Abstract

A distributed voice applications system includes a voice application rendering agent and at least one voice applications agent that is configured to provide voice applications to an individual user. A management system may control and direct the voice applications rendering agent to create voice applications that are personalized for individual users based on user characteristics, information about the environment in which the voice applications will be performed, prior user interactions and other information. The voice applications agent and components of customized voice applications may be resident on a local user device which includes a voice browser and speech recognition capabilities. The local device, voice applications rendering agent and management system may be interconnected via a communications network.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04M 1/247 - Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use
• H04M 1/253 - Telephone sets using digital voice transmission
• H04M 1/72445 - User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality for supporting Internet browser applications
• H04M 3/42 - Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
• H04M 3/493 - Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries

Abstract

A distributed voice applications system includes a voice application rendering agent and at least one voice applications agent that is configured to provide voice applications to an individual user. A management system may control and direct the voice applications rendering agent to create voice applications that are personalized for individual users based on user characteristics, information about the environment in which the voice applications will be performed, prior user interactions and other information. The voice applications agent and components of customized voice applications may be resident on a local user device which includes a voice browser and speech recognition capabilities. The local device, voice applications rendering agent and management system may be interconnected via a communications network.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04M 1/247 - Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use
• H04M 1/253 - Telephone sets using digital voice transmission
• H04M 3/42 - Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
• H04M 3/493 - Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries
• H04M 1/72445 - User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality for supporting Internet browser applications

Abstract

A distributed voice applications system includes a voice services instruction rendering agent and at least one voice services software client that is configured to provide voice applications to an individual user. A management system may control and direct the voice services rendering agent to create voice applications that are personalized for individual users based on user characteristics, information about the environment in which the voice applications will be performed, prior user interactions and other information. The voice services software client may be resident on a local user device which includes a voice browser and speech recognition capabilities. The local device, voice services instruction rendering agent and the management system may be interconnected via a communications network.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04M 1/247 - Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use
• H04M 3/42 - Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
• H04M 1/253 - Telephone sets using digital voice transmission
• H04M 1/72445 - User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality for supporting Internet browser applications
• H04M 3/493 - Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries

Abstract

A distributed voice applications system includes a voice services instruction rendering agent and at least one voice services software client that is configured to provide voice applications to an individual user. A management system may control and direct the voice services rendering agent to create voice applications that are personalized for individual users based on user characteristics, information about the environment in which the voice applications will be performed, prior user interactions and other information. The voice services software client may be resident on a local user device which includes a voice browser and speech recognition capabilities. The local device, voice services instruction rendering agent and the management system may be interconnected via a communications network.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04M 1/247 - Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use
• H04M 3/42 - Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
• H04M 3/493 - Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries
• H04M 1/253 - Telephone sets using digital voice transmission
• H04M 1/72445 - User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality for supporting Internet browser applications

Abstract

A distributed voice applications system includes a voice applications rendering agent and at least one voice applications agent that is configured to provide voice applications to an individual user. A management system may control and direct the voice applications rendering agent to create voice applications that are personalized for individual users based on user characteristics, information about the environment in which the voice applications will be performed, prior user interactions and other information. The voice applications agent and components of customized voice applications may be resident on a local user device which includes a voice browser and speech recognition capabilities. The local device, voice applications rendering agent and management system may be interconnected via a communications network.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04M 1/247 - Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use
• H04M 3/42 - Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
• H04M 1/253 - Telephone sets using digital voice transmission
• H04M 3/493 - Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries
• H04M 1/72445 - User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality for supporting Internet browser applications

Abstract

A distributed voice applications system includes a voice applications rendering agent and at least one voice applications agent that is configured to provide voice applications to an individual user. A management system may control and direct the voice applications rendering agent to create voice applications that are personalized for individual users based on user characteristics, information about the environment in which the voice applications will be performed, prior user interactions and other information. The voice applications agent and components of customized voice applications may be resident on a local user device which includes a voice browser and speech recognition capabilities. The local device, voice applications rendering agent and management system may be interconnected via a communications network.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04M 1/247 - Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use
• H04M 3/42 - Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
• H04M 3/493 - Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries
• H04M 1/253 - Telephone sets using digital voice transmission
• H04M 1/72445 - User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality for supporting Internet browser applications

