Computer, internet and telecommunications based network

• US 10,038,663 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2014
• Issued: 07/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Parus Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Parus Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Kurganov, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehra, Inder
• Application Number:
  US14/486,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20150072656A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,415 Days
• Field of Search: 370352, 370260, 370259, 370389, 370390, 370392, 370493, 37922001, 379230, 709203, 709219, 709220, 455466, 4554121, 455413, 455517, 455415, 455461, 455 6711, 4554141, 455 411, 455 412, 4554321, 4554561, 455460, 455 677, 455445, 455 79
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/20 of structured data, e.g. relational data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/30 of unstructured textual data document management systems G06F16/93
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/00 Speech recognition G10L17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/22 Interactive procedures; Man-machine interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/00 Speech or voice signal processing techniques to produce another audible or non-audible signal, e.g. visual or tactile, in order to modify its quality or its intelligibility G10L19/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/48 specially adapted for particular use
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4555 Directories for electronic mail or instant messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 : Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 : Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/515 : Night service systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53 : Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages , i.e. mailbox systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 : Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0003 : Interconnection between telephone networks and data networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0033 : Notification or handling of incoming calls by a computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 : for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a computer and telecommunication network which can receive, send and manage information from or to a subscriber of the network, based on the subscriber'"'"'s configuration. The network is made up of at least one cluster containing voice servers which allow for telephony, speech recognition, text-to-speech and conferencing functions, and is accessible by the subscriber through standard telephone connections or through internet connections. The network also utilizes a database and file server allowing the subscriber to maintain and manage certain contact lists and administrative information. A web server is also connected to the cluster thereby allowing access to all functions through internet connections.

Claims

1. A user-configured unified network system architecture for receipt, management and transmission of communications, over a network, comprising:

a plurality of servers coupled together by a single point of access, the plurality of servers adapted to receive and transmit communications, over the network, according to communication options designated for each user device, the plurality of servers configured to be accessible by at least two different connection types, including a telephone connection for voice and touchtone input and a web or internet connection, the communications received from a plurality of electronic communication capabilities and at least by different network connection types for coupling to the network, the plurality of server clusters further comprising;

a first set of servers including a file server and a database coupled to the file server and adapted to store data relating to a user;

a web server connected to the first server and adapted to provide access to the user by the web connection including access by an internet connection to a secure website that serves as said single point of access, by application program interface (API) messages, to enable the user to manage the communications; and

a second server cluster of voice servers coupled by a bus, further comprising;

an enhanced voice server comprising;

telephony hardware coupling said telephone connection to at least one application with a first capability to identify one or more user events based on user input from an electronic device of the first user passed through said telephone connection, said at least one application having a second capability to create and to transmit a plurality of telephony-related network messages to at least one of said first set of servers;

an internet-connection interface for establishing an internet connection and including a third capability to create and to transmit a plurality of internet-related network messages to at least one other server of said first set of servers;

a cluster-switching and resource-allocation device coupled to said telephony hardware and said internet-connection interface, said cluster-switching and resource-allocation device including a first computing capability to process said telephony-related network messages and said internet-related network messages, said telephony-related network messages and said internet-related network messages created to enable the managing, sending and receiving of said user-level messages; and

speaker-independent phoneme-based speech recognition capability adapted to receive a natural speech input delivered by telephone connection and processing the natural speech input received and executing a transaction on at least some of the stored data for the user, based at least in part on alternative descriptions expressed by the natural speech input, the transaction generating an electronic message transmitted over an internet connection to an electronic communication device designated by the user, the electronic communication device any one of a telephone, a computer, and a mobile device, the electronic message first transmitted to the mobile device in a text format and the same electronic message transmitted to the computer and the mobile device in an email format.

2. The user-configured unified network system architecture according to claim 1, wherein the secure web site provides a user access and capability 1) to play a voicemail, 2) review a fax and email, 3) respond to or reroute a fax and email, 4) manage a contact list, 5) schedule a conference, 6) initiate a communication with an audio attachment, 7) deliver voicemail via streaming over the internet.

3. The user-configured unified network system architecture according to claim 1, wherein the transaction relates to at least a portion of the data stored for the user.

4. The user-configured unified network system architecture according to claim 3, wherein the first server cluster is adapted to receive an input provided by the user by a DTMF signal, from at least one of the plurality of electronic communication devices associated with the user and wherein the transaction is executed based at least in part on the DTMF signal in addition to the natural speech input.

5. The user-configured unified network system architecture according to claim 4, wherein the transaction facilitates management by the user of, at least one of a contact, a user profile, an email, a voicemail, a video, a telephone call, a facsimile, and a text message.

6. The user-configured unified network system architecture according to claim 4, wherein the transaction uses stored data for the user to perform for the user, at least one action from a group of actions including:

1) a telephone call,

     2) an email,

     3) a voicemail,

     4) a fax,

     5) a text message,

     6) a conference call, and

     7) a video conference.

7. The user-configured unified network system architecture according to claim 4, wherein the natural speech input is received from one of the plurality of electronic communication devices used by the user.

8. The user-configured unified network system architecture according to claim 4, wherein the network facilitates sending the electronic message to the user, via both IP and non-IP transmission protocols over the network.

9. The user-configured unified network system architecture of claim 4, wherein the user accesses, by at least the natural speech input, features including at least one of:

1) playing voicemail,

     2) reading an email or using text-to-speech to convert and listen to the email over the telephone,

     3) reading a fax,

     4) managing a contact,

     5) managing a schedule, and

     6) setting options for a plurality of features that execute particular functions including sending and receiving messages, faxes, and email, managing stored data, setting the parameters for outgoing calls, and setting up conferences.