System and method for providing and using universally accessible voice and speech data files

• US 5,915,001 A
• Filed: 11/14/1996
• Issued: 06/22/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Vois Corporation
• Inventors: Uppaluru, Premkumar V.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEAVER, SCOTT LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US08/748,943
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/93.05, 379/201, 379/67.1, 379/88.01, 379/88.04, 379/88.16, 379/88.17, 379/88.19, 379/88.2, 379/88.21, 379/88.22 , 379/88.23, 379/88.24, 379/88.27, 704/270, 704/271, 704/272, 704/275, 370/401, 395/200.3, 395/200.33, 395/200.47, 395/200.48, 395/200.49, 395/200.55
• US Class Current: 379/88.22
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/405 involving speaker-dependent recognition adaptation to speaker for speech recognition G10L15/07
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4938 comprising a voice browser which renders and interprets, e.g. VoiceXML

Abstract

A system and method provides universal access to voice-based documents containing information formatted using MIME and HTML standards using customized extensions for voice information access and navigation. These voice documents are linked using HTML hyper-links that are accessible to subscribers using voice commands, touch-tone inputs and other selection means. These voice documents and components in them are addressable using HTML anchors embedding HTML universal resource locators (URLs) rendering them universally accessible over the Internet. This collection of connected documents forms a voice web. The voice web includes subscriber-specific documents including speech training files for speaker dependent speech recognition, voice print files for authenticating the identity of a user and personal preference and attribute files for customizing other aspects of the system in accordance with a specific subscriber.

Claims

1. A method of delivering caller-customized voice-based information to a caller, comprising:

storing caller-specific information in a computer file at a universal resource locator (URL);

determining a URL associated with the caller;

retrieving the caller-specific information using the URL;

processing at least one caller command received over the telephone to determine a service request;

retrieving information responsive to the service request and responsive to the caller-specific information, including;

generating a database query form responsive to the service request;

customizing the database query form using the caller-specific information; and

performing a database search using the query form, wherein generating a database query form responsive to the service request includes;

storing a voice form associated with the service request at a universal resource locator (URL) address in the computer network wherein the voice form is stored in a markup language;

playing the voice form to the caller to generate at least one information prompt for the caller;

collecting information from the caller in response to each prompt; and

generating a database query form using at least a portion of the collected information; and

playing back the retrieved information to the caller over the telephone.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein collecting information from the caller in response to each prompt includes collecting touch tone inputs from the caller.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein collecting information from the caller in response to each prompt includes collecting voice command inputs from the caller and performing speech recognition on the voice command inputs.

4. A method of processing voice-based information received from a telephone caller over a computer network, comprising:

storing a voice form at a universal resource locator (URL) address in the computer network wherein the voice form is stored in a markup language with voice extensions; and

during a calling session;

playing the voice form to the caller to generate at least one information prompt to the caller;

collecting information from the caller in response to each prompt; and

storing the collected information in a first markup language document and including in the document a hyperlink to a second markup language document.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the hyperlink is determined responsive to at least a portion of the collected information.

6. A method of processing voice-based information received from a telephone caller over a computer network, comprising;

storing a voice form at a universal resource locator (URL) address in the computer network wherein the voice form is stored in a markup language with voice extensions; and

during a calling session;

playing the voice form to the caller to generate at least one information prompt for the caller;

collecting information from the caller in response to each prompt; and

storing the collected information in a first markup language document and including in a second markup language document a hyperlink to the first markup language document.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the hyperlink is determined responsive to at least a portion of the collected information.

8. A system for delivering information over a telephone, comprising:

a business white pages database including business name, address and phone number information;

a database query form;

a first processing agent programmed to;

collect user information using a voice based telecommunications device;

include at least some of the collected information to the database query form;

search the database by applying the database query form to the database to retrieve information; and

generate a voice web page having a universal resource locator (URL) address using the retrieved information;

a yellow page database including business advertising information; and

a second processing agent wherein the voice web page generated by the first processing agent includes a hyperlink to the second processing agent and wherein the second processing agent is programmed to;

search the yellow page database to retrieve information; and

generate a voice web page using the retrieved information; and

a voice web browser adapted to play voice web pages to a user.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the hyperlink identifies an entry in the yellow page database and wherein searching the yellow page database comprises locating the yellow page database entry identified by the hyperlink.

10. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

an order page database including business order information; and

a third processing agent wherein the voice web page generated by the second processing agent includes a second hyperlink to the third processing agent and wherein the third processing agent is programmed to;

search the order page database to retrieve information; and

generate a voice web page using the retrieved information.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the second hyperlink identifies an entry in the order page database and wherein searching the order page database comprises locating the order page database entry identified by the hyperlink.