Technique for effectively communicating travel directions

• US 20010041562A1
• Filed: 04/04/2001
• Published: 11/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grape Technology Group Incorporated (KGB)
• Original Assignee: Metro One Telecommunications, Inc.
• Inventors: Huey, Christopher A., Elsey, Nicholas J., Reyes, Jonas S., Swick, Corvin F.
• Granted Patent: US 6,801,763 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/08 specially adapted for optional reception of entertainment or informative matter
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4933 with operator assistance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing

Abstract

A user while traveling may call an operator in an information/call center to request directions to a desired destination. In response, the operator obtains a directions file containing the requested directions. To facilitate the user receiving directions in installments in accordance with the invention, the directions file has an indicator associated therewith. The requested directions are read from the directions file to the user by an interactive voice response (IVR) unit via synthesized voice. The indicator is used to indicate in the file which direction is to be read to the user. The user may terminate the call after hearing a desired quantity of directions. When the user subsequently needs another installment of directions, the user may call back the IVR unit which then continues to read directions in the directions file from where the associated indicator indicates. The above process can be repeated, thereby enabling the user to controllably receive the directions in installments.

Claims

1. A system for delivering a plurality of instructions comprising:

a memory for storing an indicator, and the instructions in a selected order;

an output device for delivering the instructions in the selected order;

an interface for receiving a request for ending a delivery of the instructions; and

a processor responsive to the request for adjusting the indicator to indicate the direction last delivered.

2. The system of

claim 1

wherein the indicator includes a pointer for pointing at the direction to be delivered.

3. The system of

claim 2

wherein the pointer includes a memory address at which the direction to be delivered is stored.

4. The system of

claim 1

wherein the instructions are delivered through a communication device.

5. The system of

claim 4

wherein the communication device includes a mobile phone.

6. The system of

claim 5

wherein the instructions are stored in a file, the file being identified by at least part of a number assigned to the mobile phone.

7. The system of

claim 1

wherein the instructions include driving directions.

8. The system of

claim 1

wherein the output device delivers the instructions in a synthesized voice.

9. The system of

claim 1

wherein the instructions are delivered through a communication connection, the request including at least one signal indicating a termination of the communication connection.

10. A system for providing a plurality of instructions comprising:

a memory for storing the instructions and an indicator;

an output device for providing the instructions in a plurality of installments, the indicator varying as one or more instructions in a first installment are being provided; and

an interface for receiving a request for providing a second installment of instructions, the output device in response to the request providing the second installment of instructions based on the indicator.

11. The system of

claim 10

wherein the indicator includes a pointer for pointing at the last direction in the first installment.

12. The system of

claim 10

wherein the indicator includes a pointer for pointing at the first direction in the second installment.

13. The system of

claim 10

wherein the instructions are provided through a telephonic device, the request including a selected signal generated by the telephonic device.

14. The system of

claim 10

wherein the output device provides the instructions in a synthesized voice.

15. A system for providing a plurality of instructions comprising:

a memory for storing an indicator, and the instructions in a file;

an output element for delivering the instructions in installments, the indicator indicating in the file a position of an instruction to be read;

an input element for receiving a first request for ending a delivery of a first installment of instructions, the output element terminating the delivery of the first installment in response to the first request;

an interface for receiving a second request for a second installment of instructions, the output element in response to the second request delivering the second installment of instructions based on the indicator.

16. The system of

claim 15

wherein the position is identified by a memory address.

17. The system of

claim 15

wherein the instructions are delivered through a communication device.

18. The system of

claim 17

wherein the communication device includes a mobile phone.

19. The system of

claim 18

wherein the file is identified by at least part of a number assigned to the mobile phone.

20. The system of

claim 15

wherein the instructions include driving directions.

21. The system of

claim 15

wherein the output element delivers the instructions in a synthesized voice.

22. The system of

claim 15

wherein the instructions are delivered through a communication connection, the first request including a signal indicating a termination of the communication connection.

23. The system of

claim 15

wherein the instructions are provided through a telephonic device, the second request including a selected signal generated by the telephonic device.

24. A system for assisting a user to reach a destination comprising:

an output device for providing a plurality of directions to the destination in a plurality of sessions, the plurality of directions being included in a file;

an interface for receiving a first request for ending a first session;

a processor responsive to the first request for ending the first session;

the interface receiving a second request for starting a second session, data concerning the file, and information concerning a location of the user; and

the processor in response to the second request obtaining the file based on the data, and selecting at least one direction in the file to be provided in the second session, the at least one direction being selected based on the information.

25. The system of

claim 24

wherein the second request is received via wireless communications, the information being provided using a wireless network based technique.

26. The system of

claim 24

wherein the information includes global positioning system (GPS) information.

27. The system of

claim 24

further comprising an indicator for indicating in the file a direction to be provided.

28. The system of

claim 24

wherein the data includes at least part of an identifier for identifying the file.

29. The system of

claim 24

further comprising a communication device, wherein the directions are provided to the communication device.

