Voice information service device and voice information service method

• US 5,751,790 A
• Filed: 03/21/1996
• Issued: 05/12/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Infrontia Corporation (NEC Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Makihata, Kazuhisa
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US08/621,204
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 379/71, 379/88, 379/67, 379/73, 379/84, 379/97, 379/93.26, 379/76, 379/77
• US Class Current: 379/71
• 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

When a request to record is received from an information provider by way of a telephone network, a storage area is secured for each information number of provided information, and index numbers designated by the information provider and voice file numbers designated within the device are recorded to the storage area. The information is then recorded in designated voice files for each arbitrary unit set by the information provider. When a playback request is received from an information user, voice file numbers are read out from the corresponding storage area in the order of the index numbers according to the designation of information numbers from the information user, and the information is played back in the order of the read voice files.

Claims

1. A voice information service device wherein voice information can be provided from a plurality of information providers using telephones, and a plurality of information users can receive provided voice information by telephone, comprising:

a voice communication controller that performs call acceptance of telephone calls from an information provider or information user and analyzes Push-Button (PB) tones to produce an analysis result;

a service analyzer that, based on said analysis result of said voice communication controller, decides to record or play back information;

a recording medium made up of a plurality of voice files into which information may be recorded;

a management table in which storage area is secured for every information number assigned to information, and into which, for every said information number, a voice file number for identifying said voice file and an index number for designating the order of playback of said voice files are recorded, said information being divided into arbitrary units according to designation by said information provider;

a record/playback controller that, when recording information, designates said voice file number, pairs the voice file number with an index number designated by said information provider and records to said storage area, and when playing back information, reads out said voice file number in the order of said index numbers from said storage area corresponding to said information number designated by the information user; and

a register that, when recording information, records information for every arbitrary unit designated by said information provider to a voice file of voice file number designated by said record/playback controller, and when playing back information, registers and plays back information within voice files in the order of voice file numbers read out by said record/playback controller.

2. A voice information service device according to claim 1 wherein said record/playback controller returns to said information provider voice file numbers designated when recording information, and according to instructions from said information provider, pairs said index numbers and said voice file numbers and records said index numbers and said voice file numbers in pairs to said storage area.

3. A voice information service method utilizing a recording medium made up of a plurality of voice files into which information may be recorded and a management table which secures storage area for every information number assigned to information and, for each of said information numbers, records a voice file number for identifying said voice file and an index number for designating the order of playback of voice files;

wherein voice information can be provided from a plurality of information providers using telephones and a plurality of information users can receive provided voice information by telephone, said information providers dividing said information into arbitrary units; and

wherein;

call acceptance is performed for telephone calls from information providers or information users and Push-Button (PB) tones are analyzed to produce a PB analysis result, and, based on said PB analysis result, judgment is made to record or playback information;

when judgment is made to record information, said voice file number is designated, said voice file number and an index number designated by one of said plurality of information providers are paired and recorded to said storage area;

and in addition, information for every arbitrary unit designated by said information providers is recorded to a voice file of a designated voice file number;

and when judgment is made to play back information, said voice file numbers are read out in the order of said index numbers from a storage area corresponding to an information number designated by one of said information users; and

information within voice files is registered and played back in the order of read voice file numbers.

4. A voice information service method according to claim 3 wherein voice file numbers designated when recording information are returned to one of said plurality of information providers, and according to instructions from said one of said plurality of information providers, said index numbers and voice file numbers are paired and recorded to said storage area.