract: There is provided a guidance information notification apparatus in a communication network system which enables improvement of convenience to a user by dispensing with a particular operation other than a normal origination operation required when a user obtains a guidance message in an understandable language such as a native language, with a terminal unit, and by enabling the user to receive support from a communication operator of the user's contract network even when a roaming service is provided. If an originator inputs a destination telephone number with a normal origination operation at a mobile telephone set 18, a guidance information notification apparatus 22-1 notifies guidance message information in a language associated with the origination telephone number to the origination mobile telephone set 18.

Abstract: A portable electronic apparatus having a telephoning function receives country or area data to be set therein through an infrared communication controller 19 and an infrared communication device 20, and stores the data in a flash ROM. The country or area initial data corresponding to the data stored in the flash ROM is selected from a database including various kinds of initial data stored in a ROM to cope with a plurality of countries or areas, and the selected initial data is used to initialize software.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide an efficient and effective method and system for routing calls to predetermined destinations to facilitate communication in a customer's preferred language. The present embodiments allow for an indication of a customer's language preference to be stored in some fashion and also allow for that indication to be accessed when the customer places a call that may require communications in a specific language. The indication of the customer's language preference can be accessed upon receipt of the call and appropriate information can be retrieved that enables the call to be routed to a destination to facilitate communication in a customer's preferred language.

Abstract: A method of changing an alphabetic character to a variant character when entering information or messages in a mobile phone or a game console or the like. The variant character can be a diacritical variation or a tonal variation of the alphabetic character. After an alphabetic character is entered and displayed on a display device, the star key in the keypad can be used to replace the displayed alphabetic character with a desired one of the variants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for passing information between a local exchange and a user/terminal, the language used for presenting the information being chosen in the terminal and the local exchange, and in order to avoid that messages generated by the terminal and the text generated by the local exchange are presented in different languages the present invention suggest a method to synchronize the language in the terminal and the language of the local exchange, or vice versa, wherein are used predefined codes for each of the languages involved.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing speech recognition capability to callers in a cost efficient manner as part of one or more telephone services are described. Multiple speech recognition units with differing capabilities and therefore implementation costs are provided. Calls are assigned to speech recognition circuits throughout a call based on a signal such as a service type identifier indicating the type of service to be provided to the caller. During different phases of a call different speech recognition units may be used. In addition, different amounts of speech recognition processing capability may be allocated to service a call at different points during a call. In this manner efficient use of available speech recognition resources can be achieved.

Abstract: A technique for notifying a person who is engaged in a telephone call with a second person that a third person is calling him or her is disclosed. The notification comprises not a series of beeps but a voice—synthetically generated or pre-recorded—that has at least one different psychoacoustic characteristic than the voice of the second person. By using a notification that is psychoacoustically different than the voice of the second person, the ability of the first person to simultaneously perceive and understand the notification and the voice of the second person is enhanced. Example psychoacoustic characteristics of a voice include, but are not limited to, the gender of the speaker's voice (i.e., male or female), the natural language of the speaker's voice (e.g., English, Spanish, French, etc.), and the smoothness of the speaker's voice (e.g., silky or raspy, etc.).

Abstract: This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing automated personal messaging assistance with the capability of checking a user's destination for arrival and forwarding messages by a preferred modality. The present invention is directed to, in a general aspect, a method of providing personal messaging using a virtual messaging assistant. The virtual messaging assistant has a voice user interface and provides a human-like voice which interfaces with the user' and with callers. The personal messaging assistant provides forwarding of messages to a destination in accordance with user selected preferences. The personal messaging assistant receives incoming messages. The personal messaging checks the user's calendar to find out where the user is expected to be. Then the personal messaging assistant calls the expected destination and inquires whether the user has arrived.

Abstract: When a sender sends a transmission message to a receiver by use of a communication appliance such as telephone, portable telephone, facsimile or electronic mail, the transmission massage is temporarily received by a computer-telephony integration (CTI) server. The CTI server makes reference to a user contact table to thereby specify a contact point of the receiver at present and the kind of a communication appliance capable of being used by the receiver which are registered in advance in the user contact table. Then, the CTI server sends the transmission message to the receiver after automatic media conversion in accordance with the communication appliance and reception condition which are allowed for the receiver to use. A reception condition requested by the sender may be reflected in a part of the reception condition of the receiver.

Abstract: A system and method of directing calls is disclosed for a telephone network having remote locations. The remote locations receive incoming calls and attempt to route the calls using a basic call director. If the remote location cannot route the call, then data, such as a recorded spoken utterance, is provided to a central system. The central system then attempts to automatically determine how to route the call using the data from the remote location. If the central system is unable to automatically determine the routing information, then the data is provided to an operator who attempts to determine how to route the call. Finally, a caller can be connected directly to the operator, if the operator is not able to determine routing information from the provided data alone.

Abstract: A system and method for managing the transfer of data within an operational store is disclosed. Data from a plurality of distributed data sources is received at a messaging workflow module. The messaging workflow module prioritizes incoming and outgoing data and requests for data. Data is transferred from messaging workflow module to a translation module which ensures that the data is in a proper format for the operational data store. Data is transferred from translation module to the operational data store.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide an efficient and effective method and system for routing calls to predetermined destinations to facilitate communication in a customer's preferred language. The present embodiments allow for an indication of a customer's language preference to be stored in some fashion and also allow for that indication to be accessed when the customer places a call that may require communications in a specific language. The indication of the customer's language preference can be accessed upon receipt of the call and appropriate information can be retrieved that enables the call to be routed to a destination to facilitate communication in a customer's preferred language.

