VOICE RESPONSE UNIT HARVESTING

• US 20100067670A1
• Filed: 09/16/2008
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jania, Frank L., Grigsby, Travis M., Miller, Steven M., DeLuca, Lisa Seacat
• Granted Patent: US 9,106,745 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.180
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/25 related to user interface aspects of the telephonic communication service
• 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 system, method and program product for providing voice response unit (VRU) harvesting. A system is provided that includes: an account management system for allowing a user to identify a set of VRUs and associated data desired from each VRU; a navigation system for automatically navigating each VRU and collecting the desired data from each VRU; and an output system for outputting the desired data for the user.

Claims

1. A system for harvesting voice response unit (VRU) data, comprising:

an account management system for allowing a user to identify a set of VRUs and associated data desired from each VRU;

a navigation system for automatically navigating each VRU and collecting the desired data from each VRU; and

an output system for outputting the desired data for the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the account management system utilizes a graphical user interface that allows the user to select a frequency at which the desired data is collected or outputted.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the desired data is output via a conduit selected from a group consisting of:

an email message, a text message, a web portal, a smart phone, a handheld device, and a telephone.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a mapping system that creates and stores a VRU map of a VRU in a VRU Map database.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user account database for storing account information for the user.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a hyperlink system that allows the user to select a data item in an output and be automatically connected to an associated node in a corresponding VRU.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the navigation system includes a speech recognition system for facilitating navigation of the VRU.

8. A computer readable medium having a program product stored therein for providing voice response unit (VRU) harvesting, comprising:

program code for allowing a user to identify a set of VRUs and associated data desired from each VRU;

program code for automatically navigating each VRU and collecting the desired data from each VRU; and

program code for outputting the desired data for the user.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8, further comprising a graphical user interface that allows the user to select a frequency at which the desired data is collected or outputted.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the desired data is output via a conduit selected from a group consisting of:

an email message, a text message, a web portal, a smart phone, a handheld device, and a telephone.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 8, further comprising program code that creates and stores a VRU map of a VRU in a VRU Map database.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 8, further comprising program code for accessing and storing account information for the user in a user account database.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 8, further comprising program code that allows the user to select a data item in an output and be automatically connected to an associated node in a corresponding VRU.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 8, further including program code for performing speech recognition for facilitating navigation of the VRU.

15. A method of providing voice response unit (VRU) harvesting, comprising:

providing an interface for allowing a user to identify a set of VRUs and associated data desired from each VRU;

automatically navigating each VRU and collecting the desired data from each VRU; and

outputting the desired data for the user.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a graphical user interface that allows the user to select a frequency at which the desired data is collected or outputted.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the desired data is output via a conduit selected from a group consisting of:

an email message, a text message, a web portal, a smart phone, a handheld device, and a telephone.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

creating and storing a VRU map of a VRU in a VRU Map database; and

storing account information for the user in a user account database.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising allowing the user to select a data item in an output and be automatically connected to an associated node in a corresponding VRU.

20. A method for deploying a system for providing voice response unit (VRU) harvesting, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure being operable to;

provide an interface for allowing a user to identify a set of VRUs and associated data desired from each VRU;

automatically navigate each VRU and collecting the desired data from each VRU; and

output the desired data for the user.