Messaging system with content-based dynamic menu generation

• US 20070180060A1
• Filed: 02/02/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jain, Mukul, Kumar, Sanjeev, Patel, Labhesh, Khouri, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 9,292,834 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/355 Interactive dialogue design tools, features or methods
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects

Abstract

A unified messaging system for an enterprise includes a messaging module operable to store a message sent by a first user to a second user in a first media type, and to deliver the message to the second user in either the first type or a second media type. A natural language speech parsing (NLSP) module coupled with the messaging module is operable to detect an actionable item contained within the message, the messaging module dynamically modifying a response menu to include an option corresponding to the actionable item, and then presenting the modified response menu to the second user concurrent with or following delivery of the message. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. A unified messaging system for an enterprise, comprising:

a messaging module operable to store a voicemail or email message sent by a first user to a second user, and to deliver the voicemail or email message to the second user;

a unit coupled with the messaging module to detect an actionable item contained within the voicemail or email message, the messaging module dynamically modifying a response menu to include an option corresponding to the actionable item, the messaging module presenting the modified response menu to the second user concurrent with or following delivery of the voicemail or email message; and

a server coupled with the messaging module and with resources of the enterprise, the server being operable to automatically execute a specific action following selection of the option by the second user.

2. The unified messaging system of claim 1 wherein the unit comprises a natural language semantic parsing (NLSP) module.

3. The unified messaging system of claim 1 wherein the resources of the enterprise comprise a private branch exchange (PBX).

4. The unified messaging system of claim 3 wherein the resources of the enterprise further comprise a scheduling server.

5. The unified messaging system of claim 1 wherein the messaging module includes an interactive voice response (IVR) unit for presenting the response menu to the second user as audible speech.

6. The unified messaging system of claim 1 wherein the actionable item is one or more a telephone number, an email address, a uniform resource locator (URL), or a verb.

7. The unified messaging system of claim 1 wherein the unit is further operable to determine a context of the actionable item from the voicemail or email message, and to parse one or more action parameters from the context.

8. The unified messaging system of claim 1 wherein the messaging module includes a first converter to convert the voicemail message to text when the second user connects with the messaging module via a display-only device, and a second converter to convert the email message to speech when the second user connects with the messaging module via a voice-only device.

9. A unified messaging system for an enterprise comprising:

means for storing a message sent by a first user to a second user in a first media type, and for delivering the message to the second user in either the first type or a second media type;

means for detecting an actionable item contained within the message, and for parsing one or more action parameters from a context of the actionable item from the message; and

means for dynamically modifying a response menu to include an option corresponding to the actionable item, the means for storing and delivering the message also for presenting the modified response menu to the second user concurrent with or following delivery of the message.

10. The unified messaging system of claim 9 further comprising:

a server that automatically executes a specific action responsive to selection of the option by the second user from the response menu.

11. A processor-implemented method for messaging in an enterprise, comprising:

storing a message sent by a first user addressed to a second user;

detecting an actionable item contained within the message;

dynamically modifying a response menu to include an option corresponding to the actionable item; and

presenting the modified response menu to the second user concurrent with or following delivery of the message.

12. The processor-implemented method of claim 11 further comprising:

automatically executing, by a server coupled with resources of the enterprise, a specific action responsive to selection of the option by the second user from the response menu.

13. The processor-implemented method of claim 12 further comprising:

notifying the second user that the specific action has been executed.

14. The processor-implemented method of claim 11 further comprising:

determining a context of the actionable item from the message, and to parse one or more action parameters from the context.

15. The processor-implemented method of claim 11 wherein the message comprises an email message or a voicemail message.

16. The processor-implemented method of claim 11 further comprising:

learning common actionable items based on a history of usage from other users.

17. The processor-implemented method of claim 11 wherein the actionable item is one or more a telephone number, an email address, a uniform resource locator (URL), or a verb.

18. A unified messaging system for an enterprise comprising:

a messaging module operable to store a message sent by a first user to a second user in a first media type, and to deliver the message to the second user in either the first type or a second media type;

a natural language speech parsing (NLSP) module coupled with the messaging module, the NLSP module being operable to detect an actionable item contained within the message, the messaging module dynamically modifying a response menu to include an option corresponding to the actionable item, the messaging module presenting the modified response menu to the second user concurrent with or following delivery of the message.

19. The unified messaging system of claim 18 wherein the first type comprises audible speech and the second type comprises text.

20. The unified messaging system of claim 18 wherein the first type comprises text and the second type comprises audible speech.

21. The unified messaging system of claim 18 wherein the NSLP module is further operable to parse one or more action parameters from a context of the actionable item from the message, and further comprising:

an action server coupled with the messaging module and with various resources of the enterprise, the action server executing a specific action corresponding to the actionable item and the action parameters responsive to selection of the option by the second user.

22. The unified messaging system of claim 18 wherein the message comprises an email message or a voicemail message.

23. The unified messaging system of claim 18 wherein the actionable item is one or more a telephone number, an email address, a uniform resource locator (URL), or a verb.