Method of voice activated telephone dialing

• US 5,452,340 A
• Filed: 04/01/1993
• Issued: 09/19/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: US West Advanced Technologies, Inc. (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Engelbeck, George E., Marics, Monica A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dwyer, James L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel S.
• Application Number:
  US08/041,578
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/355
• US Class Current: 379/88.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of interface between a voice activated dialing system and a user. The present invention solves the problems presented by the prior art by providing a user interface which can add a name and corresponding telephone number to a directory during the process of initiating a telephone call. In addition, the present invention provides the user the opportunity to select which element of a directory listing should be changed, using a single integrated review, erase and change functionality accessible while in a directory mode.

Claims

1. A method of telephone dialing in cooperation with a voice activated user interface having storage means for storing a directory of user entered speech segments and corresponding telephone numbers, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a user speech segment from said user corresponding to a party said user desires to call;

comparing the user speech Segment to said directory to locate one of said entered speech segments;

automatically dialing said corresponding stored telephone number if the user speech segment is recognized; and

if the user speech segment is unrecognized;

receiving a telephone number from said user corresponding to said unrecognized speech segment; and

automatically adding said unrecognized speech segment and corresponding telephone number to said directory if indicated by said user.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the step of comparing further comprises the step of prompting said user to restate said unrecognized speech segment.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein the step of adding further includes the step of receiving an indication signal from said user generated by a telephone keypad, said indication signal indicating that the unrecognized speech segment and corresponding telephone number are to be added to said directory.

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein the step of adding further includes the step of receiving an indication signal from said user generated by a rotary-dial mechanism, said indication signal indicating that the unrecognized speech segment and corresponding telephone number are to be added to said directory.

5. The method as in claim 1, wherein the step of adding further includes the step of receiving an indication signal from said user, said indication signal generated by a speech recognition system acting on an indication speech segment generated by said user, said indication signal indicating that the unrecognized speech segment and corresponding telephone number are to be added to said directory.

6. The method as in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

replacing said telephone number corresponding to said automatically added unrecognized speech segment if indicated by said user; and

replacing said unrecognized speech segment if indicated by said user.

7. The method as in claim 1 wherein the user speech segment includes a name of the party the user desires to call.

8. The method as in claim 1 wherein the telephone number corresponding to said unrecognized speech segment is received from said user using a telephone key pad.

9. The method as in claim 1 wherein the telephone number corresponding to said unrecognized speech segment is received from said user using a rotary-dial mechanism.

10. The method as in claim 1 wherein the telephone number corresponding to said unrecognized speech segment is received from said user from a speech recognition system acting on a telephone number speech segment generated by said user.

11. A method of telephone dialing in cooperation with a voice activated user interface having storage means for storing a directory of user entered speech segments and corresponding telephone numbers, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a user speech segment from said user corresponding to a party said user desires to call;

comparing the user speech segment to said directory to locate one of said entered speech segments;

automatically dialing said corresponding stored telephone number if the user speech segment is recognized; and

if the user speech segment is unrecognized;

prompting said user to restate said unrecognized speech segment;

receiving a telephone number from said user corresponding to said unrecognized speech segment; and

automatically adding said unrecognized speech segment and corresponding telephone number to said directory in response to user input.

12. The method as in claim 11 wherein said user speech segment includes a name of said party said user desires to call.

13. The method as in claim 11 wherein the step of adding further comprises the step of receiving an indication signal from said user from a telephone key pad.

14. The method as in claim 11 wherein the step of adding further comprises the step of receiving an indication signal from said user from a rotary-dial mechanism.

15. The method as in claim 11 wherein the step of adding further comprises the step of receiving an indication signal from said user from a speech recognition system acting on a telephone number speech segment generated by said user.