Directory assistance systems

• US 4,979,206 A
• Filed: 09/18/1989
• Issued: 12/18/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AT&T, Inc.
• Inventors: Padden, Frederick W., Ulrich, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tomassini, James E.
• Application Number:
  US07/409,973
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67, 379/68, 379/70, 379/79, 379/77, 379/80, 379/84, 379/88, 379/89, 379/213
• US Class Current: 379/88.01
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems

Abstract

An arrangement for obtaining directory assistance automatically and without the assistance of an operator. A customer requesting directory assistance is connected to an automatic speech recognition unit (ASRU) and is prompted to speak commands for identifying the requested directory number. The ASRU converts received speech signals from the customer into data signals for searching a directory number data base. If a directory listing is located, the number of that listing is announced to the customer and the customer is automatically prompted to speak a command indicating whether a call to that number should be automatically established. The telecommunications switching network responds to a positive command by automatically establishing such a connection. Advantageously, such an arrangement provides directory assistance service automatically without requiring special customer equipment.

Claims

1. In a common carrier telecommunications switching network, a method of setting up a call connection comprising the steps of:

dialing a number, different from a standard directory assistance number, from a calling customer station for requesting that a call connection be established from said calling customer station to a destination, said destination to be identified by a directory listing specified from said calling customer station;

receiving from said calling customer station in an automatic speech recognition unit speech signals conveying information for identifying said directory listing comprising a directory number;

generating data signals representing speech signals recognized by said automatic speech recognition unit from said received speech signals;

responsive to said data signals, searching a data base for a directory listing, comprising a directory number, corresponding to said data signals; and

if said searching step finds a unique directory listing corresponding to said data signals, transmitting a data message to a switching office of said network for causing said common carrier network to establish a connection between said calling customer station and a destination identified by said directory number.

2. In a common carrier telecommunications switching network, a method of setting up a call connection comprising the steps of:

dialing a number, different from a standard directory assistance number, from a calling customer station for requesting that a call connection be established from said calling customer station to a destination, said destination to be identified by a directory listing specified from said calling customer station;

receiving from said calling customer station in an automatic speech recognition unit speech signals conveying information for identifying said directory listing comprising a directory number;

generating data signals representing speech signals recognized by said automatic speech recognition unit from said received speech signals;

responsive to said data signals, searching a data base for a directory listing, comprising a directory number, corresponding to said data signals;

if said searching step does not find a unique directory listing corresponding to said data signals, establishing a connection in said common carrier network between said calling customer station and an operator position for providing operator assistance in locating said directory listing; and

if said searching step finds a unique directory listing corresponding to said data signals, transmitting a data message to a switching office of said network for causing said common carrier network to establish a connection between said calling customer station and a destination identified by said directory number.