Voice integration platform

• US 20060287854A1
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Ben Franklin Patent Holding LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Layton, Jon Thomas, Achenbach, Michael W., Haleftiras, Pericles, Markman, Steven, Kluthe, Gregory S., Kaiser, Lizanne, Smolenski, Andrew G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,036,897 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/231
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/30 Distributed recognition, e.g. in client-server systems, for mobile phones or network applications

Abstract

A voice integration platform and method provide for integration of a voice interface with a data system that includes stored data. The voice integration platform comprises one or more generic software components, the generic software components being configured to enable development of a specific voice user interface that is designed to interact with the data system in order to present the stored data to a user.

Claims

1. A voice integration platform for developing a voice user interface to a data system, the voice integration platform comprising:

a voice gateway adapted to permit voice interaction with a user;

a first set of service layers that interact with the voice gateway; and

a second set of service layers that facilitate interaction between the first set of service layers and the data system;

wherein the first and second set of service layers are operable to be used together to develop a specific voice user interface that permits the user to interact via voice with the data system.

2. The voice integration platform of claim 1, further comprising a tools service layer that works in conjunction with the voice gateway, the first set of service layers and the second set of service layers to monitor performance of the specific voice user interface

3. The voice integration platform of claim 1, wherein the second set of service layers includes a content management service layer having a software module that enables the specific voice user interface to (i) parse a stream of audio content to define constituent portions, (ii) convert the parsed audio content to text files, and (iii) associate the text files with metadata via interaction with the data system, thereby facilitating interaction of the specific voice user interface with audio content in the data system.

4. The voice integration platform of claim 3, wherein the content management service layer provides a template for creation of dialogs in the specific voice user interface, thereby facilitating voice interaction with the data system.

5. The voice integration platform of claim 1, wherein the second set of service layers includes a personalization service layer having a software module that facilitates interaction of the specific voice user interface with personalization content in the data system.

6. The voice integration platform of claim 1, wherein the second set of service layers includes an integration service layer having an input/output layer that enables the specific voice user interface and the data system to exchange data.

7. The voice integration platform of claim 1, wherein the first set of service layers includes an infrastructure service layer that includes a domain controller software component that manages and controls the organization and storage of information into logically distinct storage categories.

8. The voice integration platform of claim 1, wherein the first set of service layers includes a personalized dialogs layer that incorporates naturalized language concepts to present a realistic specific voice user interface.

9. The voice integration platform of claim 1, wherein the first set of service layers includes an applications service layer that includes an email component that enables the user to receive and send email messages in voice format using the specific voice user interface.

10. The voice integration platform of claim 1, wherein the first set of service layers includes an applications service layer that includes a notification component that enables the handing off information from the specific voice user interface to a local device.

11. The voice integration platform of claim 1, wherein the voice gateway is a distributed voice user interface system wherein the specific voice user interface may control the functioning of a respective local device through services and capabilities of a remote system.

12. A method of generating a voice user interface to a data system, comprising:

implementing a voice gateway in the voice user interface to receive a voice input;

using a first set of service layers to develop functional capabilities for the voice user interface that facilitate interaction with the voice gateway;

using a second set of service layers to develop integration capabilities for the voice user interface that facilitate interaction between the functional capabilities and the data system;

wherein the functional capabilities and the integration capabilities cooperatively form a specific voice user interface that permits a user to interact via voice with the data system.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising monitoring a performance of the specific voice user interface using a tools service layer that works in conjunction with the voice gateway and the first and second sets of service layers.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the second set of service layers includes a content management service layer and further comprising using the content management service layer to provide a template for creation of dialogs in the specific voice user interface, thereby facilitating voice interaction with the data system.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising facilitating interaction of the specific voice user interface with personalization content in the data system via a personalization service layer that is included in the second set of service layers.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising allowing the specific voice user interface and the data system to exchange data via an integration service layer having an input/output layer, the integration service layer being part of the second set of service layers.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising enabling an infrastructure service layer that includes a domain controller software component to manage and control organization and storage of information into logically distinct storage categories, the infrastructure service layer being part of the first set of service layers.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising incorporating naturalized language concepts to present a realistic specific voice user interface via a personalized dialogs layer, the personalized dialogs layer being part of the first set of service layers.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising enabling an applications service layer that includes an email component that receives and sends email messages in voice format, the applications service layer being part of the first set of service layers.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising enabling an applications service layer that includes a notification component for handing off information from the voice user interface to a local device, the applications service layer being part of the first set of service layers.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising implementing a distributed voice gateway wherein the specific voice user interface may control the functioning of a respective local device through services and capabilities of a remote system.

22. One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions thereon that, when executed by a computer, perform a method comprising the acts of:

implementing a voice gateway in the voice user interface to receive a voice input;

using a first set of service layers to develop functional capabilities for the voice user interface that facilitate interaction with the voice gateway;

using a second set of service layers to develop integration capabilities for the voice user interface that facilitate interaction between the functional capabilities and the data system;

wherein the functional capabilities and the integration capabilities cooperatively generate a specific voice user interface that permits a user to interact via voice with the data system.