Country-based language selection

• US 6,069,939 A
• Filed: 11/10/1997
• Issued: 05/30/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: McGrath, A. Helen, Peterson, Christine Patricia, Fung, Elizabeth Y., Hau, Shubert A., Hawkins, Walter H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUC MINH
• Application Number:
  US08/966,878
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1-68, 379/88.04, 379/88.05-88.06, 379/88.19-88.21, 379/111-119, 379/120, 379/127, 379/133-134, 379/69-70, 379/76, 379/80 , 379/84, 379/142
• US Class Current: 379/67.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2061 Language aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/527 Centralised call answering arrangements not requiring operator intervention

Abstract

A method for providing a called party with audio messages/prompts in a language selected by the caller or a language spoken in the called party'"'"'s geographic location comprises the steps of determining the geographic location of the called party; selecting a language from a plurality of language selections by a calling party for delivery of audio prompts to the called party in response to the determined geographic location of the called party; and providing the called party with audio messages/prompts in a selected language. Alternatively, the called party may be provided with audio prompts/messages in a language selected by a calling party through a method comprising the steps of determining dialed digits that identify the called party; selecting a language from a plurality of languages for delivery of audio prompts in response to determined dialed digits; and providing the called party with audio prompts in a language selected by the calling party.

Claims

1. A method for providing a called party with audio prompts in a language selected by a calling party, comprising the steps of

determining a geographic location of said called party;

selecting a language or dialect previously determined by said calling party from a plurality of languages for delivery of audio prompts to said called party based on a determined geographic location of said called party; and

providing said called party with audio prompts in the selected language.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of analyzing a calling party'"'"'s automatic number identification (ANI) and confirming that said ANI is eligible for language selection service prior to said steps of determining geographic location, selecting a language, and providing prompts.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of prompting said calling party to activate said language selection service.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining geographic location step includes the step of analyzing received dialed digits.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said received dialed digits include digits that alert a network that a calling party desires to make an international call, digits representing a dialed country code, and digits representing said called party'"'"'s phone number.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said received dialed digits further include digits representing a dialed city code.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining geographic location step includes the step of determining a dialed country that corresponds to a dialed country code.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said determining geographic location step includes the step of determining a dialed city that corresponds to said dialed country code and a dialed city code.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting language step includes the step of selecting a language that corresponds to a dialed country.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said selecting language step includes the step of selecting a language or dialect that corresponds to said dialed country and a dialed city.

11. A method for providing a called party with audio prompts in a language selected by a calling party, comprising the steps of

determining dialed digits that identify said called party;

selecting a language previously determined by said calling party from a plurality of languages for delivery of audio prompts in response to determined dialed digits; and

providing said called party with audio prompts in the selected language.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of enabling said calling party to determine specific languages for delivery of audio prompts to specific countries prior to said steps of determining dialed digits, selecting a language, and providing prompts.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said enabling step includes the step of recording said calling party'"'"'s determinations.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said enabling step includes the step of enabling said calling party to determine a limited number of specific languages for delivery of audio prompts to a limited number of specific countries.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of enabling said calling party to select specific languages or dialects for delivery of audio prompts to specific city/regions prior to said steps of determining dialed digits, selecting a language, and providing prompts.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said enabling step includes the step of recording said calling party'"'"'s determinations.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said enabling step includes the step of enabling said calling party to determine a limited number of specific languages or dialects for delivery of audio prompts to a limited number of specific cities.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of enabling said calling party to select specific languages or dialects for delivery of audio prompts to specific phone numbers prior to said steps of determining dialed digits, selecting a language, and providing prompts.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said enabling step includes the step of recording said calling party'"'"'s determinations.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said enabling step includes the step of enabling said calling party to determine a limited number of specific languages or dialects for delivery of audio prompts to a limited number of phone numbers.

21. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of analyzing said calling party'"'"'s ANI and confirming that said ANI is eligible for language selection service prior to the steps of determining dialed digits, selecting a language, and providing prompts.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of prompting said calling party to activate said language selection service.

23. The method of claim 11, wherein said determining step includes the step of analyzing received dialed digits.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said received dialed digits include digits that alert a network that said calling party desires to make an international call, digits representing a dialed country code, and digits representing said called party'"'"'s phone number.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said received dialed digits further include digits representing a dialed city.

26. The method of claim 11, wherein said determining step includes the step of determining a dialed country corresponding to a dialed country code.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said determining step includes the step of determining a dialed city corresponding to said dialed country code and a dialed city code.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said determining step includes the step of determining said called party'"'"'s identity corresponding to said dialed country code, said dialed city code, and a dialed phone number.

29. The method of claim 11, wherein said selecting language step includes the step of determining whether said calling party determined a language for delivery of messages to a dialed country.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said selecting language step includes the step of selecting said language determined for said dialed country.

31. The method of claim 11, wherein said selecting language step includes the step of determining whether said calling party determined a language or dialect for delivery of messages to a dialed city.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said selecting language step includes the step of selecting said language or dialect determined for said dialed city.

