Technique for effectively communicating travel directions

• US 20050054322A1
• Filed: 09/22/2004
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grape Technology Group Incorporated (KGB)
• Original Assignee: Grape Technology Group Incorporated (KGB)
• Inventors: Huey, Christopher A., Elsey, Nicholas J., Reyes, Jonas S., Swick, Corvin F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,493,101 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/403
• 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

1-63. -63. (cancelled).

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.