30. The system of

claim 29

wherein the communication device includes a location sensor for providing the information.

31. The system of

claim 24

wherein the directions include driving directions.

32. The system of

claim 24

wherein the output device provides the directions in a synthesized voice.

33. The system of

claim 24

wherein the directions are provided through a communication connection, the first request including a signal indicating a termination of the communication connection.

34. The system of

claim 24

wherein the directions are provided through a telephonic device, the second request including a selected signal generated by the telephonic device.

35. A method for delivering a plurality of instructions comprising:

storing an indicator, and the instructions in a selected order;

delivering the instructions in the selected order;

receiving a request for ending a delivery of the instructions; and

in response to the request, adjusting the indicator to indicate the direction last delivered.

36. The method of

claim 35

wherein the indicator includes a pointer for pointing at the direction to be delivered.

37. The method of

claim 36

wherein the pointer includes a memory address at which the direction to be delivered is stored.

38. The method of

claim 35

wherein the instructions are stored in a file, the file being determined by at least part of an identifier identifying a device to which the instructions are delivered.

39. The method of

claim 35

wherein the instructions include driving directions.

40. The method of

claim 35

wherein the output device delivers the instructions in a synthesized voice.

41. The method of

claim 35

wherein the instructions are delivered through a communication connection, the request including at least one signal indicating a termination of the communication connection.

42. A method for providing a plurality of instructions comprising:

storing the instructions and an indicator;

providing the instructions in a plurality of installments;

varying the indicator as one or more instructions in a first installment are being provided; and

receiving a request for providing a second installment of instructions, the output device in response to the request providing the second installment of instructions based on the indicator.

43. The method of

claim 42

wherein the indicator includes a pointer for pointing at the last direction in the first installment.

44. The method of

claim 42

wherein the indicator includes a pointer for pointing at the first direction in the second installment.

45. The method of

claim 42

wherein the instructions are provided through a telephonic device, the request including a selected signal generated by the telephonic device.

46. The method of

claim 42

wherein the instructions are provided in a synthesized voice.

47. A method for providing a plurality of instructions comprising:

storing an indicator, and the instructions in a file;

delivering the instructions in installments, the indicator indicating in the file a position of an instruction to be read;

receiving a first request for ending a delivery of a first installment of instructions;

in response to the first request, terminating the delivery of the first installment;

receiving a second request for a second installment of instructions; and

in response to the second request, delivering the second installment of instructions based on the indicator.

48. The method of

claim 47

wherein the position is identified by a memory address.

49. The method of

claim 47

wherein the instructions are delivered through a communication device.

50. The method of

claim 49

wherein the file is determined based on at least part of an identifier identifying the communication device.

51. The method of

claim 47

wherein the instructions include driving directions.

52. The method of

claim 47

wherein the instructions are delivered in a synthesized voice.

53. The method of

claim 47

wherein the instructions are delivered through a communication connection, the first request including a signal indicating a termination of the communication connection.

54. The method of

claim 47

wherein the instructions are provided through a telephonic device, the second request including a selected signal generated by the telephonic device.

55. A method for use in a system for assisting a user to reach a destination comprising:

providing a plurality of directions to the destination in a plurality of sessions, the plurality of directions being included in a file;

receiving a first request for ending a first session;

in response to the first request, terminating the first session;

receiving a second request for starting a second session, data concerning the file, and information concerning a location of the user; and

in response to the second request, obtaining the file based on the data, and selecting at least one direction in the file to be provided in the second session, the at least one direction being selected based on the information.

56. The method of

claim 55

wherein the second request is received via wireless communications, the information being provided using a wireless network based technique.

57. The method of

claim 55

wherein the information includes GPS information.

58. The method of

claim 55

further comprising indicating in the file a direction to be provided.

59. The method of

claim 55

wherein the data includes at least part of an identifier for identifying the file.

60. The method of

claim 55

wherein the directions include driving directions.

61. The method of

claim 55

wherein the directions are provided in a synthesized voice.

62. The method of

claim 55

wherein the directions are provided through a communication connection, the first request including a signal indicating a termination of the communication connection.

63. The method of

claim 55

wherein the directions are provided through a telephonic device, the second request including a selected signal generated by the telephonic device.

64. A text-to-speech conversion method comprising:

identifying a first phrase in a text concerning directions;

modifying the first phrase textually to become a second phrase; and

converting the second phrase to a speech corresponding thereto to verbally convey the first phrase.

65. The method of

claim 64

further comprising removing, from the text, selected elements making no phonetic contribution to the speech.

66. The method of

claim 64

wherein the first phrase includes at least a number.

67. The method of

claim 66

wherein the number has three digits, and the first phrase also includes a word indicating a road.

68. The method of

claim 67

wherein a middle digit of the number is a zero, the middle digit being replaced by a second word in modifying the first phrase textually.

69. The method of

claim 67

wherein a middle digit of the number is not a zero, at least one space being inserted before the middle digit in modifying the first phrase textually.