Abstract

A distributed voice applications system includes a voice application rendering agent and at least one voice applications agent that is configured to provide voice applications to an individual user. A management system may control and direct the voice applications rendering agent to create voice applications that are personalized for individual users based on user characteristics, information about the environment in which the voice applications will be performed, prior user interactions and other information. The voice applications agent and components of customized voice applications may be resident on a local user device which includes a voice browser and speech recognition capabilities. The local device, voice applications rendering agent and management system may be interconnected via a communications network.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04M 1/247 - Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use
• H04M 3/42 - Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
• H04M 3/493 - Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries
• H04M 1/253 - Telephone sets using digital voice transmission
• H04M 1/72445 - User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality for supporting Internet browser applications

Abstract

A distributed voice applications system includes a voice applications rendering agent and at least one voice applications agent that is configured to provide voice applications to an individual user. A management system may control and direct the voice applications rendering agent to create voice applications that are personalized for individual users based on user characteristics, information about the environment in which the voice applications will be performed, prior user interactions and other information. The voice applications agent and components of customized voice applications may be resident on a local user device which includes a voice browser and speech recognition capabilities. The local device, voice applications rendering agent and management system may be interconnected via a communications network.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04M 1/247 - Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use
• H04M 3/42 - Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
• H04M 3/493 - Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries
• H04M 1/253 - Telephone sets using digital voice transmission
• H04M 1/72445 - User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality for supporting Internet browser applications

Abstract

A system and method for causing a voice application to be performed on one or more user local devices utilizes a distributed voice application execution system architecture. The distributed voice application execution system architecture allows a voice applications agent on a user's local device to obtain a rendered voice application from a remote voice application rendering agent. The voice applications agent on the user's local device can then perform the voice application for the user.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04M 3/51 - Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention

Abstract

A system and method for delivering a message to a user makes use of a voice applications agent that is located, at least in part, on the user's local device, the voice applications agent being configured to perform a voice application in order to deliver the message to the user. The voice application comprises a set of instructions about how to interact with the user. Performing the voice application on the user's local device comprises the voice applications agent following the set of instructions that comprise the voice application in order to interact with the user.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04M 1/247 - Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use
• H04M 1/253 - Telephone sets using digital voice transmission
• H04M 1/72445 - User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality for supporting Internet browser applications
• G06Q 30/02 - MarketingPrice estimation or determinationFundraising
• G06Q 30/0251 - Targeted advertisements

Abstract

As a user interacts with a voice application, a history of the prompts played to the user and the users responses are displayed to the user. The displayed prompts and displayed responses could be summaries of the prompts and responses, or they could be full transcriptions of the prompts and responses. A user may be able to select a prompt or response in the history to return to a certain point in the voice application. It may be possible for a user to save a history of the interactions that occurred when a voice application was performed, and to recall the history to continue on from a selected location in the history.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04M 1/247 - Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use
• H04M 3/42 - Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
• H04M 3/493 - Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries
• H04M 1/253 - Telephone sets using digital voice transmission
• H04M 1/72445 - User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality for supporting Internet browser applications

Abstract

A system that is capable of receiving and interpreting a user's spoken commands is also coupled to a television interface device that controls video programming content displayed the user's television. The user can speak commands to cause certain programs to be played, and to control various functions of the television. The system can track and analyze a user's video viewing habits. In addition, the system is able to determine which of multiple users might be interested in a particular video program, and the system can play marketing messages regarding that video program to those users that might be interested in viewing the video program.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04M 1/247 - Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use
• H04M 1/253 - Telephone sets using digital voice transmission
• H04M 1/72445 - User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality for supporting Internet browser applications
• G06Q 30/02 - MarketingPrice estimation or determinationFundraising

Abstract

A system and method for allowing a telemarketer to place a series of telephone calls to called parties utilizes a distributed processing architecture. This allows the telemarketer to utilize data stored at remote locations to help interact with called parties. In addition, the telemarketer can utilize telephone assets to quickly and easily place multiple simultaneous calls to different called parties.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04M 3/51 - Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention

