METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING AN AUTOMATED SHOPPING SERVICE IN A TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20100165978A1
• Filed: 12/29/2008
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vonage Network LLC (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Vonage Network LLC (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Mathew, John, Thomas, Jacob JR.
• Application Number:
  US12/345,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20100165978A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

Method and apparatus for providing an automated shopping service in a telecommunication system are described. In some examples, a call is received via the telecommunication system initiated by a caller. An electronic prompt is played to the caller. An electronic response is received from the caller in response to the electronic prompt. At least one item requested by the caller is automatically detected in the electronic response. A search is performed of at least one shopping source to obtain information associated with the at least one item. The information is sent to towards the caller.

Claims

1. A method of providing an automated shopping service in a telecommunication system, comprising:

receiving a call via the telecommunication system initiated by a caller;

playing an electronic prompt to the caller;

receiving an electronic response from the caller to the electronic prompt;

automatically detecting at least one item requested by the caller in the electronic response;

performing a search of at least one shopping source to obtain information associated with the at least one item; and

sending the information towards the caller.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of automatically detecting comprises:

converting the electronic response to an electronically searchable format; and

performing an electronic search in the electronic response as converted to detect the at least one item.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the electronically searchable format comprises a digital audio format, and wherein the step of performing the electronic search comprises:

performing a speech-to-text conversion of the digital audio format to generate a transcript; and

parsing the transcript to detect the at least one item.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of performing the electronic search further comprises:

obtaining location attributes associated with the caller; and

geocoding the at least one item based on the location attributes.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of performing the search comprises:

selecting the at least one shopping source from a plurality of shopping sources based geographic identification data associated with the at least one item as geocoded.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sending comprises:

obtaining contact information associated with the caller; and

sending the information to the caller via at least one communication service.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one communication service comprises at least one of:

electronic mail service, short message service (SMS), or instant messaging service.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the telecommunication system includes an internet protocol (IP) communication network, and wherein the call is received using a voice-over-internet protocol (VOIP) service over the IP communication network.

9. An apparatus for providing an automated shopping service in a telecommunication system, comprising:

a database configured to store pre-recorded electronic content; and

at least one server configured to;

receive a call via the telecommunication system initiated by a caller;

play an electronic prompt to the caller selected from the pre-recorded content;

receive an electronic response from the caller to the electronic prompt;

automatically detect at least one item requested by the caller in the electronic response;

perform a search of at least one shopping source to obtain information associated with the at least one item; and

send the information towards the caller.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one server is further configured to:

convert the electronic response to an electronically searchable format; and

perform an electronic search in the electronic response as converted to detect the at least one item.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the electronically searchable format comprises a digital audio format, and wherein the at least one server is further configured to:

perform a speech-to-text conversion of the digital audio format to generate a transcript; and

parse the transcript to detect the at least one item.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one server is further configured to:

obtain location attributes associated with the caller;

geocode the at least one item based on the location attributes.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one server is further configured to:

select the at least one shopping source from a plurality of shopping sources based geographic identification data associated with the at least one item as geocoded.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one server is further configured to:

obtain contact information associated with the caller; and

send the information to an address of the caller via at least one communication service.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one communication service comprises at least one of:

electronic mail service, short message service (SMS), or instant messaging service.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the telecommunication system includes an internet protocol (IP) communication network, and wherein the call is received using a voice-over-internet protocol (VOIP) service over the IP communication network.

17. A computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform a method of providing an automated shopping service in a telecommunication system, comprising:

receiving a call via the telecommunication system initiated by a caller;

playing an electronic prompt to the caller;

receiving an electronic response from the caller to the electronic prompt;

automatically detecting at least one item requested by the caller in the electronic response;

performing a search of at least one shopping source to obtain information associated with the at least one item; and

sending the information towards the caller.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the step of automatically detecting comprises:

converting the electronic response to an electronically searchable format; and

performing an electronic search in the electronic response as converted to detect the at least one item.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the electronically searchable format comprises a digital audio format, and wherein the step of performing the electronic search comprises:

performing a speech-to-text conversion of the digital audio format to generate a transcript; and

parsing the transcript to detect the at least one item.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the step of performing the electronic search further comprises:

obtaining location attributes associated with the caller;

geocoding the at least one item based on the location attributes; and

wherein the step of performing the search comprises;

selecting the at least one shopping source from a plurality of shopping sources based geographic identification data associated with the at least one item as geocoded.