Saving information from information retrieval systems

• US 20060171511A1
• Filed: 12/23/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Liu, Jerry, Hartselle, William A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,359,491 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/67.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
• 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 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

A method and system for allowing a calling party to save information obtained from an information retrieval system. The caller may select options to save the information to a memory location, e.g., the caller'"'"'s own network-based voice mail system or a temporary voice mailbox provided for the caller by the information provider, from which the caller can subsequently retrieve and review the information. The information may be saved to an Internet-based website from which the caller may subsequently retrieve the information. The information may be forwarded to a separate telephone directory number for receipt by a third person or for storing on a remote voice mail system. Additionally, the information may be electronically mailed to the caller'"'"'s electronic mail address for subsequent retrieval. Discussions with a live attendant may be recorded and stored, as audio files or as converted to text, for access by or delivery to the caller.

Claims

1. A method of saving information obtained from a telephony-based information retrieval system, the method comprising:

receiving a call from a calling party to a called party for voice communication with a live attendant to obtain information;

initiating voice recording of the communication with the live attendant through an information retrieval system associated with the called party;

saving the voice recording to a memory location for subsequent access by the calling party;

providing at least one information delivery option to the calling party for accessing the voice recording; and

making the memory location available for subsequent accessing of the saved voice recording by the calling party.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein saving the voice recording comprises saving an audio file of the voice recording to a designated memory location, for subsequent access by the calling party.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising delivering the audio file to a designated electronic mail address for subsequent access and playback of the audio file by the calling party.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising delivering the audio file to a designated Internet-based web site for subsequent access and playback of the audio file by the calling party.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the web site is a default site previously designated for delivery of the audio file.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising giving the calling party an option to designate a different web site, instead of the default site, for delivery of the audio file.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising preparing a machine translation of the recorded voice communication to produce a text file;

and

making the text file available for subsequent retrieval by the calling party.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising delivering the text file of the machine translation to a designated electronic mail address for subsequent access by the calling party.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising delivering the text file of the machine translation to a designated Internet-based web site for subsequent access by the calling party.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the called party has the option of initiating the voice recording of the communication with the live attendant.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the calling party has the option of initiating the voice recording of the communication with the attendant

12. A system for saving information obtained from a telephony-based information retrieval system, comprising:

an information retrieval system associated with a called party and operative;

to receive a call from a calling party to a called party for voice communication with a live attendant to obtain information;

to initiate voice recording of the communication with the live attendant through an information retrieval system associated with the called party;

to save the voice recording to a memory location for subsequent access by the calling party;

to provide at least one information delivery option to the calling party for accessing the voice recording; and

to make the memory location available for subsequent accessing of the saved voice recording by the calling party.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the information retrieval system saves an audio file of the voice recording to a designated memory location, for subsequent access by the calling party.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the information retrieval system delivers the audio file to a designated electronic mail address for subsequent access and playback of the audio file by the calling party.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the information retrieval system delivers the audio file to a designated Internet-based web site for subsequent access and playback of the audio file by the calling party.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the information retrieval system delivers the audio file to a default web site in response to a previous designation of the default web site for delivery of the audio file.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the information retrieval system gives the calling party an option to designate a different web site, instead of the default site, for delivery of the audio file.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the information retrieval system prepares a machine conversion of the recorded voice communication to produce a text file; and

makes the text file available for subsequent retrieval by the calling party.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the information retrieval system delivers the text file of the machine conversion to a designated electronic mail address for subsequent access by the calling party.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the information retrieval system delivers the text file of the machine conversion to a designated Internet-based web site for subsequent access by the calling party.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the information retrieval system gives the calling party the option of initiating the voice recording of the communication with the live attendant.