Abstract

A system and method for interacting with a user receives a request from the user to be connected to a business. The system then checks to determine if a voice application has been prepared for that business, or to determine if there are any voice applications that are relevant to the goods and/or services provided by the business. If so, the system performs the voice application for the user, instead of connecting the user to the business. If no such voice applications exist, then the system proceeds to connect the user to the business.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04M 1/27 - Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously
• H04M 1/247 - Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use
• H04M 3/493 - Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries
• H04M 15/08 - Metering calls to called party
• H04M 1/253 - Telephone sets using digital voice transmission

Abstract

A system and method for connecting a user to business services monitors all attempts by the user to place outgoing telephone calls. When a user is attempting to place a call to a business, the system checks to see if the business has created a voice application that could be performed for the user. If so, the business' voice application is performed for the user on the user's local device, instead of connecting the user to the business' customer service line. If no voice application is available for the user, then the system connects the user to the business' customer service line, either through a telephone network, or through a data network connection.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04M 1/247 - Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use
• H04M 1/27 - Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously
• H04M 3/493 - Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries
• H04M 15/08 - Metering calls to called party
• H04M 1/253 - Telephone sets using digital voice transmission

Abstract

Systems and methods of placing a telephone call for a user include monitoring the telephone number that the user has requested to reach. Depending upon the telephone number requested by the user, the system might take an alternate action, rather than simply placing a call to the requested telephone number. In some instances, the system might take an action in addition to placing a call to the requested telephone number.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04M 3/52 - Arrangements for routing dead number calls to operators
• H04M 3/527 - Centralised call answering arrangements not requiring operator intervention
• H04M 1/247 - Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use
• H04M 1/2745 - Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously with provision for storing more than one subscriber number at a time using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• H04M 3/493 - Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries
• H04M 1/27 - Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously
• H04M 3/42 - Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
• H04M 3/54 - Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber
• H04M 7/00 - Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
• H04M 15/08 - Metering calls to called party
• H04M 1/253 - Telephone sets using digital voice transmission

Abstract

A system and method for allowing a telemarketer to place a series of telephone calls to called parties utilizes a distributed processing architecture. This allows the telemarketer to utilize data stored at remote locations to help interact with called parties. In addition, the telemarketer can utilize telephone assets to quickly and easily place multiple simultaneous calls to different called parties.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04M 3/51 - Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention

Abstract

A distributed voice applications system includes a voice applications rendering agent and at least one voice applications agent that is configured to provide voice applications to an individual user. A management system may control and direct the voice applications rendering agent to create voice applications that are personalized for individual users based on user characteristics, information about the environment in which the voice applications will be performed, prior user interactions and other information. The voice applications agent and components of customized voice applications may be resident on a local user device which includes a voice browser and speech recognition capabilities. The local device, voice applications rendering agent and management system may be interconnected via a communications network.

IPC Classes  ?

• G10L 19/00 - Speech or audio signal analysis-synthesis techniques for redundancy reduction, e.g. in vocodersCoding or decoding of speech or audio signals, using source filter models or psychoacoustic analysis

Abstract

A distributed voice applications system includes a voice applications rendering agent and at least one voice applications agent that is configured to provide voice applications to an individual user. A management system may control and direct the voice applications rendering agent to create voice applications that are personalized for individual users based on user characteristics, information about the environment in which the voice applications will be performed, prior user interactions and other information. The voice applications agent and components of customized voice applications may be resident on a local user device which includes a voice browser and speech recognition capabilities. The local device, voice applications rendering agent and management system may be interconnected via a communications network.

IPC Classes  ?

• G10L 23/00 - Speech analysis not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A distributed voice application execution environment system conducts a voiceprint analysis when a user initially begins to interact with the system. If the system is able to identify the user through a voiceprint analysis, the system immediately begins to interact with the user utilizing voice applications which have been customized for that user.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04M 1/253 - Telephone sets using digital voice transmission
• H04M 1/247 - Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use
• G10L 17/22 - Interactive proceduresMan-machine interfaces
• H04M 3/493 - Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries

