System for managing voice files of a voice prompt server

• US 20050152516A1
• Filed: 04/28/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: Apptera Incorporated
• Inventors: Chiu, Leo K., Yong, Mang Kang, Luellen, Cory Andrew, Boothroyd, Margaret Ann, Appadurai, Arumugam, Wang, Sandy Chai-Jen, LaBarge, John Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,817,784 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.220
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/301 Management of recordings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/355 Interactive dialogue design tools, features or methods
• 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

Abstract

A software interface is provided for managing audio resources used in one or more voice applications. The software interface includes a first portion thereof for mapping the audio resources from storage to use-case positions in the one or more voice applications, a portion thereof for accessing the audio resources according to the mapping information and for performing modifications there of, a portion thereof for creating new audio resources; and a portion thereof for replication of modifications across distributed facilities. I a preferred application a developer can modify or replace existing audio resources and replicate links to the application code of the applications that use them.

Claims

1. A software interface for managing audio resources used in one or more voice applications including:

a portion for mapping the audio resources from storage to use-case positions in the one or more voice applications;

a portion for accessing the audio resources according to the mapping information and for performing modifications there of;

a portion for creating new audio resources; and

a portion for replication of modifications across distributed facilities.

2. The software interface of claim 1 executable from a PC connected to a network local to the stored resources.

3. The software interface of claim 1 executable from a PC connected to a network remote from the stored resources.

4. The software interface of claim 1 wherein modification of one or more audio resources is followed by automatic re-linking of the modified source files to the appropriate prompts existing in executable dialogs of the one or more voice applications.

5. The software interface of claim 1 wherein introduction of a replacement of one or more audio resources is followed by automated linking of the replacement resource or resources to the appropriate prompts existing in executable dialogs of the one or more voice applications using the old resource or resources replaced.

6. The software interface of claim 1 wherein the replication portion causes modified audio resources to be replicated across distributed storage facilities for local client access from multiple client access points in a network.

7. The software interface of claim 1 shared by a voice application developer and a voice file author.

8. The software interface of claim 7 wherein the access point for the developer and the author is a Web server.

9. The software interface of claim 1 wherein files associated with a modified audio resource include a text transcript, coaching notes, and URL or URI location information.

10. A method for replicating a modified or replacement instance of an audio resource used in one or more voice applications to multiple storage sites for access in a distributed voice interaction network comprising steps of:

(a) selecting the old audio resource for modification or replacement from a list of audio resources;

(b) selecting from a mapping utility displayed as a result of resource selection, the voice application dialogs listed that will use the file; and

(c) saving the work associated with the final version of the edited resource.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the network connecting the storage sites is a WAN.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the network connecting the storage sites is a telephony network wherein the storage sites are local to voice interaction systems.

13. A method for linking a modified or replacement instance of an audio resource used in one or more voice applications to multiple dialogs for use in a voice interaction network comprising steps of:

(a) selecting the old audio resource for modification or replacement from a list of audio resources;

(b) selecting from a mapping utility displayed as a result of resource selection, the voice application dialogs listed that will use the file; and

(b) saving the work associated with the final version of the edited resource.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein in step (a) the list is a view of a directory and file system tree.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein in step (b) the mapping utility contains location information including URLs of applications, and URIs of dialogs, prompts, and audio resources.