Abstract: A telecommunications system including a public telephonic switching network interconnected with a telephonic network switch for routing calls from an initial telephonic unit to a destination telephonic unit. Telephonic calls are sent via the public telephonic switching network for receipt at the computer controlled telephonic network switch. The telephonic network switch has a central processing unit and an associated memory with an improved programmed operator services position system for assigning a language to the telephonic call such that the assigned language is an associated attribute for the telephonic call. Throughout the duration of the telephonic call, the call is identified to receive telephone operator services in the particular language assigned for the telephonic call.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting a dialect for an oral presentation provided by an agent of an organization to a human target of the organization through a communications network. The method includes the steps of determining a dialect to be used by the agent for communicating with the target, modifying the dialect of the oral presentation of the agent for communicating with the target based upon the determined dialect and presenting the modified oral presentation to the target.

Abstract: User operations when utilizing translation telephone service (translation) are simplified. By making possible voice recognition for limited speakers, voice recognition performance and translation accuracy are improved. When a translation key 73 for use of a translation telephone service is operated, a connection procedure execution unit 31 reads a connection procedure registered in advance in a connection procedure storage unit 83 to connect to a translation telephone device and to set the language to use. The automatic translation mode setting unit refers to the used language of the destination, which is set in advance in a telephone number storage unit 84, and to the history of use of the translation telephone service, which is stored in a call history storage unit 85, and automatically to set the use of the translation telephone service.

Abstract: A unified messaging system includes a voice gateway server coupled to an electronics mail system and a private branch exchange (PBX). The voice gateway server provides voice messaging services to a set of subscribers. Within the voice gateway server, a trigraph analyzer sequentially examines 3-character combinations within a text message; determines occurrence frequencies for the character combinations; compares the occurrence frequencies with reference occurrence statistics modeled from text samples written in particular languages; and generates a language identifier and a likelihood value for the text message. Based upon the language identifier, a message inquiry unit selects an appropriate text-to-speech engine for converting the text message into computer-generated speech that is played to a subscriber.

Abstract: A unified messaging system selectively provides voice messages and computer-generated speech messages to a set of subscribers. The unified messaging system includes a voice gateway server coupled to an electronics mail system and a private branch exchange (PBX). In addition, the unified messaging system is configured for determining if a received message is a text message from the electronic mail system or a voice message from the PBX. The voice gateway server preferably includes a trigraph analyzer. When a subscriber selects review of a received message that includes a text message, the trigraph analyzer sequentially examines 3-character combinations within the text message; determines occurrence frequencies for the character combinations; compares the occurrence frequencies with reference occurrence statistics modeled from text samples written in particular languages; and generates a language identifier and a likelihood value for the text message.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for passing information between a local exchange and a user/terminal, the language used for presenting the information being chosen in the terminal and the local exchange, and in order to avoid that messages generated by the terminal and the text generated by the local exchange are presented in different languages the present invention suggest a method to synchronize the language in the terminal and the language of the local exchange, or vice versa, wherein are used predefined codes for each of the languages involved.

Abstract: Disclosed is a message receiving method executed on a radio selective calling receiver, which comprises: a first step of judging whether a received message is originated from a local transmission station or a non-local transmission station; a second step of judging whether the received message is an information message or a personal message when the received message is judged to be originated from the non-local transmission station; a third step of judging whether or not a native language is used in the received message when the received message is judged to be the information message; a fourth step of translating the received message into a native language when it is judged that the native language is not used in the received message.

Abstract: The present invention is a device and method for obtaining retail price information from different stores using a touch-tone telephone, whereby the information is stored in a computer and is available to the user in different languages.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting a language to communicate with a user of a voice mail or computer system. A decoder decodes an automatic number identification (ANI) Caller_ID code or a user ID code to determine the telephone number or identity of the user. A language database stores a hierarchy of languages to be presented to the user based on the location or identity of the user. The user is prompted to confirm the language selection made. If the language is not appropriate, then the next language in the hierarchy is selected.

Abstract: In a messaging system of the type that receives a voice and/or fax message intended for a subscriber, an electronic mail message notifying the subscriber of the received message is composed in a language selected by the subscriber and then sent to one or more subscriber supplied electronic mail addresses. The subscriber can select to receive such notification messages in any one of a plurality of different languages that are available on the system. Different subscribers can select different ones of the available languages.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for speech-text-transmit communication over data networks includes speech recognition devices and text to speech conversion devices that translate speech signals input to the terminal into text and text data received from a data network into speech output signals. The speech input signals are translated into text based on phonemes obtained from a spectral analysis of the speech input signals. The text data is transmitted to a receiving party over the data network as a plurality of text data packets such that a continuous stream of text data is obtained. The receiving party's terminal receives the text data and may immediately display the text data and/or translate it into speech output signals using the text to speech conversion device. The text to speech conversion device uses speech pattern data stored in a speech pattern database for synthesizing a human voice for playing of the speech output signals using a speech output device.