33. The method of claim 11, wherein said selecting language step includes the step determining whether said calling party determined a language or dialect for delivery of messages to a dialed phone number.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said selecting language step includes the step of selecting said language or dialect determined for said dialed phone number.

35. The method of claim 11, wherein said providing prompt step includes the step of prompting said called party in said language determined by said calling party for a dialed country.

36. The method of claim 11, wherein said providing prompt step includes the step of prompting said called party in a language or dialect determined by said calling party for a dialed city.

37. The method of claim 11, wherein said providing prompt step includes the step of prompting said called party in a language or dialect determined by said calling party for a dialed phone number.

38. An apparatus for providing a called party with audio prompts in a language selected by a calling party, comprising:

means for determining a geographic location of said called party;

means for selecting a language previously determined by said calling party from a plurality of languages for delivery of audio prompts to said called party according to a determined geographic location of said called party; and

means for providing said called party with audio prompts in the selected language.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising means for analyzing a calling party'"'"'s automatic number identification (ANI) and confirming that said ANI is eligible for language selection service.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising means for prompting said called party to activate said language selection service.

41. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said means for determining geographic location includes means for analyzing received dialed digits.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said received dialed digits include digits that alert a network that a calling party desires to make an international call, digits representing a dialed country code, and digits representing said called party'"'"'s phone number.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein said received dialed digits further include the digits representing a dialed city code.

44. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said means for determining geographic location includes means for determining a dialed country that corresponds to a dialed country code.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein said means for determining geographic location includes means for determining a dialed city/region that corresponds to said dialed country code and a dialed city code.

46. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said means for selecting a language includes means for selecting a language that corresponds to a dialed country.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein said means for selecting a language includes means for selecting a language or dialect that corresponds to said dialed country and a dialed city.

48. An apparatus for providing a called party with audio prompts in a language selected by a calling party, comprising:

means for determining dialed digits that identify said called party;

means for selecting a language previously determined by said calling party from a plurality of languages for delivery of audio prompts in response to determined dialed digits; and

means for providing said called party with audio prompts in the selected language.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, further comprising means for enabling said calling party to determine specific languages for delivery of audio prompts to specific countries.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein said means for enabling includes means for recording said calling party'"'"'s determinations.

51. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein said means for enabling includes means for enabling said calling party to determine a limited number of specific languages for delivery of audio prompts to a limited number of specific countries.

52. The apparatus of claim 48, further comprising means for enabling said calling party to select specific languages or dialects for delivery of audio prompts to specific cities.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein said means for enabling includes means for recording said calling party'"'"'s determinations.

54. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein said means for enabling includes means for enabling said calling party to determine a limited number of specific languages or dialects for delivery of audio prompts to a limited number of specific cities.

55. The apparatus of claim 48, further comprising means for enabling said calling party to select specific languages or dialects for delivery of audio prompts to specific phone numbers.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein said means for enabling includes means for recording said calling party'"'"'s determinations.

57. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein said means for enabling includes means for enabling said calling party to determine a limited number of specific languages for delivery of audio prompts to a limited number of phone numbers.

58. The apparatus of claim 48, further comprising means for analyzing said calling party'"'"'s ANI and confirming that said ANI is eligible for language selection service.

59. The apparatus of claim 58, further comprising means for prompting said calling party to activate said language selection service.

60. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein said means for determining includes means for analyzing received dialed digits.

61. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein said received dialed digits include digits that alert a network that said calling party desires to make an international call, digits representing a dialed country code, and digits representing said called party'"'"'s phone number.

62. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein said received dialed digits further include digits representing a dialed city.

63. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein said means for determining further comprise means for determining a dialed city/region that corresponds to said dialed country code and a dialed city code.

64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein said means for determining includes means for determining a dialed city/region corresponding to said dialed country code and a dialed city code.

65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein said means for determining includes means for determining said called party'"'"'s identity corresponding to said dialed country code, said dialed city code, and a dialed phone number.

66. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein said means for selecting a language includes means for determining whether said calling party determined a language for delivery of messages to a dialed country.

67. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein said means for selecting a language includes means for selecting said language determined for said country.

68. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein said means for selecting a language includes means for determining whether said calling party determined a language or dialect for delivery of messages to a dialed city.

69. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein said means for selecting a language includes means for selecting said language or dialect determined for said dialed city.

70. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein said means for selecting a language includes means for determining whether said calling party determined a language or dialect for delivery of messages to a dialed phone number.

71. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein said means for selecting a language includes means for selecting said language or dialect determined for said dialed phone number.

72. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein said means for providing prompts includes means for prompting said called party in a language or dialect determined by said calling party for a dialed city.

73. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein said means for providing prompts includes means for prompting said called party in a language or dialect determined by said calling party for a dialed city.

74. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein said means for providing prompts includes means for prompting said called party in a language or dialect determined by said calling party for a dialed phone number.

75. A network based system for providing a called party with audio prompts in a language selected by a calling party, comprising:

an international phone network and a domestic phone network;

a database management system for storing a table of country codes, city codes, and corresponding languages or dialects previously determined by said calling party; and

an interactive voice system for providing prompts to said called party in the selected language.