Abstract

A system plays audio prompts to a user as part of a voice application. If the user begins to provide input in response to the audio prompt before the audio prompt is finished playing, the volume of the audio prompt is reduced, but the audio prompt continues to play. If the user finishes providing his input and the system is able to interpret the input before the audio prompt finishes, the audio prompt will halt and the system will take further action in accordance with the user's input. If the user finishes providing his input while the audio prompt is still playing, and the system is unable to interpret the input, the volume of the audio prompt will increase back to the original volume level until either the audio prompt finishes playing, or the user again begins to provide input.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04M 3/00 - Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
• H04M 1/247 - Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use
• H04M 3/493 - Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries
• H04M 1/253 - Telephone sets using digital voice transmission
• H04M 1/725 - Cordless telephones

Abstract

A system and method for announcing and handling incoming telephone calls utilizes a distributed processing architecture. The distributed processing architecture makes use of local devices that can be located at various different locations where the user is often located. For instance, local devices could be at a user's home, a user's office and/or on a user's mobile device. The local devices are linked such than when there is an incoming telephone call directed to any one of multiple telephone numbers associated with the user, an announcement of the incoming call is provided at all of the user's locations. The user is also able to specify how the incoming call is to be handled on a call-by-call basis. The user may also be able to specify default call handling instructions so that an incoming telephone call directed to one of the user's telephone numbers is received by a device normally associated with a different one of the user's telephone numbers. The system allows the user to selectively forward incoming telephone calls to another specified number on a call-by-call basis.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04M 1/253 - Telephone sets using digital voice transmission
• H04M 1/247 - Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use
• H04M 1/57 - Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set
• H04M 3/436 - Arrangements for screening incoming calls
• H04M 1/00 - Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers

Abstract

Systems and methods of placing a telephone call for a user include monitoring the telephone number that the user has requested to reach. Depending upon the telephone number requested by the user, the system might take an alternate action, rather than simply placing a call to the requested telephone number. In some instances, the system might take an action in addition to placing a call to the requested telephone number.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04M 1/253 - Telephone sets using digital voice transmission
• H04M 1/247 - Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use
• H04M 1/2745 - Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously with provision for storing more than one subscriber number at a time using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• H04M 3/493 - Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries

Abstract

A system and method embodying the invention utilizes voice applications that are performed by voice applications agents resident on user local devices to deliver messages to the users. The voice applications can also be used to collect information from the users. Also, voice applications can be used to allow users to purchase goods and services. Voice applications for these purposes could be customized to take into account the individual characteristics of the users.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04M 1/247 - Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use
• H04M 3/493 - Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries
• H04M 1/253 - Telephone sets using digital voice transmission

Abstract

A system that is capable of receiving and interpreting a user's spoken commands is also coupled to a television interface device that controls video programming content displayed the user's television. The user can speak commands to cause certain programs to be played, and to control various functions of the television. The system can track and analyze a user's video viewing habits. In addition, the system is able to determine which of multiple users might be interested in a particular video program, and the system can play marketing messages regarding that video program to those users that might be interested in viewing the video program.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06Q 30/02 - MarketingPrice estimation or determinationFundraising
• H04M 1/247 - Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use
• H04M 1/253 - Telephone sets using digital voice transmission
• H04M 1/725 - Cordless telephones

Abstract

A system and method for connecting a user to business services monitors all attempts by the user to place outgoing telephone calls. When a user is attempting to place a call to a business, the system checks to see if the business has created a voice application that could be performed for the user. If so, the business' voice application is performed for the user on the user's local device, instead of connecting the user to the business' customer service line. If no voice application is available for the user, then the system connects the user to the business' customer service line, either through a telephone network, or through a data network connection.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04M 1/247 - Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use
• H04M 3/493 - Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries
• H04M 1/253 - Telephone sets using digital voice transmission

Abstract

As a user interacts with a voice application, a history of the prompts played to the user and the users responses are displayed to the user. The displayed prompts and displayed responses could be summaries of the prompts and responses, or they could be full transcriptions of the prompts and responses. A user may be able to select a prompt or response in the history to return to a certain point in the voice application. It may be possible for a user to save a history of the interactions that occurred when a voice application was performed, and to recall the history to continue on from a selected location in the history.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04M 1/247 - Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use
• H04M 3/42 - Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
• H04M 3/493 - Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries
• H04M 1/253 - Telephone sets using digital voice transmission
• H04M 1/72445 - User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality for supporting Internet browser applications