Electronic communications manager

• US 6,292,480 B1
• Filed: 06/09/1997
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: May, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, STEVEN H D
• Application Number:
  US08/871,514
• Time in Patent Office: 1,562 Days
• Field of Search: 370/466, 370/467, 370/465, 370/351, 370/352, 370/356, 370/493-494, 370/495, 370/355, 370/400-402, 379/88.13, 379/88.14, 379/88.17, 379/88.18, 379/88.24, 379/93.01, 379/93.12, 379/93.24, 379/67.1, 704/270, 704/271, 704/290, 704/275, 709/217, 709/218, 707/40, 707/100
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/085 specially adapted for interworking of IP-based networks with other networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4938 comprising a voice browser which renders and interprets, e.g. VoiceXML
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/527 Centralised call answering arrangements not requiring operator intervention
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

An electronic communications manager for providing an interface between a user using a communication device and a data and/or telephone network is disclosed. The data network, which may include an internet or intranet, is connectible to at least one information provider as well as a second user, and the telephone network is also connectible to the second user. The electronic communications manager can receive and interpret voice, such as from the first user using a telephone, as well as data, such as from the first user using a computer or information appliance. Likewise, the electronic communications manager can provide voice/video, such as for interacting with the first user through the telephone, and can provide data, such as interacting with the first user through the pager or interacting with the second user through the data network. Furthermore, the electronic communications manager can send and receive internet protocol to and from the information provider.

Claims

1. An integrated communications manager comprising:

a voice-over Internet protocol (V/IP) device for translating between voice and data;

an automatic speech recognition (ASR) device for converting voice to data;

a text-to-speech (TTS) device for converting data to voice;

a controller for controlling the operation of the V/IP, ASR, and TTS, and for receiving and transmitting the data; and

a storage device for storing the data for use by the controller;

wherein the integrated communications manager is connectible to a communication device of a first user via a telephone network and to a data network and connectible to at least one information provider in addition to e-mail, voice mail, and facsimile systems; and

wherein the integrated communications manager interacts with the first user via the communication device using voice and provides an interface between the first user using the communication device connectible to the integrated communications manager and one of the information providers, the integrated communications manager responding to voice and data commands from the first user to access information from the one information provider and providing the accessed information to the first user in a requested form and wherein the integrated communications manager listens in on voice and data exchanges between the first user and the one of the information providers via the communication device and provides user specific data obtained by the integrated communication manager, stored in the storage device and not originated at the communication device of the first user subsequent to the interacting of the integrated communications manager with the communication device, for use in the voice and data exchanges upon detection of a request issued by the first user for the transfer of the user specific data, stored in the storage device, from the integrated communications manager to the information provider.

2. The integrated communications manager of claim 1 wherein the data network is also connectible to a communication device of a second user so that the integrated communications manager serves as an interface between the first user and the second user.

3. The integrated communications manager of claim 2 wherein the telephone network is also connectible to a communications device of the second user so that the first user may select either the telephone network or the data network for interacting with the second user.

4. The integrated communications manager of claim 1 wherein the data network includes a local area network and the information provider is a computer.

5. The integrated communications manager of claim 1 wherein the integrated communications manager interacts with the first user selectively using voice or data and communicates with the information provider using data.

6. The integrated communications manager of claim 5 wherein the communications device is a personal computer and wherein the data includes video clips to be displayed on the personal computer.

7. The integrated communications manager of claim 1 wherein the integrated communications manager monitors communications between the first user and the information provider and stores data transmitted during the monitored communications.

8. The integrated communications manager of claim 1 wherein the integrated communications manager monitors communications between the first user and the information provider for providing voice to be used during the communications.

9. The integrated communications manager of claim 1 wherein the storage device also stores a user profile, a plurality of voice clips and a plurality of video clips.

10. The integrated communications manager of claim 1 wherein the information provider is selected from a group consisting of a concierge services provider and a financial services provider.

11. A method of operating an integrated communications service connected to a first user, a telephone network and to a data network having at least one information provider, wherein both the data network and the telephone network are connectible to a second user, the method comprising:

receiving a first portion of information in a first format from the first user;

interpreting the first portion of information into a second format;

providing the first portion of information in the second format to the information provider;

receiving a second portion of information in the second format from the information provider;

interpreting the second portion of information into the first format;

providing the second portion of information in the first format to the first user; and

in response to a command from the first user selecting between the data network and telephone network, connecting the first user to the second user using the selected network to enable real-time voice communications between the first and second users via the selected network;

monitoring the real time voice communication between the first and second users via the selected network; and

upon detecting a request by the first user to provide a third portion of information specific to the first user to the second user, the integrated communications service providing the third portion of information specific to the first user, the third portion of information specific to the first user obtained and maintained in storage by the integrated communications service and not originated by the first user subsequent to the connecting of the first user to the integrated information service, to the second user;

wherein the integrated communications service detects the request while monitoring the real time voice communication between the first and second users.

12. A method of operating an electronic communications manager comprising steps of:

connecting to a first user;

connecting to a data network having at least one information provider in addition to voice mail, e-mail and facsimile systems;

connecting to a telephone network, wherein both the data network and the telephone network are connectible to a second user;

translating back and forth between voice, Internet protocol data and computer data between the first and second users;

in response to a first command from the first user selecting between the data network and the telephone network, connecting the first user to the second user using the selected network to enable real-time voice communications to be conducted between the first and second users via the selected network;

monitoring the real-time voice connection between the first and second users via the selected network; and

in response to a second command, issued by the first user subsequent to establishment of the real-time voice connection between the first and second users, requesting information specific to the first user be transferred to the second user, providing the requested information specific to the first user to the second user, the requested information specific to the first user being maintained in memory by the electronic communications manager and not originated by the first user subsequent to the step of connecting with the first user.

13. An electronic communications manager comprising:

means for connecting to a first user;

means for connecting to a data network having at least one information provider in addition to voice mail, e-mail and facsimile systems;

means for connecting to a telephone network, wherein both the data network and the telephone network are connectible to a second user;

means for translating back and forth between voice, Internet protocol data and computer data between the first and second users; and

means responsive to a first command from the first user selecting between the data network and telephone network for connecting the first user to the second user using the selected network to enable real-time voice communications to be conducted between the first and second users via the selected network;

means for monitoring the real-time voice connection between the first and second users via the selected network; and

means for providing requested information specific to the first user to the second user upon detection, subsequent to establishment of the real-time voice connection, of a second command issued by the first user over the real-time voice connection, instructing that the requested information specific to the first user be provided to the second user.